About Us

2023 December 01 – 2025 November 30

CHAIRMAN
Most Rev. Rex Andrew C. Alarcon, DD, Bishop of Daet
VICE CHAIRMAN
Most Rev. Bartolome G. Santos Jr., DD, Bishop of Iba

MEMBERS
Most Rev. Marvyn A. Maceda, DD, Bishop of San Jose (Antique)
Most Rev. Patrick Daniel Y. Parcon, DD, Bishop of Talibon
Most Rev. Marcelino Antonio M. Maralit Jr., DD, Bishop of Boac
Most Rev. Moises M. Cuevas, Vicar Apostolic of Apostolic Vicariate of Calapan

EXECUTIVE SECRETARY
Rev. Fr. Ramon Jade Licuanan

VISION

We, the ECY, envision empowered men and women, clergy, religious and lay youth ministers molding Filipino catholic youth.
We envision us, the ECY, the CBCP commissions, dioceses, the national youth movements and other youth-related organizations in deep synergy for the realization of policies and advocacies for the millennial youth.
We envision an engaged, harmonious and collective journey with young people who are Christ-centered and inflamed by the spirit of evangelization.

MISSION

The episcopal commission on youth is an animating, coordinating and policy making body of the catholic bishops’ conference of the Philippines.
Following the example of Jesus in the Emmaus story (Lk 2413-35), it dynamically assists youth ministers in the Philippines in their journey with young people towards their maturity in Christ.

VALUES

Inspired and moved by Christ’s response to the young man’s search for the fullness of life (Mk 10:17), we, the ECY: In relation to our recipients,

  • Practice Charity; love and understanding
  • Courageously witness to the faith
  • Confront youth ministers with the Word of God and with the Truth
  • Call/inspire them to conversion and discipleship
  • Challenge them to mission

Among ourselves,

  • Exhibit a joyful spirit of family
  • Live as a community of disciples
  • Root our work and relationship in prayer
  • Value openness, creativity, and humility
  • Show team professionalism and zeal
  • Practice dynamism and synergy

Services

  • Facilitates the collation of modules and programs of formation coordinates sharing of resources
  • Recognizes best practices in the various settings
  • Provides opportunities that assist in raising settings
  • Provides opportunities that assist in raising the quality of doing youth ministry
  • Links youth ministers in the Philippines with their counterparts around the world
  • Promotes vocations
  • Provides data on youth situations and trending

HISTORY

The ECY was initially a committee under the Episcopal Commission on Lay Apostolate (ECLA) during the period 1976 -1985. This period marked the rise of national youth organizations and movements and the creation of youth ministry structures within the dioceses. Diocesan youth directors, coordinators, and leaders head these structures. During the NCYM in January 1986 in Tagaytay City, the delegates, composed of the youth directors, coordinators, and leaders, proposed for the creation of a separate commission specifically for the youth.

THE BASES FOR ITS CREATION ARE THE FOLLOWING:

  • That majority of the population belongs to the youth
  • That the ECLA, dominated by lay adults with their own unique needs and concerns, cannot adequately meet the particular demands of ministering to the young
  • That the youth and youth ministry exhibit unique needs and aspirations—calling for a corresponding response that is concrete, adequate, and complete
  • That the youth deserve fuller and more direct representation and participation in the Philippine Church.

The bishops acknowledged the need for a commission that addresses all youth ministry concerns distinctively. During the CBCP Plenary Assembly in June 1986, they unanimously approved the creation of the ECY.

IDENTITY, TASKS, AND FUNCTIONS
The ECY is the office of the CBCP that addresses the concerns and needs of the youth, and of the ministry among them. As a separate commission under the CBCP, it is tasked to:

  • Undertake studies and periodic research on the situation (needs, aspirations, problems, etc.) of the Filipino youth
  • Draw up policies and propose formation and pastoral programs that are relevant to the needs of the youth and the
  • youth ministers of the regions, ecclesiastical territories, and youth organizations
  • Facilitate an exchange of formation materials among the dioceses and youth organizations
  • Provide youth ministers opportunities to grow in the faith, to inspire and challenge them, and to make them capable and efficient leaders in the Church
  • Establish and maintain the National Secretariat for Youth Apostolate, headed by a National Director
  • Establish relationship and collaboration with its youth counterpart in other countries, such as the Federation of Asian Bishops’ Conferences (FABC) and the Pontifical Council for the Laity (PCL), among others, through an exchange of information, documentations, programs, and invitation to international youth conventions or forums.

As a CBCP commission, the ECY has the responsibility and authority for reviewing and making recommendations and objectives, plans, programs and policies for the youth sector, for approval by the CBCP Plenary Assembly or by the CBCP Permanent Council. It also oversees and evaluates the implementation of such programs and policies. It is also open to duties which the CBCP President may assign, aside from those duties already existent.

The ECY also prepares and submits to the CBCP Permanent Council a report of its activities together with its recommendations. The council may require the ECY to submit an earlier report of a particular matter entrusted to it, when the situation so demands.

