Mission Week is a special time when our thoughts and prayers turn to places where the Gospel is proclaimed not only in word but, above all, in deed. Today we turn our gaze to the Philippines, to the heart of Manila—a city teeming with life yet full of contrasts. It is there, in areas plagued by extreme poverty and marginalization, that our missionary sisters, Sr. Agata Sobczyk and Sr. Fabiana Mvanda, live out their vocation every day. Working in the slums of Manila requires fortitude, but above all, love. The sisters are present where living conditions put human dignity to the test every day. They accompany families, providing material and spiritual assistance, and have become a symbol of God’s presence and care for the residents. However, our sisters’ mission goes far beyond immediate support. Deeply believing that the most effective form of help is empowering others to become self-reliant, the sisters run professional sewing courses for local women in Manila. In a reality where steady work is scarce and daily life is a struggle for survival, these workshops offer many participants a real path out of crisis. Thanks to the patience and dedication of our missionary sisters, women from the slums are acquiring a tangible trade. They are not only learning a craft but also rediscovering their self-worth and sense of agency. The ability to sew allows them to find work or open small home-based businesses, which offers a real chance to earn a decent living, support their children, and provide them with an education. From the sewing machines in the sisters’ workshop come not only clothes and bedding, but above all, a new and better future for Filipino families.
During this special week, we would like to thank our missionary sisters in the Philippines from the bottom of our hearts for their selfless service, for every tear they have wiped away, for their hearts devoted to the poorest, and for giving women the tools to live with dignity.