The Lay Xaverian Philippines (LXPH) is a community of lay faithful who share in the missionary charism of St. Guido Maria Conforti, Founder of the Xaverian Missionaries, while fully living out their vocation in the world. Rooted in the Founder’s vision and the missionary mandate of the Church, LXPH responds to the Lord’s call: “Go out to the whole world and proclaim the Good News to all creation” (Mark 16:15).
As Lay Xaverians, members are not merely helpers or supporters of ordained missionaries. They are partners and companions in mission, called to live and witness to the Xaverian spirit in their daily realities—within their families, workplaces, and local communities. In this way, LXPH embodies the Church’s call to mission as articulated in Ad gentes, bringing the Gospel into the ordinary spaces of life where lay people are uniquely present.
A Brief History and Growth of the Community
The emergence of the Lay Xaverians Philippines is rooted in the Church’s growing recognition of the vital role of the laity in evangelization. During the 17th General Chapter of the Xaverian Missionaries, the Congregation affirmed that the participation of lay people is essential to the fulfillment of the Church’s missionary mandate. In response, Lay Xaverian groups began to take shape in different countries as concrete expressions of shared mission between religious and laity.
In the Philippine context, the first seeds of LXPH were planted through a series of meetings in 2018 and 2019. Despite the disruptions brought about by the COVID-19 pandemic, the first official meeting of the Lay Xaverians Philippines was held on November 29, 2020. Today, LXPH is already in its sixth year of existence, continuing to grow in identity, formation, and mission.
At present, LXPH is composed of three local communities: the Maligaya Community with five members, the Project 8 Community with three members, and the Marikina Community with three members. Each community holds its own local gatherings, while all members come together once a month for common formation, strengthening their sense of belonging as one Lay Xaverian family.
Leadership and Spiritual Accompaniment
The Lay Xaverians Philippines journey in close communion with the Xaverian Missionaries, who provide spiritual accompaniment and guidance. The overall priest coordinator and spiritual adviser is Fr. Matteo, with Fr. Ryan accompanying the Project 8 Community and Fr. Pasteur accompanying the Marikina Community. Their presence nurtures the spiritual life of the group and helps deepen the members’ understanding of the Xaverian charism and missionary spirituality.
In terms of lay leadership, LXPH is guided by a Core Group elected for a three-year term. For the 2022–2024 term, the Core Group was led by Lay Coordinator Ms. Jane Balmores. For the current 2025–2027 term, the Core Group is composed of Caselyn Cammagay as Coordinator, Jane Balmores as Vice Coordinator, Glaiza Gabion as Secretary, Elvira Cubacub as Treasurer, and Mercylyn Navaroza handling Creatives and Social Communications. This leadership structure ensures shared responsibility and collaborative discernment in the life and mission of the community.
Promises, Identity, and Missionary Spirit
Every year, members of the Lay Xaverians Philippines renew their promises as a concrete expression of their identity and commitment. These promises include a life of faith, obedience to the will of God, and commitment to mission. They serve as a yearly reminder that being a Lay Xaverian is not merely an affiliation, but a way of life rooted in discipleship and missionary availability.
Guiding the life and mission of LXPH is its motto, “Caritas Christi Urget Nos”—the love of Christ impels us. This motto expresses the passion of the community: mission is not driven by obligation alone, but by an encounter with Christ’s love that impels members to go beyond themselves in service of others.
Formation, Apostolate, and Prayer Life
Ongoing formation is central to the life of LXPH. The community is now in its sixth year of structured formation. The first year focuses on foundational topics such as Xaverian identity, the life of St. Guido Maria Conforti, the Xaverian charism, and the Founder’s Testament Letter. In the succeeding years, formation topics are discerned collectively during annual planning.
One of the main apostolates of LXPH is the accompaniment of catechumens at Saint Francis Xavier Parish (SFXP). Members journey with catechumens through formation sessions in preparation for the Sacraments of Initiation. To support this ministry, LXPH developed a four-part formation module that presents the essentials of the Catholic faith. In 2025 alone, nineteen catechumens were accompanied and successfully received the Sacraments of Initiation, reflecting the concrete fruits of this apostolate.
Prayer sustains the missionary life of the community. LXPH maintains a common rhythm of prayer through online night prayer every Friday, a novena in celebration of the Feast of St. Guido Maria Conforti, and an annual retreat or recollection. Personal prayer is also strongly encouraged, recognizing that mission flows from an intimate relationship with God.
Dialogue, Communion, and Missionary Collaboration
In fidelity to the Xaverian spirit of openness to peoples and cultures, LXPH engages in Interreligious Dialogue whenever opportunities arise. Members participate in IRD-related activities and practice the “Dialogue of Life” by forming friendships and everyday relationships with persons of other faith traditions. This openness reflects the Church’s call to witness to Christ with respect, humility, and genuine encounter.
LXPH also seeks communion with the wider Lay Xaverian family beyond the Philippines. Initial online meetings and exchanges with Lay Xaverians from Indonesia and Italy have opened spaces for sharing experiences, listening to one another’s stories, and reflecting together on the diverse ways the Xaverian mission is lived in different contexts.
Close collaboration with the Xaverian Missionaries remains a defining feature of LXPH’s identity. The group actively supports and participates in activities such as Open House events, Mission Month celebrations, Founder’s Day, and other significant occasions. Through this shared life and mission, the Lay Xaverians and the Xaverian Missionaries witness to a model of communion between religious and laity in the Church.
Beyond parish-based activities, LXPH is involved in the Mission Animation Ministry (MAM) of the Diocese of Novaliches and participates in outreach programs, including initiatives in indigenous communities whenever opportunities arise. Through these engagements, the community contributes to mission awareness and responds with openness and availability to the missionary needs of the Church today.
The Lay Xaverians Philippines continues its journey inspired by the charism of St. Guido Maria Conforti. Grounded in prayer, formation, and mission, LXPH remains committed to witnessing to the Gospel in everyday life and to collaborating closely with the Xaverian Missionaries and the wider Church in the proclamation of God’s love to all, especially those who do not know Him.
