Brother John Baptist shares a few words about the familial celebration held in Banawa on December 27, 2025 to commemorate the 50th anniversary of our community.
On the occasion of the Feast of Saint John the Evangelist, patron of our community, the Brothers of Saint John in Cebu, Philippines, cheerfully brought to an end the Jubilee celebration of our Congregation. Indeed, this is a year of giving thanks to the Lord who willed us to continue existing and serving His church for 50 years and more.
The celebration became even more successful and significant because of the generosity and support of our friends, benefactors and the entire family of Saint John. There were games, presentations, delicious food and lovely weather that incited vibrant energy in everyone. We all felt a festive familial ambiance and great joy in celebrating this important milestone of our congregation.
Finally, one of the highlights of this jubilee celebration was the gathering of all the brothers assigned in Cebu in one Eucharistic celebration. It was a solemn and reverent ceremony that filled the chapel with heartfelt thanksgiving and fervent worship. Deo Gratias!
Brother John Baptist was ordained to the order of the diaconate on September 20, 2025 by the invocation and the Holy Spirit and the laying of hands by Archbishop Jose S. Palma, the current apostolic administrator of the Archdiocese of Cebu. The ordination Mass was held in the chapel of the Good Shepherd Sisters in Banawa, Cebu City, Philippines.
Surrounded by the presence of his family, the brothers from Taboan and Banawa priories, the apostolic sisters, and many other friends, our brother opened a beautiful new chapter of his religious life through being ordained as a transitional deacon.
Archbishop Palma gave a heartfelt homily expressing his joy that this would be his last ordination as an active bishop before retirement. We are so grateful for his presence and time! He highlighted the intimacy with the Lord which ordained ministers are called to have and which Saint John inspires us to live and experience. He also spoke of the Good Shepherd who guides and consoles us when life become inevitably difficult.
The prayerful yet joyful celebration of the Holy Mass was followed by a festive lunch and a simple program. Brothers, sisters, oblates, and friends all shared in this fraternal moment full of gratitude for the gift of our brother’s vocation and mission.
We humbly ask you to thank God with us for the successful completion of our first batch of Leadership Training! The 15 young people (now called our “disciples”) who graduated truly exceeded our expectations and are slowly becoming leaders who will empower and encourage the many youth who come visit the Faith Hub.
In this article, let’s hear from Annalyn, one of our graduates, as she answers a few questions about her training and progress.
What was your favorite training session?
Among all the training sessions, one of my favorites was the very first one—the retreat held in Banawa. It was my first time to pray over someone, and it became a profound experience that revealed to me the power of prayer. As I was praying, I truly felt the guidance of the Holy Spirit. Despite it being my first time, the moment unfolded beautifully. It was a truly meaningful and almost magical evening. Although I was physically tired after a long day, I did not feel drained. Instead, the experience left me spiritually uplifted and renewed. That night not only strengthened my faith but also reminded me of the transformative power of being present for others through prayer.
Through the following training sessions, I learned a lot. For example, about understanding my temperament and the temperament of my co-leaders. I realized that communication is very important, especially when you’re leading someone. Proper communication can guide a community toward better service. They also gave us special training where we could find strength in leadership. Being a leader doesn’t mean having the position to command others; it is about collaboration between leaders and the people in the organization.
In the course of these sessions, I discovered my strengths and weaknesses, my purpose in the community, and my ability to help others. It made me realize that serving the Lord has opened my abilities in every aspect of service. For me, serving isn’t just about pleasing others but about offering my best to God. I’ve learned that true leadership is not about authority, but about humility, service, and being an instrument of God’s love to the community.
Did you notice any changes in yourself?
Through these experiences, I can truly see the changes in myself. The training not only deepened my faith but also transformed the way I view leadership and service. I became more patient, more understanding, and more compassionate toward others. I learned to listen with empathy and to lead with humility, realizing that leadership is not about control but about inspiring and serving.
I also discovered within me the courage to forgive, to let go of past pains, and to open my heart to healing. I am no longer burdened by resentment, but instead filled with hope and strength. Most importantly, I grew closer to God, trusting Him with my journey and offering everything I do for His greater glory.
