Catholic Youth Organization
Encyclopedia
Roman Catholic Church
The Catholic Church, also known as the Roman Catholic Church, is the world's largest Christian church, with over a billion members. Led by the Pope, it defines its mission as spreading the gospel of Jesus Christ, administering the sacraments and exercising charity...
. Usually each group uses the church for meeting and gathering, although some have their own premises. It was initiated by Bishop Bernard J. Sheil of Chicago
Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Chicago
The Archdiocese of Chicago was established as a diocese in 1843 and as an Archdiocese in 1880. It serves more than 2.3 million Catholics in Cook and Lake counties in Northeastern Illinois, a geographic area of 1,411 square miles. The Archdiocese is divided into six vicariates and 31 deaneries...
in the year 1930.
The organization's main purposes are guiding the young Catholics to live a Christian
Christianity
Christianity is a monotheistic religion based on the life and teachings of Jesus as presented in canonical gospels and other New Testament writings...
life from a young age, developing trust between peers, and living a happy life in a positive manner.
Activities vary in accordance with local culture but often includes prayer
Prayer
Prayer is a form of religious practice that seeks to activate a volitional rapport to a deity through deliberate practice. Prayer may be either individual or communal and take place in public or in private. It may involve the use of words or song. When language is used, prayer may take the form of...
, singing, charity, sales, sports and visiting the sick. In the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
, CYO is mainly known for its organized sports programs, notably boxing, basketball, baseball, track and field, and volleyball, as well as marching band
Marching band
Marching band is a physical activity in which a group of instrumental musicians generally perform outdoors and incorporate some type of marching with their musical performance. Instrumentation typically includes brass, woodwinds, and percussion instruments...
s. Its athletic contests are often so competitive that CYO has been jokingly described as "Crush Your Opponents."
There are also active units of this organization in the Philippines
Philippines
The Philippines , officially known as the Republic of the Philippines , is a country in Southeast Asia in the western Pacific Ocean. To its north across the Luzon Strait lies Taiwan. West across the South China Sea sits Vietnam...
. Most units are choirs of their parishes, and they also organize various activities under sports, spiritual, social, cultural, formation, ways and means, and membership committees. All of these projects have helped in nurturing the faith of the Filipino Christian youth, their holistic growth, leadership capabilities, cultural and artistic talents, love for the family, and for the community. CYO in the Philippines was founded by Fr. George J. Willman in the year 1938, with Loreto Parish in Sampaloc, Manila
Manila
Manila is the capital of the Philippines. It is one of the sixteen cities forming Metro Manila.Manila is located on the eastern shores of Manila Bay and is bordered by Navotas and Caloocan to the north, Quezon City to the northeast, San Juan and Mandaluyong to the east, Makati on the southeast,...
as the pilot unit. Its National Chaplain, Emeritus is Msgr. Francisco Tantoco, and Fr. Jerome Cruz as National Chaplain. CYO's Founder's Day is celebrated every 29th of June, which is also Fr. George J. Willman's birthday.
The largest Catholic youth organization in the world is CFC-Youth for Christ, which is based in the Philippines and established in 160 countries worldwide together with its community, Couples for Christ
Couples for Christ
The Couples for Christ is an international Catholic lay ecclesial movement whose goal is to renew and strengthen Christian family life and values. It is one of 122 International Associations of the Faithful The organization was affiliated with the Vatican recognition from the Pontifical Council...
. Another Youth movement that has risen from the continent of Asia is Jesus Youth
Jesus Youth
Jesus Youth is an International Youth Movement in the Catholic Church. The Movement evolved as an outcome of the Charismatic revival that spread across India in the mid-seventies...
, spread across 25 countries in the world. There is a gathering every two (or three) years for the young Catholics of the world called World Youth Day
World Youth Day
World Youth Day is a youth-oriented Catholic Church event. While the event itself celebrates the Catholic faith, the invitation to attend extends to all youth, regardless of religious convictions....
. Rexband
Rexband
Rexband is the first Catholic band from the Indian subcontinent to be invited to the World Youth Day performance in 2002 at Toronto. From then, they have been consistently invited for the later World Youth days in 2005 at Cologne, in 2008 at Sydney and in 2011 held at Madrid...
, the music ministry of Jesus Youth is the only music band from Asia to perform during World Youth Day 2002
World Youth Day 2002
The 17th World Youth Day 2002 was a Catholic youth festival held from July 23 to July 28, 2002 in Toronto, Canada. World Youth Day is a celebration of faith begun by Pope John Paul II held on an international level every two to three years, and WYD2002 was the tenth such event. It was also Pope...
, held in Canada. In 2008, it was held in Sydney from 15th to 20th July.