“From listening to the cries of the earth and the poor at the grassroots, we are called to be their voice on the global platform. Our mission is an echo of St. Maria De Mattias: starting small, but dreaming big for the Kingdom of God.”
In 2022, a new door opened for the Adorers of the Blood of Christ (ASC). Through our Mission Clinic in Quezon City, we were called to serve the Aeta indigenous community. What began as a medical outreach has blossomed into a profound journey of accompaniment, advocacy, and shared life.
Deepening Our Roots
Every month, alongside our collaborators, youth volunteers, and mission partners, we journey to the Aeta community. Beyond addressing medical concerns, we have immersed ourselves in their world—learning their values, their sacred connection to the earth, and the delicate balance of their joys and struggles.
As the original inhabitants of this land, the Aeta people hold a historical continuity that predates modern state boundaries. Our service to them has grown to reflect this deep bond:
- Education: We are currently supporting a scholar who is nearing graduation from university.
- Empowerment: We have facilitated training for six indigenous women to enhance their leadership and skills.
- Livelihood: We help market their harvests to ensure fair trade.
- Hospitality: Our convent has become a “safe haven,” offering a place of rest for community members when they travel to the city to sell their produce.
A Seat at the Table: ROOTS-Asia
Our local commitment recently brought the ASC congregation to a larger stage. We were invited to join ROOTS-Asia (The Catholic Network of Indigenous People in Asia). This December, I had the privilege of representing our congregation at a conference on Inculturation, Synodality, and Integral Ecology in Thailand.
I joined 18 participants—theologians and representatives from institutions across Asia—all dedicated to indigenous ministry. It was a powerful reminder that while our work starts in the soil of the grassroots, its impact must eventually reach the “platform” of global dialogue.
Following the Path of St. Maria De Mattias
During the conference, I found myself reflecting on our foundress, St. Maria De Mattias. She began her mission at the grassroots, teaching catechesis to village women, girls, and shepherds. She was perfectly content in that humble service. Yet, when the time came, she overcame her inner resistance to travel to Rome and engage with higher authorities to ensure her mission was recognized and protected.
Like Maria De Mattias, our Precious Blood spirituality compels us to move where the need is greatest. By listening to the Aeta people’s cries for justice and their struggle to protect ancestral lands, we were naturally led from the fields to the platform.
Stronger Together
The Thailand conference served as both a platform for their voices and an affirmation of our charism. It reminded us that we do not walk alone. Across the globe, many are doing this vital work. By connecting with this wider network, we return to our ministry stronger, better equipped, and more deeply committed to the pursuit of justice, peace, and the integrity of creation.
This post is also available in:
Spanish
