Session guide

formation I: FROM DARKNESSCELEBRATION)

(NYD 2023-DIOCESAN TO LIGHT

SMALL GROUP ACTIVITY:

“ENCUENTRO…
go and do likewise (Lk. 10:37)
To speak of a “culture of encounter” means
that we, as a people, should be passionate
about meeting others, seeking points of
contact, building bridges, and planning a
project that includes everyone.
Pope Francis, Fratelli Tutti, 216

I- MODE-SETTING/ PRELIMINARIES (5 MINUTES)

-After looking for the group members, find a comfortable area where everyone squats/ sits.
-Introduce yourself and welcome them enthusiastically
-Introduce the patron saint that bears the name of your GKK dynamic group (study the background of the
patron saint) (Why do we name our dynamic group as GKK?)
-Pls orient the participants:
BE ATTENTIVE:
Listen to the emcees when they are giving instructions. Listen well to the speakers who will provide input. Listen carefully to your group
mates during sharing moments. Allow yourself to be enriched by the things that you will hear.
BE 100% PARTICIPATIVE:
We are here to participate; thus, give your best in everything, and surely you will gain 100% as well! Using our phones during sessions
might lead to distraction for you and others, so limit yourself to using them only during break times. Let the Documentation Team capture
the meaningful moments for you.
BE AN OMG (Online Missionary of God):
Share the experience on social media. Furthermore, should you wish to post your pictures/ insights/ realizations on Facebook, Twitter,
etc. do this only during break time.
L.E.A.R.N.
Listen: Talk less, listen more
Empathize: Respond with compassion. Be curious, not judgmental.
Actively participate: Engage in the conversation.
Respect: Respect each other’s limited time and comfort level in sharing.
Notice: Be sensitive and be observant.

II- GETTING TO KNOW (10 MINUTES)

The facilitator initiates to conduct a short pag-ila-ila per group
III- MINDFULNESS EXERCISE (5 MINUTES)
Mindfulness is not about putting so much effort into keeping quiet or shutting the
world out or even stopping thoughts or feelings. Mindfulness is about being open,
observant, and aware.[3]

-Instruct them on the proper posture: Invite the participants to set their phones aside, sit comfortably
with their posture straight but relaxed, feet flat on the floor, and their hands resting on their lap.
-The facilitator has the option to lead the group themself or use a video or an audio recording to guide
the group:

SULO SA PAGTOO
(YOUTH FORMATION and CATECHESIS PROGRAM)
“Si Kristo ang Kahayag”
“Bring Jesus to the Young, Bring the Young to Jesus”
 Session guide
formation I: FROM DARKNESSCELEBRATION)
(NYD 2023-DIOCESAN TO LIGHT

IV- GOSPEL READING

1. The facilitator leads the participants in reading the main Gospel passage that will be
used for the NYD celebration: From the Gospel of Luke:

2. Say together in three times: “Speak, Lord, your servant is listening.”

3. Assign someone to read loudly the Bible passage;

25 [ a]There was a scholar of the law[ b] who stood up to test him and said, “Teacher, what must I do to
inherit eternal life?”
26 Jesus said to him, “What is written in the law? How do you read it?” 27 He said in reply, “You shall love
the Lord, your God, with all your heart, with all your being, with all your strength, and with all your mind, and
your neighbor as yourself.”
28 He replied to him, “You have answered correctly; do this and you will live.”

The Parable of the Good Samaritan.

29 But because he wished to justify himself, he said to Jesus, “And who is my neighbor?”
30 Jesus replied, “A man fell victim to robbers as he went down from Jerusalem to Jericho. They stripped
and beat him and went off leaving him half-dead.
31 [ c]A priest happened to be going down that road, but when he saw him, he passed by on the opposite
side.
32 Likewise a Levite came to the place, and when he saw him, he passed by on the opposite side.
33 But a Samaritan traveler who came upon him was moved with compassion at the sight.
34 He approached the victim, poured oil and wine over his wounds, and bandaged them. Then he lifted him
on his animal, took him to an inn, and cared for him.
35 The next day he took out two silver coins and gave them to the innkeeper with the instruction, ‘Take care
of him. If you spend more than what I have given you, I shall repay you on my way back.’
36 Which of these three, in your opinion, was a neighbor to the robbers’ victim?”
37 He answered, “The one who treated him with mercy.” Jesus said to him, “Go and do likewise.”
Luke 10:25-37

Supplement; WHY ENCUENTRO?

