Like the slow brewing of barako coffee beans, synonymous with the Batangas province of the Philippines, so too has the relationship between the SDC and this country been steadily developing over the years.
Dr Linda Tacorda was introduced, almost by chance, to the SDC in 1989 when Yvonne, a Maltese friend of hers, took her to visit the Preca Library. At the time, she was studying at the Pontifical Salesian University in Rome, specialising in catechetics. It was therefore no surprise that she took great interest in the Society’s apostolate.
Years later, while the SDC and Dr Tacorda remained in contact, the Society’s male section organised its first official visit to the Philippines in 2018. This took place in Iloilo City, Dr Tacorda’s hometown, and introduced the SDC to the Archdiocese of Jaro. The following year, the Society returned to the city to participate in the 2nd International YOUCAT Congress. During this conference, attended by many Filipino bishops, the Society came into contact with Archbishop Gilbert Garcera from the Archdiocese of Lipa. Having previously visited Malta and been in touch with the female section of the Society, he took a keen interest in its mission. Archbishop Garcera’s enthusiasm led him to visit Malta for a third time in February 2020, where he visited the Society’s General House and celebrated Mass there as part of the Annual General Meeting of the Delegation of Malta and Gozo.
After a period of prayer and discernment, the Society decided in 2023 to establish a community in the Archdiocese of Lipa.
A familiarisation visit to the archdiocese took place in July 2024, during which the selected members visited several parishes and diocesan initiatives in Batangas, the province in which the archdiocese is located. After another visit to Malta by Archbishop Garcera, the first members of the Society arrived in the Philippines on 17th January 2025. They are currently based in the parish of Santo Niño in Marawoy, Lipa. While living as a community and carrying out their daily assignments, the members are gradually immersing themselves in the local community, supported by the parish priest, Fr Jayson Siapco, who had also visited Malta in November 2024.
Salamat sa Diyos! Thanks be to God!
