“Magpalaod” – Sailing to the Depths of Faith with Courageous Hope
Today’s young people live in a world confronted by despair, confusion, division, and superficiality and stand before a decisive choice: to remain in the shallow waters of fleeting comfort or to go into the deep, where faith may be tested but is sanctified, emboldened, and bears fruit. Gathering youth missionaries for a participative and transformative encounter, the Alphonsian Day 2025 on June 9-10 unfolded as a spiritual convention that called the Redemptorist Youth Missionaries of the Philippines as “Pilgrims of Hope” who courageously responded to the timeless invitation of Christ: “Put out into deep water, and let down the nets for a catch” (Luke 5:4).
The Alphonsian Day’s central theme “Magpalaod” (to sail) bears a deep spiritual meaning that surpasses the literal and mundane. In the Bible, wavy seas often symbolize chaos and unpredictability, yet one who has hope in God encounters Him amid the tumult. From the calming of the storm to Peter walking on water, the sea has always been where faith is either surrendered or solidified. Evoking Peter’s miraculous catch of fish in the Gospel, we can say that in essence, “magpalaod” is the Holy Spirit’s prompting for us to leave the shallows of mediocrity and worldly attachments, and to sail into the deep, where one’s total trust in God becomes not optional, but essential. It is a story of hope that perseveres even when the outcome is uncertain and the waters ahead seem treacherous.
This year’s AD transcends usual youth gatherings as it reclaims the Church’s vision of youth ministry as a formation of mission-oriented young people who are not merely spectators of faith but active participants in God’s plan. It calls upon us to embrace our baptismal identity to be missionary disciples who carry Christ’s redeeming love to the peripheries of society, especially to those drowning in despair, injustice, and spiritual emptiness. In the light of faith, this journey resonates deeply with the teachings and witness of St. Alphonsus Liguori, who devoted his life to preaching God’s abundant mercy, particularly to the most abandoned. Today, that conviction is what we ought to have and that is made possible by anchoring our hopes in the Lord as he said: “Those who pray are certainly saved; those who do not pray are certainly damned.” Prayer, then, becomes the vessel by which the youth navigate the deep, their lifeline to God amid the storms of life. Alphonsian Day 2025 is also an opportunity to rediscover this essential relationship with God and grounding their mission not on human strength but on Divine grace.
Acknowledging their sublime role, the fun and spiritually enriching activities held on the day foster the youth’s genuine spiritual growth through the disposition of humility and openness. Along with it is the holy task of charitably encountering one’s neighbors through surrendering preconceived notions, pride, and distractions at the altar of God’s transformative love. This inner preparation is where the Holy Spirit can work for one’s transformation.
Accompanying prayer is one’s deepening through reflection. Like the saints throughout history who emphasized the importance of examining one’s life in the light of God’s will, the youth is able to experience God’s presence and respond to His call even at a time when modern culture exalts haste and superficiality. It also extends to listening with one’s heart that reflects Christ’s own example, who, though Divine, embraced the cries of the poor, the sick, and the marginalized. The practice of authentic listening allows the youth to encounter God not only in scripture and prayer but in the stories, struggles, and hopes of others. In this gathering, sharings and socialization become venues where listening becomes an act of solidarity and communal discernment that offers healing to both the Church and the larger human family.
This year’s Alphonsian Day became all the more meaningful as delegates from various Apostolic Units across the country embarked on a pilgrimage to Legazpi City, being gathered as one family, united by the love of Christ and the mission of St. Alphonsus. The sight of young hearts from different regions embracing each other, sharing meals, exchanging stories, and offering prayers together, was a powerful testimony to the Redemptorists’ enduring spirit of fraternity and communion. It is apt to call this event a pilgrimage of hope that transcended geographical distances and personal differences. One will witness the warmth of mutual trust and friendship flourishing as delegates engaged in not only spiritual formation sessions but also in fun and meaningful activities designed to strengthen their bond as one Redemptorist youth family. Laughter was evident and even stretching to the night, games brought out joyful recreation, and cultural programs and group sharings allowed each group to celebrate their rich heritage while honoring their shared faith.
Amid the lighthearted moments, the gathering perfected its true purpose as the community took part together in solemn prayerful moments. Mornings began with praise, uniting voices in song and hearts in devotion. RYM delegates formed one body in Christ, made manifest through reflective sessions, heart-to-heart conversations, and the celebration of the Holy Eucharist, the source and summit of Christian life. These sacred moments rekindled their missionary zeal and reminded them that their personal faith journeys are inseparable from the life of the Church. St. Alphonsus longed for a community of believers who would tirelessly proclaim God’s redeeming love through brotherhood, mercy, and service, and here it has been realized through the youth’s powerful “yes” to God’s call.
Bound for the Archdiocese of Caceres for the National Youth Day, delegates departed from Legazpi not as scattered individuals, but as missionary youth bearing the same torch of faith. May their hearts carry with them the lessons of youthfulness, hope, and encouragement, ready to sail in their own communities, bringing light to places darkened by despair, and like St. Alphonsus utter in their tongues words of holy surrender: “He who trusts in himself is lost. He who trusts in God can do all things.”
In this continuous pilgrimage, let us rediscover the deep waters of life where, although uncertain and often turbulent, God’s grace abounds most. It is there, beyond the shores of security, where love for Christ matures, and where the missionary heart is truly formed. We are valuable in the sight of the Lord so much so that in those stormy waters, every young Redemptorist missionary is assured of Christ’s assistance in the waves, for it is He who said: “Indeed, the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Don’t be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows.” (Luke 12:7) Thus, let us be overjoyed by the thought that our victory is found in Him who has plentiful redemption, so may we sail to the depths of faith with courageous hope.
Khryssdale S. Jacob,
Redemptorist Youth Mission-Legazpi