For this year, the anchor passage in the celebration is Luke 10: 25 - 37, or the parable of the Good
Samaritan. Why this parable? Pope Francis beautifully articulates it in Fratelli Tutti:

Throughout this NYD formation program, we will be using Pope Francis’ reflections in Fratelli Tutti

SULO SA PAGTOO
(YOUTH FORMATION and CATECHESIS PROGRAM)
“Si Kristo ang Kahayag”
“Bring Jesus to the Young, Bring the Young to Jesus”
 Session guide
formation I: FROM DARKNESSCELEBRATION)
(NYD 2023-DIOCESAN TO LIGHT

as a guide to helping the youth see their role in “rebuilding our wounded world”.

The invitation for us this year is to create safe and brave spaces for the youth to have conversations about
their community and the issues of the country. This is especially important since the Church remains
to be an important space where the youth find community and belongingness. Let us build the Church
to be a space that can continue to nurture the values of the Gospel that will help guide the youth in their
engagements with Philippine economic, social, and political realities.

V- ACTIVITY PROPER
LIFE MAP

INTRODUCTION TO THE ACTIVITY:

Ask the participants to check if they listened to the passage:
How did the passage begin? Why did Jesus tell the parable of the Good Samaritan?

The encounter began with a question.

There was a scholar of the law who stood up to test him and said, “Teacher, what
must I do to inherit eternal life?”

Jesus meets us where we are.

Regardless of the scholar’s intention to test Jesus, Jesus engaged and met him
through his question.
GUIDED CONTEMPLATION: (10 MINUTES)

-Invite the participants to keep things that may distract them. Play soft instrumental
music.
-Begin with a brief mindfulness exercise. You may reuse the material from the pre-immersion
orientation.
-Invite them to gently close their eyes and lead the participants through this imaginative
exercise

Script:

Imagine that you are like the man in the Parable of the Good Samaritan moving from one place to
another. He wanted to travel from Jerusalem to Jericho. He had plans, perhaps he had his own family
to go home to.

Like the man, you are also on your journey. You have been living each day, walking on the road of
your life. There are many places in your life that you’ve reached. But there could be many more goals
and dreams that you’re still walking and running towards.

What are some of those goals and dreams that you’ve achieved, or you are still working towards?
(Pause)

Like the man in the story, you also encountered different people along the road. Like him, your journey
may not have been as smooth as you wanted it to be. His own journey was violently interrupted. Some
passed him by and ignored him during his time of need.

SULO SA PAGTOO
(YOUTH FORMATION and CATECHESIS PROGRAM)
“Si Kristo ang Kahayag”
“Bring Jesus to the Young, Bring the Young to Jesus”
 Session guide
formation I: FROM DARKNESSCELEBRATION)
(NYD 2023-DIOCESAN TO LIGHT

Recall moments when you felt that your life was interrupted. When, like the man, you felt robbed of
the things important to you, you were hurt, you were abandoned, you felt ignored, you felt discouraged.
(Pause)

However, the man’s story did not end there in pain and defeat. Some helped him, cared for him, and set
him back on his feet. Like him, you met people in your life who loved you, cared for you, and supported
you without asking for anything in return. Those who went out of their way to spend time with you.
This is what it means to be a neighbor to others.

Take time to recall moments when you were cared for. Who was a neighbor to you? Sino ang naging
tunay na kapwa sa iyo? (Pause)

All of these moments on the road of life lead to where you are at this moment. These experiences,
whether pleasant or unpleasant, shaped you and continue to shape you. Your journey is not yet over and
there’s still much in store for you. Your journey and your story can still be rewritten for the better.
There’s still much life for you to live, much love for you to experience and to share.

Now gently when you are ready you may open your eyes to end the exercise.

INSTRUCTIONS FOR JOURNALING/CREATING A LIFE MAP: (10 MINUTES)

-Draw a symbol in the lower right corner of the piece of paper you are holding that you feel best
represents yourself. (a star, a person, a heart, etc.)
-Draw a line or a path/road from your symbol. It could be a straight line or a wavy line or a zigzag.
Along that line mark particular moments with these symbols:
Tree/Plant: Moments you felt cared for, loved, and supported by others.
Smiley: People who were neighbors to you. Persons who cared for you.
Sign posts: Goals you achieved and goals you are working toward.
Rocks: Moments you were hurt, discouraged, robbed of things important to you,
ignored, or felt abandoned.
-Make sure to label or include a description under the symbols.

