Due to the circumstances related to the COVID-19 virus, the Philippines Immersion has been postponed.
WHERE WILL WE VISIT?
KUYA CENTRE
We will visit the Kuya Centre for street children, a project supported by Australian Marists.
HOSPICE DE SAN JOSE
The hospice is home to people from newborns to senior citizens, including those with special needs. The Sisters of Charity look after any person who has been abandoned, orphaned, neglected, abused or displaced with the aim of reunifying, relocating, rehabilitating or simply giving them a sense of ‘family.’
ANGEL PRESENCE SCHOOL
The Angel Presence School assists economically challenged families to access education through the Bagong Barrio Education Fund (BBEF) which was set up by Br Dough Walsh to provide education for children from kindergarten through to university. We will give some lessons on Australia whilst we are here!
PASIG CITY JAIL
We will visit women in the low security section of Pasig City Jail. Most women in this section are mothers and have been incarcerated for minor crimes and are awaiting trial.
After returning from the 2019 Philippines Pilgrimage, our young pilgrims said:
““The Philippines Immersion pilgrimage was both an eye and heart opening experience that I would recommend to any young person who feels called to live a life built on relationship with the other.””
““Your eyes, ears and heart will be open in encountering your brothers and sisters who live similar yet different lives to you and how they experience joy in their struggles.””
““A cultural, personal and religious journey that will change your world view.””
““It will uplift you challenge you and make you see life in different life helping you in finding what your purpose is and how you can find it in all places.””
““It will change your life no matter what!” ”
WHAT WILL WE DO?
Volunteer with Street Kids
We head out on 'street education' classes to some of the poorest slum areas of Metro Manila. We do this through ministries such as the Kuya Centre, St Vincent de Paul projects, and Bagong Barrio Education Fund.
Learn More About Filipino Culture
Our time in Manila, and surrounds, allows us to experience Filipino life and culture. From the marketplaces to the motorways, the shopping malls to the slums, we see an incredibly diverse range of Filipino life.
Connect with Filipino Young Adults
We will be welcomed by a group of young adults from the Society of St Vincent de Paul (SSVP) at Adamson University in Manila and have an opportunity to spend time getting to our new friends, their history and culture.
Formation in Marist Spirituality
Our immersion to the Philippines will equip you with an experience of living the Gospel as a Marist Young Adult Community. We will take time to reflect on contemporary issues of life faith and justice, through the lens of Marist Spirituality.