Filipino youth promote Fr. McGivney’s sainthood bid during WYD in Poland
Father Michael McGivney may not be a household name. Not yet.
But efforts by a group of Filipino youth are fruitful, the founder of the Knights of Columbus will one day be recognized as John Vianney, Padre Pio, and John Paul II.
The YouthPinoy (YP), a network of different Catholic youth organizations, has volunteered to help promote Fr. McGivney’s cause for canonization during the week-long World Youth Day celebrations in Krakow, Poland in July.
The group and the Father Mcgivney Office-Philippines (FMO-PH) have teamed up for the promotion campaign by distributing prayer cards to WYD pilgrims from all across the world.
The YouthPinoy has been helping FMO-PH in spreading the Cause of Fr. McGivney in their local activities because of his known love and mission for the young people.
As “online missionaries,” the group is also active in promoting Fr. McGivney thru the use of social media.
Chrixy Paguirigan, YP online editor, said Fr. McGivney has always been a role model who saw the importance of family security, especially for the young people.
“With Fr. McGivney who has always been a protector of life and family, we make sure the efforts, motivation, and influence of people like him is given credit by exposing his story on our events and pages,” she said.
“By introducing Fr. McGivney to the people we meet, about what he did and what impact he left in the world, we hope and pray that more people will follow his lead and inspiration,” said Paguirigan.
During the “Days in the Diocese” held a week before the WYD proper, they also distributed prayer cards to priests, volunteers, laypeople and WYD pilgrims who stayed in Warsaw.
YP President Michael Laxina himself was among the volunteers who joined in the mission.
He said inviting people to ask for Fr. McGivney’s intercession is a good way to build communication and community among the youth and to invite them to pray more.
“Spreading the Good News is one of our key objectives in life and being given chance to share the good news about Fr. McGivney’s ministry and path to sainthood is both an honor and privilege,” Laxina said. (Ron Regino)
