Our MSC brothers in the Philippines have been in contact to let us know about their ongoing work in helping survivors of the recent earthquake in the Cebu district, with thanks to the generosity of our mission friends and benefactors here in the Irish Province for their support at this time of urgent need.
Reflection on Earthquake Emergency Relief
Davao Oriental, Philippines
Five days after the 7.4 magnitude earthquake struck the southeastern part of the Philippines, our team hurried to the most affected communities to bring emergency food relief and conduct Psychological First Aid (PFA) for those traumatized by the disaster. We joined a group of volunteers in partnership with the European Union, responding together to the cries of people who lost homes, livelihood, and peace of mind. What awaited us was both overwhelming and humbling a vast crowd gathered in open spaces, anxious and restless as aftershocks continued to shake the ground from time to time. To bring some sense of order and safety, we began organizing the crowd according to age groups, realizing that each group carried its own particular pain and need. Children required reassurance and calm; the elderly needed gentle presence; and families longed for food, comfort, and peace of heart. Amid the chaos and uncertainty, we discovered a profound truth: one of the most meaningful responses to calamity is presence, being with the people. Simply listening to their stories, sharing their silence, and letting them know that they are not alone became an act of healing in itself. We could not remove their pain, but we could accompany it. We could not undo the loss, but we could stand beside it.
The stories we heard were filled with fear, shock, and anxiety echoes of trembling hearts that still feared the next quake. Yet within those same voices, we also sensed a fragile strength a resilience born from faith and shared suffering. As Missionaries of the Sacred Heart (MSC), we live by the mission of Justice, Peace, and Integrity of Creation (JPIC). This experience became our first real encounter of putting that mission into action amid a tragic and wounded reality. Here, justice meant solidarity, peace meant listening, and integrity of creation meant standing in awe before both human fragility and divine compassion.
Echoes within from the Volunteers
Erick Bryan de Mattos, MSC
“It was my first time experiencing an earthquake. In Brazil we don’t have, and this opportunity to participate in the MSC–European Union joint relief operation was deeply transformative. Responding to a natural disaster was new to me, but it became a true learning experience. I realized that even the smallest act of giving — a handful of food packs can warm hearts and awaken gratitude. Each smile we received was a silent reminder that faith, hope, and love remain alive even amid ruins.”
Bro. Hendrick Qoqletkop, MSC
“Engaging in earthquake relief operation was an eye-opening experience. Being with people who suffered so much mirrored my own human vulnerability. Through Psychological First Aid (PFA), we listened to those traumatized by the tragedy. I learned to value teamwork, to see the unique gifts each one contributes. Though I had witnessed earthquakes before in Papua New Guinea, joining a relief team of this kind was something entirely new. This experience moved me beyond my comfort zone to reach out, to rescue, to save life and to rediscover the heart of our mission. If ever the same things happen in Papua New Guinea, I know now what to do. Yes I handed a piece of food but I was the one who received in full.”
Bro. Anthony Tongala Victor, MSC
“Joining the emergency relief operations, I personally heard the people’s lamentations. Many believed it was the end of the world, the second coming of the Lord. Their words disturbed me and made me ask: How can we truly help? How can we bring calm to those in distress? Through this, I learned the ministry of presence — simply being there with them. While material aid like food packs was essential, I realized that their deeper hunger was for compassion and connection. Our presence itself became a form of relief. Seeing their faces light up with smiles reminded me that hope can rise even from fear. In truth, they became my teachers, showing me what faith looks like in the midst of suffering.”
Fr. Richie Gomez, MSC
“One encounter deeply moved me. A man came forward after receiving relief goods and asked, ‘Father, can I request a Bible?’ In that moment, I understood how tragedy often leads people to conversion, to a deeper surrender to God. As I listened to their stories, one described it as a ‘double trauma.’ The first was the earthquake itself; the second came when, after the quake, a tsunami alert was issued. Their island community was the epicenter, so everyone — children, mothers, elders ran to the boats, fleeing from the island in panic. Since then, aftershocks continued. For days they slept in makeshift tents, fearful of returning home. Fishermen dared not go to sea, and farmers avoided their fields, haunted by the question: What if it happens again and I am not with my loved ones? Listening to these stories was heartbreaking. Yet even in their fear, their faith stood unshaken. They taught me what it means to hope in darkness, to find God’s presence amid trembling ground.”
This experience of earthquake relief operation revealed that disasters are not only physical ruptures of the earth but also spiritual awakenings of the human heart. We learned that healing begins not only with food and medicine but with companionship and compassion — the simple assurance that “you are not alone.” In walking with those who suffer, we too are transformed. Their wounds become our teachers; their endurance becomes our prayer. Amid the trembling earth, we discovered a deeper stillness, where the Heart of Christ beats with every heart that dares to hope again.
if you are able to help our ongoing ministry in the Philippines, please click here.