SULO SA PAGTOO
(YOUTH FORMATION and CATECHESIS PROGRAM)
“Si Kristo ang Kahayag”
“Bring Jesus to the Young, Bring the Young to Jesus”
 Session guide
formation I: FROM DARKNESSCELEBRATION)
(NYD 2023-DIOCESAN TO LIGHT

SMALL GROUP SHARING: (30 MINUTES)

Questions for sharing:

Round 1: (dyad/triad)
-Participants may share their answers to at least two of the questions below:
How did you feel during the exercise?
What kind of person do you think and feel you’ve become as you look back on your life?
What does it mean to be a “neighbor” for you?

Round 2:
-Invite anyone from dyad/ triad to shortly share a significant experience/ thought that transpired during the round 1
sharing.

Round 3:
-Based on the individual sharing of the members of the group, distribute a meta card (in different colors) and ask the
participants to summarize his/ her experience by completing the sentence on their meta card:

A true neighbor is___________________

-When they are done sharing, ask each participant to post the meta card on the provided Manila Paper per group using
scotch tape.

PROCESSING: (10 MINUTES)

-Cluster their metacards into similar themes.
-Take time to read and to speak of the similar themes that the groups came up with.
-A culture of encounter (Encuentro) means becoming a true neighbor as Jesus calls us to become. Our response to the
different encounters we have on the road of life shapes us. Those who were “neighbors” may influence us to be more
loving and caring. But even those who were unkind to us can push us not to repeat the same treatment to others. Either
we grow more loving, or we retaliate because of the pain we experienced.
-To be a neighbor is to choose to pass on the love we receive and to transform our own pain. The good Samaritan felt the
pain of the man on the road and cared for him.
-Our encounters, even our brokenness can be channels of love and care.
-Optional: The facilitator may also share their own story of being a “wounded healer” or how one’s pain motivates them to
protect people from experiencing the same pain.
-To be a neighbor means to pay attention, to care enough to know people’s names. The Good Samaritan stopped. The
others were too busy to stop.
-Being a neighbor is being willing to be inconvenienced, to act. We care enough to put effort and time. It’s not always quick
and easy.
-To follow God is to have compassion like God, to be challenged and moved out of our comfort zones. Every day we choose
either to be the good Samaritan or the priest/levite.
-Eternal life is not something to possess but Jesus says, “Do this and you will live.” Eternal life is the way we live our daily
lives. We truly live only when we truly love. When Jesus says,
-“Do this and you will live”, he means that it is a commitment to live out our life daily making choices. We find our fulfillment
in living a life of love, compassion, and solidarity.
The parable clearly does not indulge in abstract moralizing, nor is its message merely social
and ethical. It speaks to us of an essential and often forgotten aspect of our common
humanity: we were created for a fulfillment that can only be found in love. We cannot be
indifferent to suffering; we cannot allow anyone to go through life as an outcast. Instead,
we should feel indignant, challenged to emerge from our comfortable isolation and to be
changed by our contact with human suffering. That is the meaning of dignity.

-Pope Francis, Fratelli Tutti #68

SULO SA PAGTOO
(YOUTH FORMATION and CATECHESIS PROGRAM)
“Si Kristo ang Kahayag”
“Bring Jesus to the Young, Bring the Young to Jesus”
 Session guide
formation I: FROM DARKNESSCELEBRATION)
(NYD 2023-DIOCESAN TO LIGHT

-After processing, the group will pose for group photo ops and individually, be an OMG (Online Missionary of God) by
posting on social media your output.

VI- CLOSING PRAYER

TEACH ME TO LISTEN, LORD
Adapted by John Veltri, SJ,
as published in Hearts on Fire: Praying with the Jesuits

Teach me to listen, Lord To those nearest me My family, my friends, my fellow youth

Help me to be aware that No matter what words I hear The message is,
“Accept the person I am, Listen to me."

Teach me to listen, Lord To those far from me

The whisper of the hopeless The plea of the forgotten The cry of the anguished.

