On the Feast of Our Lord Jesus Christ, the Eternal High Priest, Filipino-Chinese Catholic youth from across the country gathered at the Archdiocesan Shrine of the Sacred Heart of Jesus in Cebu City for the culminating celebration of the 32nd Filipino-Chinese Catholic Youth (FCCY) National Convention.
The five-day gathering centered on the theme, “STRONGER: Sealed with the Gifts of the Holy Spirit,” inviting participants to deepen their faith, strengthen their relationship with God, and embrace their mission as young disciples in today’s world.
Cebu Archbishop Alberto “Abet” Uy presided over the Closing Mass. He was joined by Bangued Bishop Leopoldo Jaucian (National Director of the Chinese Apostolate in the Philippines), the priests of the Society of Jesus, and other visiting priests.
In a world increasingly filled with noise, distractions, and competing voices, Archbishop Abet, in his homily, reminded the youth that true strength is not found in being the loudest but in remaining attentive to God’s voice amid the clamor.
“Do not allow the crowd to silence your faith. Some people today are embarrassed to pray in public, to talk about Jesus, to say they go to Mass. Embarrassed to be too Catholic. My dear young people, never be ashamed of Christ,” Archbishop Abet urged.
Reflecting on the event’s theme, he emphasized that authentic strength is built in communion, not in isolation. In a generation where strong Wi-Fi connections often coexist with weak human relationships, he challenged the youth to cultivate friendships that draw them closer to God—friendships rooted in service, shared dreams, mutual encouragement, and prayer.
“Build friendships that bring you closer to God. Serve together, dream together, encourage one another, pray together,” he said.
Using the image of burning coal, Archbishop Abet underscored the importance of remaining connected to the Holy Spirit, the Church, and one another.
“A coal removed from the fire cools quickly. So make sure you stay close to the Holy Spirit, stay close to the Church, stay close to one another,” he reminded them.
He concluded by affirming the vital role of young people in the life of the Church, stressing that they are not merely preparing for a future mission but are already called to live it today.
“You are not the future—you always hear this—you are already the present of the Church,” Archbishop Abet said.
One of the highlights of the celebration was the induction of the newly elected FCCY National Stewards, who formally accepted their responsibility to lead and serve the organization in the coming term.