Breviarian Big Tent Festival
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It is a week-long gathering of
vibrant young people eager to deepen their faith in God especially their love
for the Eucharistic Jesus and worshipping Him through the beauty of the Liturgy,
dynamic talks and workshops. Naturally,
relationship with our neighbor is of vital importance. Hence, there is also a big room for
fellowship, songs, games and animations.
☺ WHAT ARE THE OBJECTIVES OF THE BREVIARIAN BIG TENT FESTIVAL?
Our primary goal is for us to fall in love with Holy Mother Church - the Mystical Body of Christ, and to be one with Jesus, the Head... That in order for us to keep the Eucharistic life alive and growing, we should nurture it by our deep appreciation of the active participation in the Liturgy... And with all these integrated in our life, we are moved to mission to charity, to love, to lay down our lives for our friends... “for to live is Christ and to die is gain...”
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WHY BREVIARIAN? Aside from being the host, the term
Breviarian connotes that the Big Tent Festival is a gathering of the
Youth-at-Prayer. It is based on the name
Breviary or the Liturgy of the hours, the highest form of prayer next to the
Holy Mass.
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WHY BIG TENT? Tents are reminders of no-permanency. Going back to the Old Testament times where
the Jews wandered in the desert for forty years after being released from
Egyptian captivity, their faith in God were tested time and again until it was
ripe for them to enter the Promised Land.
We literally recall these timeless messages by setting-up big tents for
general activities and small tents for rest and sleep, and a very special tent
for the exposition of the Blessed Sacrament during the whole course of the
Festival. The tents serve as visual aids
reminding us that our earthly life is temporary but its goal Eternity.
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WHY FESTIVAL? Life is a celebration. Why should we not celebrate the victory of
the Risen Christ over Satan, sin, and death? No wonder Easter is the greatest
feast of the Church, and its essence the basis of our faith.
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WHAT WILL WE TALK OF? Truly the Big Tent
Festival is not just a matter of talking about but also more a matter of
talking to... God. Most young people are lost when it comes to identity. We
label our generations as Generation X or Generation Next, or Generation Text or
Jejemon Generation... But come to think of it... Do we really belong to any of
these generations? Peter tells us, “We are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood,
a holy nation. Once we are no people but now we are God’s people proclaiming
His marvelous light...” And since God said, “Let us make man in our image and
likeness...” talking of God is nothing more than talking to Him. Knowing God is
knowing ourselves. To the proportion too, that we love ourselves as we love
God.
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WILL THE BREVIARIAN BIG TENT FESTIVAL BE JUST A SERIES OF TALKS AND
WORKSHOPS? While we have
designed the talks and workshops to be as dynamic and lively as possible, there
will still be a big room for fellowships, songs, games, animations, and yes, a
pilgrimage. Don’t worry, you will have
more than enough of everything. Just give the best of yourself and God will do
the rest, for He cannot be outdone in generosity.
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DO I HAVE TO PAY SOMETHING OR WHAT? Of course... Free
lunches are hard to come by these days, so we tried to squeeze the budget
without choking. A VERY CHEAP Registration fee will include your meals and kit.
Other expenses will be subsidized. Thanks to some generous benefactors. You can
also avail of the adopt-a Brev program.
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WHAT AM I TO BRING? First, bring
yourself, along with a sunny disposition and a ready set mind. Others? Lest we
offend the others without really trying, let’s try bringing our own personal
effects like a toothbrush, toothpaste, hairbrush, towel, extra clothing (might
be pretty cold out there), your personal Bible, a diary or a daily journal,
rosary, a Breviary (if you have one), don’t forget to bring medicines, and
beddings (remember this is a Tent Festival). You may bring any musical instruments
and other effects to showcase your talent come Talent Galore. Big NO-NO’s are:
cell phones, jewelry, and other worldly possessions. Still, the best advice we
can give in this journey: TRAVEL LIGHT!
