A personal reflection on faith, friendship, and mission during the Alphonsian Youth Gathering in the Philippines from May 12–20, 2026.

There’s something really beautiful about international events like this. We come from different countries, cultures and backgrounds, yet we share the same faith and in this case, the same Redemptorist family.

To the hosts from Manila and Cebu, thank you for bringing so much life and energy into every single day. The Filipino culture of joy, dance and hospitality shone so brightly throughout the whole event. I was honestly so impressed by all the performances and completely blown away that we even got to watch a musical in Baclaran Church about the stories of the pilgrims who go there to pray.

One of my biggest takeaways was witnessing the mission on the ground. Seeing how the Redemptorists and church leaders go into the neighbourhoods to share the faith and journey with people in prayer really reminded me what mission is all about: being with the people.

This was my second AYG, and one thing I love most is the friendships. Meeting friends again from the 2024 gathering and seeing how excited we all were to reconnect reminded me what church truly is. Even though we may only meet every few years, our faith brings us together and builds friendships that go beyond distance and time zones.

My hope is that we won’t only celebrate moments like these during big events, but continue living out our call to mission in our everyday lives. To walk not alone, but side by side with one another, towards and with Jesus our Redeemer.

Leroy Rafael
Redemptorist Youth from the Vice Province of Malaysia & Singapore

The Alphonsian Youth Gathering (AYG) is an international gathering of young people from the Redemptorist family, bringing together different cultures and nations to deepen faith, build friendships, and share in the mission of Jesus the Redeemer through prayer, formation, and missionary experience.