Love in action: St Christopher’s Elevate Connect mission to Bacolod, Philippines

In July this year, 20 people from St Christopher’s Catholic Parish in Syndal travelled to Bacolod, a city on the north-west coast of Negros Island in the Philippines, on a 10-day mission trip that would ignite in them ‘a renewed sense of faith and responsibility’.

Accompanied by Fr Tin Trinh SVD and four youth leaders, 15 young adults from the St Christopher’s Elevate Connect youth group travelled to Bacolod to volunteer with the Good Sams Foundation, which provides education, shelter, food and crisis assistance to women and children experiencing challenging circumstances such as food insecurity, domestic violence, financial hardship and extreme weather conditions.

Parishioner Katrina Koh—who has been on the parish pastoral committee and works closely with the young adults at St Christopher’s—says the aim of the mission trip was to bring Elevate Connect to ‘a place where they could witness and respond to real, urgent challenges that align with the mission of service’. Fondly referred to by those on the mission trip as ‘Aunty Katrina’, she formerly worked at the Good Samaritan Inn, a Melbourne-based charity that provides short-term accommodation to women, children and young people experiencing family violence and homelessness. Through this connection, she came to know about the work of the Good Sams Foundation in Bacolod.

This experience has become a stark reminder that enjoying life is not all about the material but rather about making the most out of the immaterial around you—our faith, family and friends.

Liz Dinh, a young parishioner who participated in the trip, describes the Good Samaritans as ‘the most kind-hearted and selfless people. They always put their community first. Through their role, they feed the less fortunate and showed us how to be servants of Christ and live out our faith in action.’ The Good Samaritans, together with their partner associations, deliver daily healthy meals to 450 women, children and young people experiencing poverty, as well as running a kinder and funding a tertiary scholarship program to support further study.

Another participant, Alvin Yala, recalls how a visit to the Bacolod Boulevard opened his eyes to a new reality. ‘Seeing the Bacolod locals—from children to grandparents—I couldn’t help but be reminded of my community back home. Having close to nothing—only the clothes on their back and the people around them—never did I expect to see so much joy and laughter bursting through the atmosphere as young kids played basketball and seniors sat nearby, preparing food for their shops and families,’ Alvin says. ‘Living this experience has become a stark reminder that enjoying life is not all about the material but rather about making the most out of the immaterial around you—our faith, family and friends … I’m so grateful to God for this opportunity. He has truly humbled me and given me so much gratitude by opening my eyes to what I have as opposed to what I don’t have.’

In preparation for the mission trip, young people at St Christopher’s attended a series of formation sessions centred on relationship, identity and mission. Relationship refers to that intimate union with God the Father that is given to us at Baptism. Identity is about recognising our identity as sons and daughters of God. And mission involves the universal call to holiness and to spread the Good News.

Louis Shu, Youth Pastoral Worker at St Christopher’s, says the purpose of these formation sessions was to open young people ‘to receive and to serve during the mission’ as opposed to going to Bacolod with the intention to ‘just help’. ‘It models Jesus and the disciples’ way of servant leadership,’ Louis explains.

It taught me to always be thankful for God’s blessings in my own life. I returned with a renewed purpose to develop my relationship with God and help those around me.

Cristina Maiolo, another of the participants, says she had no expectations going into the mission trip but ‘was prepared to build meaningful relationships and use [her] gifts to help those less fortunate’. Upon her return to Melbourne, Cristina was inspired to launch Awaken Ministry, to continue the mission of evangelisation back home.

Mission participant Austin Swamy says coming back home awakened in them all ‘the need to be intentional disciples, embodying Christ’s love through action in our day-to-day lives’. They were ‘inspired to share God’s love by becoming more involved in the local community and making a difference—no matter how large or small,’ Austin says. ‘The mission trip created special bonds between us all and reminded us of Jesus’ life and what he did. We hope to create a spirit of service, where we look out for those most in need in our communities and lend a helping hand.’

Reflecting on her experience, participant Solange Dassanaike says she was inspired by her friends, and by the ‘amazing people of the Philippines’ and their love for God. ‘Even if they had so little, they still found a way to be thankful and grateful,’ Solange says. ‘It taught me to always be thankful for God’s blessings in my own life. I returned with a renewed purpose to develop my relationship with God and help those around me.’