MANILA, January 15, 2010—In response to the call of the Holy Father to use the digital world in proclaiming the Gospel, a website for the young Filipino Catholic will be officially launch on January 16, 2010 at the Plaza Mayor of the University of Sto. Tomas in Manila.

The website is a project of YouthPinoy an organization under the auspices of the Episcopal Commission on Youth (ECY) and Media Office of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines.

In view of its objectives, YouthPinoy is also referred to as “online missionaries” since their battle cry which is “winning the world through the world” will primarily harness the Internet as a tool in new evangelization.

In a forum held early this week, Legaspi Bishop Joel Baylon, Chairman of ECY, said that this website is an opportunity for young people “to meet their fellow young where they can chat, share their stories and activities, and establish connections and healthy friendships.”

“They can also browse and search for information about certain Church and faith issues; and where they can reach out to those others who are in search for meaning in life, and share with them their varied experiences of being members of church-based youth groups or national youth organizations so that they may also come to know God who is Love and Joy, Truth and Life,” the prelate added.

Among its pioneering members are the Federation of National Youth Organization (FNYO); Couples For Christ (CFC), Dominican Network (DomNet); Ministry for Youth Affairs of the Archdiocese of Manila (MYA-RCAM); Prolife Philippines; Filipino-Chinese Catholic Youth (FCCY); SalesianYouth Movement (SYM); Canossian Youth Movement (CYM); society of the St. Vincent de Paul (SSVP); Knights of Columbus-Columbian Squires (KC Squires); Institucion Teresiana Youth (IT); Chiro Youth Movement - Philippines; Student Catholic Action of the Philippines (SCA-RP) and the Tarcisian Adorers.

Baylon also affirmed that through this website the Catholic Church will be able to reach out to the young people and provide them with the appropriate values in the face of social issues besetting the country today.

“Nakikita ko rin na ang kabataan ay unti unting nahuhubog sa maling pananaw… sa Sangguninang kabataan pa lang ay nandun na ang pagbibili ng boto. Kung hindi natin ipapahayag na mali yun (ang pagbili ng boto) aakalain ng kabataan na ganun ang normal na pamamaraan ng paghahalal… na dadaanin sa pera,” he said, adding:

“Ito (the website) ay isang munting alay namin sa kabataan na nakikita kong isa sa pinakamahalaga, kung hindi man ang pinakamahalagang bahagi ng lipunan, na magiging instrumento ng pagbabago sa ating bansa.”

The Apostolic Nuncio to the Philippines, Archbishop Edward Joseph Adams, will preside at the Eucharistic celebration that will highlight the website launch. Together with about 5,000 young people some bishops and priests are expected to grace the signal event. (Kate Laceda).

Archbishop Edward Joseph Adams