With the creation of the ECY, other structures of youth ministry were also officially established and recognized. From the regional to the parish levels, these structures enjoy sufficient flexibility of organization in order to respond to the realities and needs of their own youth and youth ministry. It is left to them to identify their effective style of operation, possibly using the recommendations stipulated in this directory.

MEETINGS
The commission meets at least twice a year. It may be summoned by the CBCP Permanent Council for a special meeting, alone or with other commissions, when the occasion so warrants. For a meeting, absolute majority of the members constitute a quorum. Approval or disapproval of decisions and resolutions of the commission would need an absolute majority of those present. The Executive Secretary prepares the agenda for the meeting, in consultation with the Chairman. He/She also prepares the minutes of the commission meetings, for approval of the members. Copies of the minutes are submitted to the CBCP Permanent Council for information and appropriate action.

Under the auspices of the ECY, the youth ministers gather bi-annually for the National Conference for Youth Ministers (NCYM), for the general purpose of having a venue for formation and fellowship for youth ministers. On the other hand, the regional youth coordinating councils gather yearly for the National Youth Coordinating Council (NYCC), which serves as the advisory body of the ECY.

COMPOSITION
A Bishop-Chairman heads the ECY. With him is a minimum of five to a maximum of seven members in the commission, inclusive of him. A Vice-Chairman, the other member-bishops, and the Executive Secretary of the commission assist him.

The CBCP Secretary General is the Coordinator of Episcopal Commissions and Committees. As such, he is an ex-officio member of the ECY with a consultative vote.

  1. Election and Appointment
    The CBCP Plenary Assembly elects the chairman of the ECY from among its members. The elected chairman chooses the members of the commission, after consulting the list of preferences and after conferring with other commission chairmen. It is desired that all the three regions of Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao are represented in the membership of each commission. The chairman also designates his vice-chairman from among the members, and appoints an executive secretary.
  2. Tenure of Office
    The ECY chairman and members serves a term of two years. No one may be a chairman for more than a cumulative number of five terms in the same commission.

THE EPISCOPAL COMMISION ON YOUTH – NATIONAL SECRETARIAT FOR YOUTH APOSTOLATE (ECY-NSYA)
At the national level, the ECY maintains the National Secretariat for Youth Apostolate (NSYA). In 1986, it created the NSYA to serve as its implementing arm.


VISION AND MISSION
The ECY-NSYA is a community of youth ministers, joyfully living out their faith in Jesus Christ, at the service of the ECY, implementing the ECY’s directives, and fostering an open and collaborative ministry with its fellow youth ministers in the ecclesiastical territories and national youth organizations.

NATURE
The ECY-NSYA is the implementing arm and liaison of the ECY. As such, it is an office established and maintained by the ECY. The NSYA is managed by a Director, who is also the Executive Secretary of the ECY. A team of full-time staff and a pool of volunteers who are all youth ministers assist him/her.


FUNCTIONS

  1. Communications
    The NSYA functions as a conduit of information on youth ministry. It maintains communication with the youth ministry offices of the dioceses and national youth organizations. It transmits initiatives of the ECY to these offices. It also brings the needs and concerns of these entities to the attention of the ECY. Likewise, it establishes and strengthens linkages with government and non-government offices and other local and international entities, thus ensuring exchange of information.
  2. Liaison and Representation
    The NSYA serves as link of the ECY with the youth ministry offices of the dioceses and national youth organizations, and also with other bodies related to youth. In connection to this, it sends official representatives to events, meetings, and gatherings concerning youth and youth ministry. It also attends and participates in any event, meeting or gathering which is of interest to the ECY.
  3. Coordination and Networking
    Part of the functions of the NSYA is to coordinate the projects of the ECY with the youth ministry offices of the dioceses and national youth organizations. It strengthens networking with the various CBCP commissions and offices, and again with other GOs and NGOs.
  4. Monitoring
    The NSYA follows up the progress and ensures completion of the initiatives, programs, and projects of the ECY in the youth ministries of the dioceses, national youth organizations, and other concerned structures.
  5. Animation
    The NSYA launches the initiatives of the ECY in the areas of formation, organization, and mobilization of the young. It sensitizes the diocesan youth ministries and national youth organizations regarding the urgency of ministering to the youth.
  6. Implementation
    This is its main function: to implement initiatives, programs and projects of the ECY, and to perform other similar functions as delegated by the ECY.
  7. Research and Documentation
    The NSYA also undertakes periodic studies and research about the Filipino youth: their current situation, needs and aspirations, among others.
    It maintains documentation of pertinent data and information on youth ministry, including news clippings, articles, books, and other literature and resources.
    The NSYA also documents national, regional, and diocesan youth events, especially those under the auspices of the ECY. It also requests for and maintains a file of yearly youth ministry reports from the dioceses and national youth organizations.

STAFF
The full-time staff members of the NSYA are professionals who underwent appropriate training for their duties and responsibilities, thus well equipped for the functions attached to the NSYA as an office. They continue to take further personal, professional, and ministerial formation and enhancement during their stay in the NSYA. They are regarded as
employees who have security of tenure.