Fostering vocations is said to be a task of catechesis and a crown of youth ministry. With this as the rallying call, the 6th John Paul II Catechetics and Youth Ministry Conference was held at the Don Bosco Technical Institute, Makati City on 5-7 May 2010.

Scholastics John Paul B. Alvarado, MI and this writer represented the Camillians at this activity organized by the Salesians of Don Bosco-Philippine North Province. It was the first time for the Camillians to be part of the conference.

The conference aimed at reflecting on the spirituality and vocation of catechists and youth ministers and giving the young participants a proper orientation to a basic existential theme which is vocation or God’s calling for each person. Thus, the 2010 JP II Conference took pride in its special feature: the presence of youth leaders and youth, the plenary conference and some workshops organized just for the young people.

Around forty different workshops were prepared for the attendees who were mostly catechists, religion teachers, youth ministers, campus ministers, youth leaders, liturgy animators, and vocation promoters.  However, each participant could enroll in only one workshop if it lasted three afternoons, and in three if they lasted one afternoon each.

Sch. John Paul joined the Film in Catechesis and Youth Ministry workshop while this writer the Animating Youth Groups. The two experienced how film can be an important tool in doing catechesis and youth ministry, and gained insights into how to be an effective youth animator today, respectively.

At the end of the three-day conference, the 671 participants coming from all over the country,  and a few from Hong Kong, made a floral offering to Mary in honor of her total YES to God’s call for her to be the mother of Jesus, making her the greatest model of Christian vocation. Everyone then parted ways joyfully with one prayer reverberating in their hearts: that the Holy Spirit may always inspire and guide them as they also give their YES in carrying on the task of catechesis and wearing continually the crown of youth ministry – thereby fostering vocations!