‘Go therefore and make disciples of all nations’

With the above pronouncements, Jesus gave to the apostles all that they need for a successful apostolate: power/authority, commission/mission, promise of Christ’s presence. The above is the theme of the third National Youth Day coming up in Onitsha, 7-11 August 2012. The National Youth Day (NYD) is the largest Catholic youth event in Nigeria, a […]

With the above pronouncements, Jesus gave to the apostles all that they need for a successful apostolate: power/authority, commission/mission, promise of Christ’s presence.

The above is the theme of the third National Youth Day coming up in Onitsha, 7-11 August 2012. The National Youth Day (NYD) is the largest Catholic youth event in Nigeria, a miniature celebration of the World Youth Day (WYD). WYD is a time when His Holiness Benedict XVI celebrates with the entire Catholic Youths in the world. It is an event that started formerly in 1986 after the presentation of the WYD Cross in 1984 by Blessed John Paul II to the Catholic youths in Rome.

WYD is celebrated every year, first at the diocesan level, the second year at the national level while the third year at the international level. Each year His Holiness gives out a WYD a message which forms the focus for youth apostolate all over the world. The National Youth Day is therefore celebrated in anticipation of the World Youth Day. NYD 2012 is being celebrated in anticipation of the WYD, Brazil 2013.

The first NYD 2008: The first National Youth Day was celebrated with about 2,000 people. The theme was “you shall be my witness” (Acts 1:18). It was well celebrated and participants were challenged to be Christ’s witness in the world where there is war, violence, hate, bitterness and malice. The young participants drawn from the 52 dioceses of Nigeria covering the 36 states of Nigeria were tasked with the challenges of peace building in Nigeria.

The leaders of each group were mandated to organise a set down to reach out to other young people from their dioceses who could not participate in the programme. With this step down organised by the 52 dioceses, we would say with confidence that the fruit of NYD 2008 would have reached over one million Nigerian youths in different parts of the country, especially those in the remotest part of the country where other media would never have reached.

NYD 2010: The second NYD was celebrated in anticipation of the 26th WYD, Madrid 2011, with the theme “Rooted and built up in Jesus Christ, firm in the faith” (Col. 4:7). Two thousand one hundred and eighty-six delegates were drawn from all the states in Nigeria with over 5,000 participants. It was wonderful, to have a time to impact on young people positively in an atmosphere of love and joy. While challenging them to be rooted in Christ, with all the attendant implications, the participants were challenged on a number of social drives necessary for the collective emancipation of a better Nigeria. They include: good governance by the senate president, millennium development goals agenda by the senior special assistant to president on MDGs, integral rebranding by minister of information and youth empowerment by NDE.

NYD 2012: The third NYD will be celebrated in anticipation of the WYD, Brazil 2013 and the theme of this celebration is “Go therefore and make disciples of all nations” (Mt. 28:19). We have selected best teachers from among the hierarchies of the church to minister to the delegates. This is likely to be the most attended NYD owing to the publicity set in place for this, and the choice of date will enable all those willing to come to participate. If we have youths who are disciples, then vices like crime, terrorism, cultism, robbery and all anti-social activities will be eliminated from the Nigerian state.

Preparations: Catholic youths have been well mobilized and they are looking forward to this singular event which brings together all the different Catholic youth groups. We have organised an effective grassroots sensitization in every diocese across the federation. We have the most effective machinery even more than every group or organisation to effectively reach the youths at every level. We will soon begin to air the anthem/jingles in the media and with flag off campaign/road shows in many states, we would be able to sensitize the Nigerian public about this great event.

Rev. Fr. Ndubisi is National Youth Animator/Secretary CBCN Youth Committee & Coordinator of the third NYD