Teach me to listen, Lord To myself

Help me to be less afraid To trust the voice inside In the deepest part of me.

Teach me to listen, Lord For your voice

In busyness and in boredom In certainty and in doubt
In noise and in silence Teach me, Lord, to listen. Amen

SULO SA PAGTOO
(YOUTH FORMATION and CATECHESIS PROGRAM)
“Si Kristo ang Kahayag”
“Bring Jesus to the Young, Bring the Young to Jesus”
 Session guide
formation I: FROM DARKNESSCELEBRATION)
(NYD 2023-DIOCESAN TO LIGHT

CONSCIOUSNESS EXAMEN
(before the Holy Mass)

Before the Missioning Mass, we encourage that the participants are led through the Consciousness
Examen.

The Consciousness Examen is a prayer in the Ignatian Spiritual Tradition that helps individuals discern or
listen intently for God’s presence in the events of their life throughout the day, both in the ordinary and
ordinary moments. It also seeks to help us listen to the ways God calls us to deepen their rootedness
in love, be aware of our flaws, and try to consistently make more loving choices to be better disciples of
Christ.

GUIDED EXAMEN SCRIPT:

It has been a full day of learning, sharing, and reflecting. Many things have moved you. Many
things have inspired you. However, there were also things that perhaps bored you or distracted
you. Regardless,God meets us both in the ordinary and extraordinary moments of our day.
However, we need to pause, be still, and listen intently for God’s presence and God’s call in our day.

With that, before we have our mission mass, we take time to stop and to recall our day through the
Consciousness Examen.

Settling Down

(Begin playing soft instrumental music)

Take a comfortable position, seated on your chair or even on the floor. Set aside anything that
may distract you.
Nestle your hands gently on your lap with your palms open, ready to receive and to welcome
God.
(At this point you may re-use any of the mindfulness exercises or create your
own.)

More settled and more present, we offer this time to encounter God more deeply. We offer this
moment to be with Jesus who loves us deeply.

Grace

In the name of the Father and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit… Amen.

We beg for the grace to see you Jesus more clearly, to love you Jesus more dearly, and to follow
you Jesus more nearly, daily.

Gratitude

Begin by naming at least 3 things that you are grateful for today. No matter how big or
how small, or how brief.
What are you thankful for?
(Pause)

SULO SA PAGTOO
(YOUTH FORMATION and CATECHESIS PROGRAM)
“Si Kristo ang Kahayag”
“Bring Jesus to the Young, Bring the Young to Jesus”
 Session guide
formation I: FROM DARKNESSCELEBRATION)
(NYD 2023-DIOCESAN TO LIGHT

Allow that gratefulness to rest deep in your heart.

Allow your heart to feel the warmth that goodness brings.

Review

Now, go back to the beginning of your day.

In your mind’s eye, recall the events of the day like it’s a movie or a reel.

From the moment you woke up. Who made

you smile or laugh?
Recall people you spoke to, listened to. Recall the food
youate.

Gently, recall these moments briefly from the beginning to this moment.
Take note of how these moments made you feel whether pleasant or unpleasant.
If at any point you feel distracted, gently draw yourself back to this moment and breathe.
(Pause)
Now that you’ve recalled your day,
What are the highlights or best parts of your day?
What moments made you feel happy, and inspired, or you were kind and generous?
(Pause)

We thank Jesus for being present in these moments of light.

We let that joy dwell deep in our spirit, feeling God’s love and trust in us.

Healing

On the other hand, what were the low points?

Were there moments when you felt hurt, disturbed, or you were unkind to others and to God?

We say sorry to Jesus for being unkind and unloving. We also ask Jesus to
heal us from our hurts.
(Pause)

Our God is compassionate and slow to anger.

God forgives us for our weakness and remains confident in our goodness.

Hope

Lastly, we take this time to speak candidly with God. What do you hope for? Tell God about your
dreams for yourself and for others.

Ask God for theblessings and graces that you need. Take this opportunity to pray for the needs of people
close to you and those who need the most help.

