By Sr. Laurencila, FSSA.
The Young Christian Students of the Catholic Diocese of Tombura-Yambio held their first Recollection of 2026 at St. Jude Catholic Spiritual Centre on May 22, focusing on how daily choices shape future outcomes and the importance of building Strong Spiritual Foundations through Prayer and the Sacraments.
The day-long program, themed “Building Your Future with the Choices You Make Today,” brought together students for spiritual reflection, teaching, and sacramental celebration under the guidance of Reverend Father Emmanuel Anosike of the Missionaries Servants of the Needy. who is the Students Chaplain in CDTY.
The recollection began with the Holy Rosary, songs, and Eucharistic Adoration, creating an atmosphere of prayer and contemplation that set the tone for the day’s activities. Father Anosike delivered two talks exploring how the small choices students make in the present will shape their future, emphasizing that seemingly minor daily decisions accumulate to determine the trajectory of one’s life.
Spiritual Formation and Sacramental Life
The program included reflection on building a strong life through daily prayer, development of good habits, and regular reception of the sacraments of Confession and Holy Communion. Father Anosike emphasized that spiritual disciplines practiced during youth establish patterns that sustain faith throughout life and provide the moral compass necessary for making wise choices.
The recollection concluded with the celebration of Holy Mass, allowing students to participate in the central act of Catholic worship and receive the Eucharist as spiritual nourishment for the journey ahead.
Gratitude and Success
In his report to Bishop Barani Eduardo Hiiboro Kussala, Father Anosike expressed gratitude for the opportunity to serve the youth and described the program as a success, giving thanks to God for the grace of the day. The positive response from students and the spiritual fruit evident during the recollection suggest that the Young Christian Students movement is providing meaningful formation for Catholic youth in the diocese.
The Young Christian Students movement has long been an important vehicle for Catholic youth formation, providing structured opportunities for spiritual growth, leadership development, and community building among students at secondary and tertiary levels. Through recollections, retreats, meetings, and service projects, YCS helps young Catholics integrate faith with daily life and prepares them to be active members of the Church and responsible citizens.
The theme chosen for this recollection reflects wisdom particularly relevant to young people who face numerous choices about education, relationships, character formation, and life direction. By emphasizing that future outcomes are determined by present choices, Father Anosike helped students understand their agency and responsibility in shaping their own lives rather than being passive victims of circumstance.
The emphasis on daily prayer, good habits, and sacramental life provides practical tools that students can immediately apply. Rather than abstract theological teaching disconnected from lived experience, this approach equips young people with concrete spiritual practices that can sustain them through the challenges of adolescence and young adulthood.
St. Jude Catholic Spiritual Centre, where the recollection was held, provides an appropriate setting for such programs, offering a peaceful environment conducive to prayer and reflection away from the distractions of daily life. The centre serves as an important resource for the diocese in facilitating retreats, recollections, and other spiritual formation activities for various groups.
As the Catholic Diocese of Tombura-Yambio continues its mission of integral human development under Bishop Hiiboro’s leadership, youth formation through movements like YCS represents essential investment in the future of the Church and society. Young people who develop strong faith foundations, moral character, and habits of prayer during their formative years are more likely to become committed Catholic adults who contribute positively to their communities and nation.
The success of this first YCS recollection of 2026 bodes well for continued youth ministry in the diocese and suggests that students are hungry for spiritual guidance and opportunities to deepen their relationship with God during this critical stage of life
