Mandalay Archdiocesan Youth Formation Camp (Myanmar)

Mandalay, Myanmar : Some 500 youth of the Mandalay Archdiocese gathered at the De La Salle Institute in Pyin Oo Lwin, a resort town, 67 kilometres east of Mandalay (central Myanmar) for the 9th Annual Archdiocesan Youth Formation Camp on 13th - 17th April 2011.

The event is held every April of the year to coincide with the 'Thingyan', the water festival which is a gazetted national holiday and the theme of the camp was 'Lord to whom shall we go, you have the words of eternal life' (John 6 : 68) 

The expenses of the camp was raised through fund raising projects and sponsors from sending parishes.  The objective of the event was aimed at enhancing their faith life, instilling life skills as well as strengthening the bond of the young people from the various parishes.

The Opening Ceremony in the evening began with the hoisting of the Archdiocese Youth Commission flag. Fr Peter Myo Aung welcomed the participants and hoped the 4-day event would be a spirit-filled encounter for the youth. He said, 'Come as you are but do not go back as you came.' It was an inspiring statement that touched the hearts of the many young people.

Fr Augustine Win Myint, the Archdiocesan Youth Director, also addressed the participants.The evening was lined with many presentations from the various participating parishes.

Each morning, participants attended Morning Mass at 6.00 am followed by input and sharing sessions which would wrapped up by 5.30 pm. Sessions covered during the 4-day event included the following topics;

Inter religious dialogue

• Conflict, Power and Change
• The Word of God in the life of the Church
• Inter religious dialogue
• Bible
• The Human Person
• Youth, The Church and I, Leadership
• AIDS
• Human Trafficking

In the evening the participants were involved in various competitions -dance, drama and songs in order to tap their talents and potentials.They enacted the scene of the parable of the Good Samaritan (Luke 10 : 25 - 37) and Jesus and the Samaritan Woman (John 4 : 3 - 42).

The 'Open Kitchen'

Meal time

Contributed by Rose EiPhyu Aung

Rose hails from the Parish of St Joseph, Monywa which falls under the Archdiocese of Mandalay, Myanmar. Monywa is some 3 hours drive from Mandalay, which is in the central region of Myanmar. She took up a ten month formation programme at the Institute of Formation Fondacio, Asia based in Quezon City Philippines. She had her one-month pastoral exposure in Sabah, two weeks each in the Diocese of Keningau and Sandakan. She was in Sandakan from 1st - 12th February 2011. She is currently very much involved in the Parish Youth Ministry.