Priest to WYD delegates: Do not sin, come home to PHL

A Filipino Salesian priest urged Philippine delegates to the recent World Youth Day celebration not to commit a sin by illegally overstaying in Spain. In a news release on the Salesians of Don Bosco website on Thursday, Father Noel Osial, SDB, rector of the Don Bosco Provincial House, said staying illegally in Spain or other European countries is "immoral." “Filipino delegates who are still in Spain or other European countries should come back to the Philippines since the World Youth Day in Madrid ended almost two weeks ago," he said. Meanwhile, Osial said, “All Don Bosco delegates to the World Youth Day have returned. I hope and pray that the other delegates will do the same." The Salesians of Don Bosco oversee schools, youth centers, technical-training centers and parishes all over the Philippines. Do not betray Church Osial urged the Filipino delegates who are in Spain “not to betray the trust of the Spanish and various European governments, and the trust of the Philippine Catholic Church as well." “Do not sin. Please come home and honor your promise of returning," he added. The Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) on August 31 said that only 70 percent or 299 of the 427 official delegates have arrived in the Philippines . The Schengen visas issued to the delegates will expire in mid-September. Schengen visas, issued by certain European states including Spain, may be used in the issuing countries. The World Youth Day was held last August 16 to 21, 2011. Many Filipino delegates who attended the WYD 2002 in Canada and WYD 2005 in Germany did not return to the Philippines. There were no reports of WYD 2008 delegates who illegally stayed in Australia. World Youth Day According to the 2011 WYD website, the event "is a great worldwide encounter with the Pope which is celebrated every three years in a different country." The intent of the WYD is to "share with the whole world the hope of many young people who want to commit themselves to Christ and others," the website said. The WYD is "open to all young people who want to take part in a festive encounter with their contemporaries centered on Jesus Christ," it added. - VVP, GMA News