St. John’s 

　
We, the St. John’s congregation, participated in the event as staff members. Although the program was only from 10:00 to 15:00, it was a great blessing for the participating youth to be able to have a time of prayer and sharing with others of the same age who share the same faith. The theme was "Every encounter is a gift from God - a time to deepen in fellowship. Based on the Gospel of Matthew 2:1-12, where the Doctors of the East arrived in Bethlehem under the guidance of the star ⭐, the participants deepened the theme through Father's sermon, silent prayer, group sharing, recreation, and Mass. From the passage where the doctors from the East offered Jesus gold, frankincense, and Myrrh, we learned from Father's lecture and the young people that it is important to open and accept the visible and invisible treasures in life that God has given us, as well as the wounds and weaknesses that we tend to hide, in our interactions with each other. I learned from Father's lecture and the young people's relationship with each other. The age group of 16-25 years old is a time to polish the gemstones that will shine brightly in their lives. By the end of the meditation session, everyone's faces were shining brightly and overflowing with joy at having encountered Jesus. We, the John's congregation, participated as staff members and received great joy and grace. We pray that the fruit of this silent contemplation will be even more abundant in preparation for the Nativity. Thank you, Father Andrea and all the staff for your hard work. In gratitude and joy!