These experiences remind me that true leadership begins with inner transformation. By allowing God to work in me, I am now more ready to serve, to love, and to become a light for the community.
How do you see yourself in the future?
I want to see myself in the future still here in this community—the place where I truly found Jesus. This community has been my home of faith, and I dream of becoming an instrument for others on their own journey with God. I want my story, my transformation, and the changes God has worked on in me to serve as an inspiration for others who are searching for healing, hope, and purpose.
My prayer is that the way I was led closer to Him can also guide others to experience His love. I want to be a living reminder that no matter how broken or lost someone may feel, God’s grace can restore and renew. In the same way that I was once strengthened by the people around me, I hope to give that same encouragement back to lead others not to myself, but to God.
This is the future I desire: to keep serving, to keep inspiring, and to remain faithful in being a light that points others toward Christ.
At Faith Hub Cebu, when we run Alpha courses, we welcome people, we bring them together, we want them to feel that the Church is their home, we want their hearts to be filled with God’s Love. But this can’t happen if we, leaders in the same Faith Hub, don’t feel also welcomed and loved, if we’re not recharged by encountering the Lord again.
This is why a group of 6 members (Andresa, Ronel, Krysta, Arlette, Jules and Fr Steban) of the Faith Hub Cebu went to the Alpha Regional Gathering from June 22nd to June 25th 2025 in Malaysia. As soon as we stepped into the Holy Trinity Bukit Bintang Church in the busy center of Kuala Lumpur we felt that radical hospitality wasn’t just a word. The whole place was prepared to welcome about 700 delegates from many Asian countries. Immediately we began to meet friends, share food (there was a lot!!) and talk about our experience in mission. During these three days, talks and prayer focused on one message: “He is not done yet!” This was clear: the Lord is at work in His Church. He guides and touches hearts. There’s much more to come if we stay in the track of a generous mission that is not self-centered but rather follows the Lord’s mandate: “Go, and make disciples of all nations”. “Less is more”, was one of the preacher’s message. Inviting us to look at our mission with eyes of faith, not by comparing with others or focusing on our limitations. With 5 breads and 2 fishes and a boy’s trust, God made something great. Several talks also insisted on the importance of a good intergenerational transmission of Faith in our churches: leaders of different generations have to work together and share their gifts if the leadership is truly formed after Jesus-Christ’s model.
Alpha is a tool for evangelization that brings together disciples of Jesus-Christ from many different churches. In ARG 2025, our catholic delegation of about 80 Catholics from different countries gathered every morning for a Mass presided and preached by the Most Rev. Marvyn Maceda, Bishop of Antique. His words gave us a full morning load of energy, communicating Jesus’ Love to us. And during the day we encountered and received so much from our brothers and sisters from other denominations. This is the beautiful fruit of Alpha: bringing together in prayer and mission all who work to proclaim the Name of Jesus. Personally, I didn’t expect to receive so much from the talks and was deeply touched when the praise led the whole assembly to call for the renewal of the gift of the Spirit. How great is to live really this unity of his disciples that Jesus prayed for! Coming back from ARG 2025, we feel confirmed in the mission of our Faith Hub Cebu. Soon we’ll have other Alpha courses and we’ll welcome, love and bring together many young people to God’s Love, because ourselves we received it without measure, we’ll give it the same way.
The Fiesta San Jose, a yearly novena to our beloved patron, is always a joy-filled time! Brothers and friends of our community work together to foster devotion to Saint Joseph and gather together as a family under his protection.
On our first day of the Novena, we started with Holy Mass. The church was filled with people, young and old, all excited to take part in the special event. After the Mass, there was a friendly basketball game between the Faith Hub youth and a group of friends from Mandaue. The game was exciting and fun. Both teams played with teamwork, respect, and joy. Everyone enjoyed watching, cheering, and supporting their teams.
