“Pilgrims of Hope: Walking Together Toward a Brighter Future in Christ”

“Do everything in Love.” (1 Corinthians 16:14)

THE MARONITES ON MISSION – AUSTRALIA embarked on their 2026 Philippine Mission under the theme “Pilgrims of Hope,” carrying a message rooted in St. Paul’s exhortation: “Do everything in love” (1 Corinthians 16:14). In a world often marked by division and fatigue, their journey became a living witness to Pope Francis’ call for the Church to walk together, renewing hearts and restoring dignity through faith in Christ.

The mission began on 2 January at Beit Maroun, where Bishop Antoine-Charbel Tarabay celebrated Holy Mass and imparted a blessing upon the missionaries. Surrounded by prayer and fraternity, the moment affirmed that every mission begins at the altar. Two days later, the group departed Australia with courage and compassion, entrusting their families to God and setting out to serve the poorest of the poor.

Upon arrival in Manila on 6 January, the missionaries settled into the monastery, celebrated Mass, and shared a simple meal before stepping into the vibrant streets. Joy was abundant, children laughed, music filled the air, and bonds were quickly formed. Yet poverty was no longer an abstract concept but a reality that confronted the heart. In that tension, the mission’s purpose became clear: to be pillars of hope, God’s hands and feet among His people.

The journey continued in Naga, where encounters with children living with disabilities revealed a profound truth: those with the least often radiate the greatest joy. Their smiles and embraces transformed sorrow into gratitude, teaching that happiness is not owned but shared. On 7 January, the Feast of the Epiphany, Christ revealed Himself not in comfort but in humility. Missionaries assisted in dental outreach, visited the elderly, and spent time with those forgotten by society. Epiphany became not only a liturgical celebration but a lived reality: Christ encountered in a dental chair, across a chessboard, and in the quiet companionship of the unseen.

Medical and dental missions followed in collaboration with Bayanihan para ki Ina, Inc, OLPA, Sisters of the Little Mission for the Deaf of the Joseph Gualandi School for Hearing Impaired Inc, and the Naga College Foundation’s College of Health Sciences. Outreach extended to the deaf and hard of hearing, the elderly poor, orphaned children, and women and youth rescued from violence. At the Camarines Sur Provincial Jail and Penal Farm, inmates were treated on their medical and dental concerns as well as 900 hygiene kits were distributed to persons deprived of liberty. Each act of care echoed Christ’s words: “I was in prison and you visited me” (Mt 25:36). In every procedure and greeting, the dignity of the human person, created in God’s image, was affirmed, with Maximilian Ministry, Adonai’s Love and NCF-CHS Student Council Officers and members offering generous assistance.

Hope also took shape through physical labor. Missionaries cleared rubble, built extensions for families in dire conditions, and transformed exhaustion into prayer. Their sweat became a sacrament of love poured out for others. On 10 January, at the Nazareth School of the Missionaries of the Poor, roughly 900 patients received medical and dental care. Volunteers, doctors, nurses, students, social workers, and religious, embodied the Church as a field hospital, tending to wounds both physical and spiritual. Sunday in Naga revealed another powerful witness. Children with severe disabilities arrived at Mass beautifully dressed and attentive, reminding all that faith is not limited by circumstance. Their reverence challenged the missionaries to treasure what is often taken for granted. As the mission drew to a close, a Maronite Mass was celebrated at a former dumpsite in Naga City. Surrounded by scavenging families, missionaries, and volunteers, prayer rose from ashes, food was shared, and dignity was restored. What was once a place of despair became a sanctuary of hope.

On Day Nine, missionaries prepared one thousand food packs for families in Naga. Scooping rice, tying bags, and counting portions seemed mundane, yet each act became a prayer. Inspired by St. Thérèse of Lisieux’s “little way,” they discovered that holiness lies not in grandeur but in hidden acts of love. Each scoop of rice became a meal, each tied bag nourishment, each food pack an answer to prayer. What seemed small was life-changing. The monotony became an offering; the repetition, a litany of love. As St. Thérèse reminds us: “Nothing is small in the eyes of God. Do all that you do with love.” Throughout the mission, one truth echoed loudly: the missionaries came to serve, yet they were the ones transformed. Hope was not something they carried, it was something they encountered, received, and now bear as a responsibility. The Maronites on Mission – Australia return as pilgrims forever changed, entrusted with the call to continue walking together, to protect what is sacred, and to do everything, in every place, for every person, in love.

Through the intercession of Our Lady of Peñafrancia-Patroness of Bicolandia, St. Maroun, St Charbel, St Maximilian Maria Kolbe, Venerable Joseph Gualandi and St. Thérèse of Lisieux, may the fruits of this mission inspire the faithful to embrace the Gospel with courage, humility, and joy.

TO GOD BE THE GLORY!!!