18/10/2025
สษช๊ฐษช ๊ฑแดษดแด
แดส
๏ผฒ๏ฝ
๏ฝ๏ฝ๏ฝ
๏ฝ๏ฝ๏ฝ๏ฝ๏ฝ
๐๐ ๐๐๐ ๐ฒ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐
๐๐ ๐๐๐ ๐ผ๐๐๐๐ ๐๐ ๐๐๐ ๐ป๐๐๐๐ข ๐ธ๐ถ๐ธ๐ป
๐๐ก ๐๐๐ฅ๐๐ฆ๐งโ๐ฆ ๐๐ข๐ข๐ง๐ฆ๐ง๐๐ฃ๐ฆ
๐๐ ๐ข๐ฒ๐ผ. ๐๐ช๐ป๐ธ๐ต ๐. ๐ฃ๐พ๐ป๐ญ๐ฒ๐ต
Dear Siblings:
As we celebrate Youth Week in this Month of the Laity, and mark the 55th anniversary of our organization, the Youth of the Iglesia Filipina Independiente, we are reminded of a powerful truth: Our journey as young Christians is not a passive one. We are called not merely to admire Jesus from afar, but to walk closely in His footsteps. This yearโs theme, โHandang Sumunod sa mga Yapak ni Hesus,โ invites us to reflect on how our lives echo the life and mission of Christ โ not just in words, but in how we choose to live, serve and love.
The triennial theme โ โPagpamatuod sa makasaysayanong kabilin, natibker iti pammati ti Diyos, pagpanglakaton sa tanan nga Kabuhatanโ โ has shaped our hearts and directed our mission.
For the past three years, we have been guided to be equipped to respond to the themeโs calling. We began in 2023 with a return to our foundations through formation and inner renewal (โNililinang, hinahamon para sa tunay na paglilingkodโ) and, in 2024, we moved into active participation in the Churchโs liberating mission (โMaalab na yumayakap sa misyon ng mapagpalayang simbahanโ). Now, amid the final year of our three-year journey, we are being called not just to be formed, or to be sent, but to truly follow. To walk. To live.
๐๐๐ ๐ ๐ ๐๐๐๐๐จ๐๐ซ๐ ๐จ๐ฉ๐๐ฅ
The past two years laid the groundwork โ forming us within and moving us into mission. Now, in our third and final year for this term, we are invited to take a decisive step: to truly follow in the footsteps of Christ.
But to follow is not simply to imitate His actions, it is to embrace His heart. Ang pagsunod ay hindi lamang kilos, kundi puso. Following Christ is not just about what we do โ itโs about who we are becoming. It means walking in love, in truth, in justice and in service. It is to make His life our pattern. It is to choose compassion over comfort, truth over popularity, and faith over fear.
And this journey, let us be honest, is not easy. In our world today:
โข Where lies are often louder than truth, following Jesus means being bearers of truth โ through facts and a life of integrity.
โข Where inequality persists and the poor are overlooked, following Jesus means standing with the marginalized and working for justice.
โข Where corruption is normalized and historical revisionism is tolerated, following Jesus means speaking truth to power and defending what is right, even when it is unpopular.
To walk in Jesusโ footsteps today is to live a courageous faith; one that is visible, vibrant and rooted in love. It is to say yes to God even when we feel afraid, unworthy or unsure. Readiness does not mean perfection. It means willingness.
๐๐ช๐๐ก๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐ฎ ๐๐ค๐'๐จ ๐๐ง๐๐๐
In this same spirit of calling and courage, we also reflect on this yearโs Laity Month theme: โAglipayan Lay: Qualified by God for Christโs Mission Todayโ (2 Timothy 1:9-10). This reminds us that our qualification for Christโs mission does not come from human standards, but from Godโs grace. We are called not because we are perfect but because we are willing, and because God has empowered us through Christ for a holy purpose. It is the same calling we, as youth, now receive to walk in the footsteps of Jesus, trusting that God equips those whom He calls.
As we commemorate 55 years of the Youth of the Iglesia Filipina Independiente, we look back with gratitude. We honor the many young leaders who came before us โ those who dreamed, built, served and led with conviction. Their legacy is our inheritance.
But, more importantly, we also look around to the current leaders, volunteers and members who continue to serve faithfully. You are the heartbeat of this movement. You are not merely preserving the legacy, you are expanding it. Every action you take, every initiative you lead, every voice you raise in the name of faith and justice, these are the new footprints in the sand. You are making the way clear for those who will come after us.
๐๐๐จ๐๐๐ก๐ ๐๐ฃ ๐ค๐ช๐ง ๐๐ค๐ข๐ข๐ช๐ฃ๐๐ฉ๐๐๐จ
As we celebrate this Youth Week, the Month of the Laity and our 55th anniversary, may we all ask ourselves: Are we ready to follow Jesus โ not only in thought, but in life?
May we be youth who are not afraid to take the hard road. Who are not satisfied with comfort and silence. Who will follow the footsteps of Jesus wherever they lead.
May we walk with each other. Walk with the people. Walk with faith.
When we walk in the footsteps of Jesus, we do not walk alone โ we walk with purpose, with courage and with God. Let us commit, as youth and laity, to make Christโs footsteps visible in our communities.
Sa paggunita ng nakaraan, sa pagtugon sa kasalukuyan at sa pagtahak sa hinaharap โ tayoโy manatiling handa sa pagsunod sa mga yapak ni Hesus.
With Christ in service,
CAROL B. TURDIL
Youth of the Iglesia Filipina Independiente
National Secretariat Member
