I have known the Xaverian Missionaries since I was a child. Back then, what stayed with me most was my sense of amazement, how could these foreign priests speak our language so naturally? Even at a young age, I felt that their presence was different. They did not feel like outsiders. They felt like family.
This sense of belonging was deeply felt during the celebration of the 35th Year of Xaverian Presence in the Philippines, a milestone that gathered priests, benefactors, students, collaborators, lay faithful and friends into one joyful community.
The celebration began with the Eucharistic Celebration, presided over by Fr. Franciscus Xaverius Sudarmanto, SX, General Councillor of the Xaverian Missionaries, and concelebrated with the Xaverian priests assigned in the Philippines. The Mass was meaningful, grounding the celebration in thanksgiving to God for 35 years of faithful missionary presence and service.
Before the final blessing, the celebration paused for a meaningful moment of recognition with the presentation of the Benemeriti Award, the highest honor conferred by the Xaverian Missionaries. The award was given to Sr. Helena Cermeño and the Sto. Niño de Maligaya Community in gratitude for their faithful service, steadfast support, and generous collaboration in the Xaverian mission.
After the mass there is a salo-salo. As we say, “Pagkatapos ng misa, lamesa.” We gathered around the table, shared food, stories, and laughter. The program that followed was filled with life and creativity. Theology students offered lively song performances, while the Xaverian priests themselves took part in singing, delighting the audience and showing their closeness to the community. A particularly moving highlight was the dance performance by the Filipino philosophy students, featuring “Piliin Mo ang Pilipinas.” The dance for me was meaningful, an affirmation that mission is not about leaving one’s identity behind, but about choosing to love the people and the land where one is sent.
Adding to the festive atmosphere were trivia questions about the history of the Xaverian Missionaries. These light yet meaningful moments tested how well participants knew the Xaverian story, from their beginnings to their journey in the Philippines. The activity was fun and engaging, with small prizes given to the winners. More than competition, it became a joyful way of remembering the shared history that binds the community together.
As a Lay Xaverian, this celebration was deeply personal. It reminded me of my own journey, from that child amazed by foreign priests speaking our language, to someone now walking with them in mission.
The celebration ended not with a sense of completion, but with renewed hope. After 35 years, the Xaverian mission in the Philippines continues, alive, joyful, and shared. And as we move forward, we do so with gratitude for the past, commitment to the present, and trust in God who calls us, again and again, to witness beyond borders.