The daily masses continued and, a few days after the basketball game, we had an Amazing Race. The goal was for teams to spread good vibes and faith while having fun together. They took pictures, made videos, and did simple acts of kindness in the community. The young people worked together to finish every challenge and we had a good laugh looking at their videos and pictures when they came back to the Faith Hub.
Another highlight was the theater presentation by the Saint John Scholars. They told the story of Blessed Carlo Acutis, a young boy known for his deep faith in God and his kindness to others. It was a beautiful performance that touched the hearts of the people. Many in the audience were inspired by Blessed Carlo’s story, especially the young people, who saw how someone their age could live a life full of faith, goodness, and service to others.
Every day, we continued to celebrate the Novena with different priests and choirs. Each Mass was special and meaningful, as people gathered to pray and honor Saint Joseph. The church was decorated with flowers, making it even more beautiful during the evenings. The different choirs sang lovely songs that made every Mass touching and joyful.
On the day of the Fiesta, we had a procession in honor of Saint Joseph. While walking in the procession, we prayed the Holy Rosary together. The sound of drums and trumpets made the procession more joyful and lively. People joined the procession with happy hearts, carrying faith and love to Saint Joseph as we walked through the streets.
After the procession, we celebrated the Mass. The church was full of people, and the Mass was very special. Everyone prayed together to thank God and Saint Joseph for all the blessings given to our community.
We also held a small celebration for the people who joined and supported us since the first day of the Novena. To show our gratitude, we prepared a simple salo-salo where everyone was invited to eat, share stories, and enjoy the food together. The food was simple but made with love, and it became a happy and memorable moment for the whole community. It was a joyful and meaningful way to end our celebration as one big family of faith.
From January 20-27, 2025, the Brothers of Saint John from the Vice-Province of Asia-Oceania gathered in Christchurch, New Zealand, for a momentous regional gathering filled with spiritual, intellectual, and fraternal experiences. The event provided an opportunity for deeper formation, vibrant exchange, and exploration of the Brothers’ mission in the region.
The gathering began with a fraternal outing to Akaroa, a picturesque town nestled on the Banks Peninsula. The Brothers were treated to breathtaking views of towering cliffs, the sparkling ocean, and playful sea lions. The charm of Akaroa, with its French heritage, offered a peaceful setting for the Brothers to bond and enjoy nature’s beauty.
The brothers spent an entire day immersing themselves in the fast-growing apostolate of the Brothers in Christchurch. The Senior Leadership Team, a group of lay friends working in close collaboration with the brothers, presented not only the different projects to accommodate the fast-growing parish but also the many initiatives of Evangelization and the schools the brothers take charge of.
Another special moment came with the visit of Bishop Michael and Bishop John, who shared their insights on the vocation of the Brothers of Saint John in New Zealand, particularly in the context of parish renewal and mission. Their talks highlighted the significant role the Brothers play in the New Zealand Church and emphasized the ongoing need for a deep, committed presence in pastoral renewal and evangelization.
The gathering also featured a two-day intensive session on Henri de Lubac, led by Br. Jean Damien, who recently completed his doctoral thesis on the influential French theologian. Through Br. Jean Damien’s guidance, the Brothers delved into de Lubac’s writings on evangelization and mission, exploring how his insights on atheistic humanism can inspire our mission today.
In addition to the enriching formation sessions, the Brothers enjoyed several outings in Christchurch, including visits to local landmarks and moments of shared fellowship in the city’s vibrant atmosphere. These outings allowed for deeper connection and conversation among the Brothers.
A key moment in the gathering was a day of prayerful reflection on the future of the Vice-Province. The Brothers spent time discerning, praying together, and listening to each other, seeking God’s guidance for the next steps in their missions. This reflective time encouraged each member to look ahead with renewed commitment and trust in their shared vocation. This day of prayer was concluded by the ceremony of oblature of five new oblates. Praise God for their “yes” and for the continued growth of our family!
The gathering culminated with a concluding Mass at the Christchurch Cathedral, marking the end of the event and celebrating the Jubilee Year. This liturgical celebration was a powerful moment of thanksgiving and solidarity, as the Brothers renewed their commitment to their vocation and mission.