Closing: Our Father

We thank God for this grace-filled day. As we together pray, the prayer Jesus taught us.
Our Father…

SULO SA PAGTOO
(YOUTH FORMATION and CATECHESIS PROGRAM)
“Si Kristo ang Kahayag”
“Bring Jesus to the Young, Bring the Young to Jesus”
 Session guide
formation I: FROM DARKNESSCELEBRATION)
(NYD 2023-DIOCESAN TO LIGHT

COVENANTS OF PRESENCE:
These principles are adapted from the Forum for Theological Exploration’s Covenants
of Presence which were inspired by Touchstones from the Center for Courage and
Renewal.[1]

“The shy soul cannot show up without the assurance of a safe relational space.”

Be fully present.
Set aside the usual distractions such as using your phone, thinking of things undone from
yesterday, and things to do tomorrow. Welcome others into this story space and presume you
are welcome as well.
Listen generously.
Listen intently to what is said; listen to the feelings beneath the words.
Own your story.
Use, I, my, Ako, para sa akin etc., and avoid using Our, We, Tayo, Ikaw, in sharing your personal
experience. Own your experience. We all have a story. Some might say, “I don’t have a story” or
“a story worth telling,” but you do, and the world needs to hear it. You must claim authorship
of your own story and learn to tell it to others so they might understand you, be inspired by
you and discover what calls you to be who you are, to do what you do, or to love what you love.
We come as equals.
Respect the dignity of each person. We don’t have the same gifts, limits, or experiences, but
no person’s gifts, limits or experiences are more or less important than another’s.
It’s never “share or die.”
Determine the extent you wish to share. Honor your level of comfort.
No fixing of personal experiences. We are here to witness God’s presence and movement in
the sacred stories we share.
Expect the discomfort of “dislocation.”
Some sharing may be new or may sometimes oppose your own opinions, thoughts, and beliefs.
Sometimes this could be learning opportunities. Be gentle and curious. Ask yourself, “Why is
this making me uncomfortable?”
Note: Inform the facilitator or organizer if at any point a member was discriminatory, disrespectful, or intentionally hurtful of another.

Turn to wonder.
If you find yourself becoming judgmental or cynical, try turning to wonder: “I wonder why she shared
that story or made those choices?” “I wonder what my reaction teaches me?” “I wonder what he’s
feeling right now?”

[1] “Covenants of Presence.” Forum for Theological Exploration. Accessed on November 12, 2023.
“https://fteleaders.org/uploads/files/cop.pdf

SULO SA PAGTOO
(YOUTH FORMATION and CATECHESIS PROGRAM)
“Si Kristo ang Kahayag”
“Bring Jesus to the Young, Bring the Young to Jesus”
 Session guide
formation I: FROM DARKNESSCELEBRATION)
(NYD 2023-DIOCESAN TO LIGHT

FACILITATOR’S GUIDE:

The role of facilitators in ensuring that participants come out of the experience learning something new about themselves
and their communities cannot be overstated. We would go so far even in saying that the facilitators and the way they would
handle the participants would be one of the most critical factors for the success of NYD.

On this note, it would be critical to pick the right facilitators for the program. Below are some considerations:

Preparedness:
Facilitators should be aware of the goals and objectives of the modules, and the general flow of the program. Having a clear
grasp of the program will help facilitators better engage the participants, and to explain the content more clearly. Being
prepared also helps facilitators adjust more easily to reach target goals. Preparation through content-loading (e.g. reading
Fratelli Tutti), is highly recommended.

Engaging and Clear Communication:

Facilitators should be clear in giving instructions to participants to ensure a smooth flow to the small group activity. They
should also have the capacity to engage and lead the participants towards full and active participation in the activities.

Active Listener:
The small group activity is designed in such a way that there will be many opportunities for participants to reflect on their
experience of activities, and to share their insights and internal movements to their co-participants. Creating a safe space
for sharing requires that the facilitator is an active listener and can mirror what is being said by his or her group. The main
sharers should be the participants; they should be given the most airtime to speak.

Asking the Right Questions:

To deepen insights, the skill of asking the right questions is crucial. Usually, there is a temptation for the facilitator to be
always sharing inputs, to teach, or to preach, but as much as possible, this should be resisted. The goal of the facilitator is
to ask the right questions during activities and processing to help individuals gain insights about themselves, to help make
it easy for participants to discover and learn together in a group, and to ensure everyone hears and is heard.

SULO SA PAGTOO
(YOUTH FORMATION and CATECHESIS PROGRAM)
“Si Kristo ang Kahayag”
“Bring Jesus to the Young, Bring the Young to Jesus”