Dear brothers and sisters in Christ,
Today, we gather with hearts full of joy and gratitude as we celebrate the 35th Anniversary of the Xaverian Missionaries’ presence in the Philippines. I bring you the warmest greetings and blessings from Fr. Fernando, our General Superior. Though he cannot be with us physically today, as he is currently in Cameroon, Africa, for a visit and the Regional Chapter, he is with us in spirit and prayer, celebrating this milestone of our Delegation.
A 35th anniversary is more than just a date on a calendar. It is a time to pause and look back at the past journey. We remember our confreres from the early days - the struggles, the sweat, and the challenges of planting seeds in new soil. We acknowledge the joys that sustained us and the anxieties that tested our faith.
Every milestone is a bridge. While we are deeply grateful for the past, this anniversary serves as a milestone for looking forward. It asks us: Where is the Spirit leading the Xaverian Missionaries in the Philippines for the future?
In the Philippines, our commitment has a very specific and vital heartbeat: the formation of young Xaverian students and missionary animation. Our community here is a beautiful reflection of the Universal Church. We welcome students from all over the world, journeying together in missionary and vocation animation. Our goal is to prepare these young men to be missionaries in a “challenging era” - a world that is rapidly changing, yet hungering more than ever for the Gospel of peace and dialogue.
True formation does not happen in a vacuum or behind closed doors. It is a process that calls for the involvement of everyone. The Formators: who give their lives to accompany our students. The Confreres: who faithfully support our mission through various works and sacrifices. The People of God: our Xaverian friends, the lay faithful, and fellow religious.
Our students are being formed within the rich and complex Asian reality. They learn to be missionaries not just from books, but from the faith and resilience of the Filipino people and the diverse cultures of Asia. You are all “co-formators” in this journey.
If we wish to see the “fruit” of these 35 years, we only need to look across the globe. Today, many young Xaverian missionaries who graduated here in the Philippines are now working in missions all over the world. The seeds planted in Manila and beyond are now flourishing in the peripheries of every continent. This is the greatest testament to God’s grace working through our Delegation.
In today’s Gospel (John 3, 22-33), we hear the humble testimony of John the Baptist. When his disciples notice that more people are going to Jesus, John does not react with jealousy or a sense of competition. Instead, he explains that he is merely the “friend of the bridegroom” who rejoices to hear the bridegroom’s voice.
This is the spiritual foundation of our 35 years in the Philippines: missionary humility. For three and a half decades, Xaverian Missionaries have worked not to make a name for ourselves, but to make the name of Jesus known. Like John the Baptist, the missionary knows that we are the “voice”, but Christ is the “Word”. Our success is not measured by our own prominence, but by how much space Christ occupies in the hearts of those we serve. In the formation of our young students, this verse -"He must increase, I must decrease”- is the ultimate curriculum. To be a missionary in this challenging era means emptying oneself of ego, cultural prejudices, and personal ambitions so that the life of Christ can shine through. We teach our students that the more they “decrease”, the more the Holy Spirit can work through them in the mission field. John the Baptist tells us that his joy is “complete” because he sees Christ increasing. As we look at our graduates serving all over the world, our joy is also complete. We are happy to have been the instruments, the “friends of the bridegroom”, who prepared the way for the Lord in their lives.
To our dear students - you who have come from different corners of the world to this beautiful archipelago: You are the living hope of our Xaverian family. As you undergo your formation here, remember that you are not just studying philosophy or theology; you are learning the “art of decreasing”. John the Baptist’s words, “He must increase, I must decrease”, are the secret to your future missionary work. Let the humility and the deep faith of the Filipino people shape your heart. Allow your own cultural certainties to “decrease” so that a universal, missionary love can “increase” within you. Do not be afraid of the “sweat and struggle” of these years. Every challenge in the classroom, in the community, and in your apostolate is a tool the Holy Spirit uses to form you into a true “Friend of the Bridegroom”. You see your older brothers already working in missions across the globe. Let their example inspire you. Your time here in the Philippines is the foundation upon which your future missionary life will be built. Be patient with the process, be open to your formators, and above all, stay close to the Word of God.
You are not alone in this journey. This entire community - our confreres, the lay people, our benefactors - is walking with you. We believe in you, we pray for you, and we look forward to the day when you, too, will be sent out to share the joy of the Gospel.
May the Lord, who began this good work in the Philippines 35 years ago, bring it to completion in each of you. As we celebrate, we say Salamat sa Diyos for the past, and Amen to the future. May St. Guido Maria Conforti intercede for us, that we may remain “making of the world one single family.”
Happy 35th Anniversary to you all!