The first edition of the Cebu Metropolitan Catholic Mass Media Awards took place on 30 September 2024 in Philippines. Among the many categories represented: television, radio, print and digital media, Brother Samuel Mary, alias Father Sam, won the award for Best Social Media Influencer.
Father Sam’s testimony following his victory
“If anyone had told me when I entered the Brothers of Saint John that I would end up being a social media influencer in the Philippines I surely would have laughed in disbelief. Impossible!
One thing I’ve discovered at the heart of my vocation is that God has a way of bringing his disciples out towards the peripheries in ways we would never imagine. For me, this has taken the form of an exciting and surprising adventure into the digital world.
My journey started in March 2022 when I posted a video of me giving a simple reflection on the Sunday Gospel in Cebuano* on TikTok. At the time I thought, “TikTok is all about dancing and doing stupid stuff in front of a camera… but why not give it a try, right?” To my surprise, this video went viral and got over 200k views in just two days. I couldn’t believe it! What surprised me even more than the number of views was that people, especially the youth, were drawn to this simple and authentic content about God and the Gospel. No fancy editing, no dancing, no challenges, only a young American priest speaking Cebuano and talking about Jesus.
I had been experimenting with evangelization on social media for a few years already but the potential I saw for evangelization in Cebuano after several viral videos left me and my brothers with a firm conviction that I had to make this one of my principal apostolates.
My current mission is to reach out especially but not only to youth who are far from the Church and who are too afraid to come back before many of their questions about Faith are frankly spoken of. The Philippines is a culturally Catholic country but the youth often find themselves torn between what they perceive as a shallow devotional expression of Faith of their parents and grandparents and the ideologies of the Western world. These youth naturally turn to social media looking for answers to their often deep questions and that’s where I try to be a listening ear and an encouraging voice for them.
After two years of work, I currently have almost 250k followers on TikTok, 224k followers on Facebook, and am beginning to grow a YouTube channel. I also started a podcast called “Bros Unscripted” where Br. Jerome and I are co-hosts. Almost all of the content I post is short-form video content (between 1-3 minutes) where I speak about topics related to the Faith in a relatable and light way. I hope to branch out into long-form content in YouTube, be more organized in the content I make, and reach out to overseas Filipino workers through online recollections and sessions.
Besides the frequent encounters with followers who love to take “selfies” when they see me after Church, in the supermarket, or on the street, I have made many new friends and connections through invitations to preach parish recollections and giving talks at major youth events both inside and outside the Archdiocese of Cebu. Youth have also found their way back to the Church through the apostolates of our priory which they end up visiting after watching my videos. I have made friendships with other content creators around the Philippines and have been blessed with their guidance, ideas, and collaboration.
My apostolate has been very well received and supported not only by my brothers but also the local Church. I was recently given the “Best Social Media Influencer” award at the Cebu Metropolitan Catholic Mass Media Awards. This award was part of a series of awards covering anything from journalism and books to television shows and websites. It covered the territory of ten different dioceses that make up the Cebu Metropolitan region.
A valuable lesson I have learned from being an “influencer” is that this type of work is much more difficult, time-consuming, and frustrating than I imagined. There is such a strong image of famous influencers having lots of money and easy lives but experience has shown me otherwise. Dealing with negative comments, making almost nothing through monetization, and the constant process of trial and error has left me wondering many times if all this work was really worth the effort. Finding a balance between keeping up with trends, knowing what my followers are looking for, and improving the quality of my content while keeping a healthy distance from the digital world isn’t always easy. Despite all the challenges I firmly believe that the mission to evangelize with social media is something that we youth or “digital natives” must take extremely seriously. I hope to encourage and even accompany many more content creators in the future.
I confide this apostolate to your prayers!”
* Cebuano is an Austronesian language spoken in the southern Philippines by around 16 million Filipinos in some of the Visayas islands and certain provinces of Mindanao.
