PrOJECT
SPONSORS

The working committee of this project is composed of the following:
Chairperson - Mercelita "Mercy" J. Labial
Vice Chairperson - Jannie Lou "Jan-jan" R. Atillo
Secretary - Grace T. Milar
Assistant Secretary - Jocelyn "Joy" G. Ranario
Treasurer - Monette Roxas
Press Relations Officer - Heidi Grace P. Mendoza
Assistant Press Relations Officer - Shirley "She" Mejorada
Lens Lady - Ma. Cecilia "Cecil" Silmaro

A Day in His Presence (Sponsor-A-Confirmation) is a spiritual formation project for the less privileged youth of Metro Cagayan de Oro. The Baby Jaycees 2000 Batch II or the "Mataid"* Batch firmly believe that the spiritual formation of an individual is basic in the attainment of a person's total formation.

Confirmation is a sacramental rite administered to baptized persons, confirming or strengthening their faith, and admitting them to all the privileges of the church.

Confirmation is a sacrament given to persons who have the use of reason. This age of reason ranges from 10 years and onwards. Usually, students who are in grades 5 and 6 are prepared by the school or the catechists in the school to receive the sacrament of Confirmation. However, for schools which are non-sectarian and where there are no enough catechists, the sacrament of Cofirmation is left to the initiative of the parents.

A problem arises when the responsibility is left to the parents; since sometimes, the parents themselves are inadequate. They are inadequate in terms of spiritual orientation, time, finances and effort. Considering the nature of the jobs and conditions of these parents, it is a bleak possibility that they would initiate the receiving of the sacrament of Confirmation of their children.

In this bleak possibility came the opportunity for the Bai Lawanen Baby Jaycees Batch II to lead these young people to the spiritual formation that they ought to have, in order for them to become wholistically-formed and better citizens and members of their community.

Bai Lawanen Baby Jaycees Batch II and chapter officers during one of their meetings for the "A Day In His Presence" Project. [August 2000]

The project was aimed to enable the Bai Lawanen Jaycee chapter to support, affirm and exemplify the JCI creed which states: "That faith in God gives meaning and purpose to human life and that service to humanity is the best work of life." It was also an avenue that provides the chapter members an increased awareness of the importance of the spiritual formation of the youth. Likewise, the project increases the community's awareness of the role and the purpose of existence of the Bai Lawanen Jaycees in the community.

The Batch coordinated with Msgr. Tex Legitimas of the St. Augustine Cathedral in coming up with the beneficiaries of the project. The less privileged individuals from Barangay Nazareth were identified as the major beneficiary of the project and the whole batch of confirmandi** for the month of September from all over Metro Cagayan de Oro as the minor beneficiary.

Bai Lawanen Jaycees with confirmandi.[Sep]

Working closely with the catechists of St. Augustine Cathedral, the "Mataid" Batch helped organize the spiritual formation seminar needed before an individual goes through the sacrament of Confirmation. The batch raised funds to provide writing materials and snacks for the 250 confirmandi during the seminar on the first day, 2 September 2000. On the second day, Sunday, 3 September, during the Holy Mass, the Baby Jaycees and Regular Members stood as sponsors during the rite of Confirmation and gave gifts to the project's major beneficiaries. A short program during the lunch and fellowship after the Confirmaiton rites culminated the project.

The Batch wrapped up the project grateful and fulfilled that they have become a contributing force in bringing to life the tenets of the Jaycee Creed.

Mataid* - Muslim term for fair and beautiful lady
confirmandi** - plural term for persons who shall receive Confirmation