People often say that the Philippines is a culturally Catholic country and, thanks be to God, that’s true! In the same breath, people will often say how difficult it is to pass on the Faith to the young generation. “Lahi ang mga batanon karon!” This is also true. But here’s the question: do we get discouraged by this or see it as an exciting challenge every generation faces to find new ways of sharing the power of the Gospel with our youth?
As you know, the youth love feeling accepted in a community apart from their family. They love finding a “safe space” where they can be themselves without fear of being judged. They need to explore and make new friends! But what if meeting new friends could go hand-in-hand with discovering Jesus? It’s definitely possible!!
We, the Brothers of Saint John present in the heart of Cebu City, have found that the Alpha Youth Series is a well-adapted program for the youth and a way to make any community grow and discover the joy of the Gospel. It’s a series of fun, interactive sessions designed to create conversations where anyone can come to explore the basics of Christianity in a way that is authentic and safe.
Imagine youth playing games, asking deep questions, sharing with their peers about the struggles of life and faith… well, that’s Alpha! Simply put, it’s a safe space for the youth to discover what Faith really is: It’s not about simply following the traditions of their grandparents but about discovering a relationship that can change everything they are, their impact on this world, and the rest of their lives.
We are currently running our 5th batch of the Alpha Youth Series. Every Sunday evening for a bit more than two months we welcome around 30 participants and 15 youth volunteers to our priory. We invite them for praise and worship before the 5:30pm Sunday Mass. Then we proceed with a tasty meal, a game, then divide them into small groups before watching the Alpha video for that week.
We have witnessed powerful transformation in many of the youth who have attended the Alpha sessions and we hope to invite many more! Most of them come from our neighborhood area and a good number of them had stopped practicing their Faith before they found us. These youth have been revitalized in their faith and even become leaders themselves on Alpha.
Thanks be to God for all the work he is doing in this beautiful city. Let’s continue to pray for the youth, the leaders of today and most especially of tomorrow.
A few hours after Brother Charles and Brother James pronounced their first vows on 15 March, strict confinement was announced in Cebu. Very few cases of COVID 19 had been diagnosed, but the epidemic was already significantly present in Manila. A large section of the population in the Philippines live on a daily wage, which meant that confinement very quickly became problematic for poor families who have no income or savings. With the help of the friends of the Community, the Brothers decided to try to help their closest neighbours in the barrios in Cebu. The friends of the Community responded very generously and we also received donations from the United States, allowing us to get to work in collaboration with the Apostolic Sisters. We went to the shops and brought back large sacs of vegetables and prepared packets of rice, sugar, lentils, etc., which we distributed to around 130 families for two months. Through this work the families were able to experience God’s Providence, who watches over the poorest of his children. With the encouragement of Sr Mila-Maria, many families are now starting to plant their own vegetable garden.
Foundation of an apostolic priory in Taboan
The Brothers of Saint John are building a new priory in Taboan, Cebu. The name Taboan means “meeting place” and is an area where people mostly come to go shopping – an important place for apostolic work!
Construction work was ready to start when the pandemic put the brakes on the project. Demolition of some of the surrounding walls had already begun in January. The Brothers hope the work can start up again soon, but activity in Cebu is only slowly starting to increase. The priory will be situated in a popular and reasonably populated area, not far from the universities and the old town. It is an accessible place and means we can envisage an apostolic life in conjunction with our life of fraternity and prayer. The current priory in Banawa Hills will remain the noviciate house.
The Brothers confide this project to your prayers and hope they will soon be able to show you work in progress.
At the beginning of the month of February, the Priory of the Brothers of Saint John in Cebu, the Philippines, were blessed to be able to welcome brothers from the whole vicariate of Asia and Oceania on the occasion of the Vicariate Meeting.
We should note that the Vicar, Br Justin, was experiencing this “joyful mystery” of the Visitation for the first time! He is, of course, always welcome in Cebu! The superiors from Christchurch (New Zealand), Pondicherry (India) and Taïnan (Taiwan) also came and together they held three days of workshops. It was a beautiful experience of fraternal life and hard work under the benediction of their Archbishop, José S. Palma.
The best way to illustrate their praise and thanksgiving is to share some photos of the occasion!
