Philippine Bishop Challenges Mindanao Youth Ministers to Examine the Motive behind their Service

Bishop Jose R. Rapadas III of Iligan challenged Catholic youth ministers to examine what drives their service, asking whether their commitment is fueled by love and compassion or by ambition, anger, and the desire for recognition.

“What kind of fire is burning in us?”Bishop Rapadas asked during the homily at the Eucharistic celebration on October 22, the second day of the Mindanao-Sulu Pastoral Conference (MSPC) Youth Congress 2026.

“Is it the fire of selfish ambition, or the fire of service? The fire of anger and hatred, or the fire of love and compassion? The desire to be admired, or the desire to make Christ known?” he asked.

The four-day congress, hosted by the Archdiocese of Davao in the southern Philippines from October 21 to 24, brings together youth ministers from 22 ecclesiastical territories across Mindanao under the theme, “Mindanaoan Youth: Rooted in Love, Rising for Mission.”

The gathering continues the Mindanao-Sulu Pastoral Conference’s longstanding tradition of bringing local Churches together for pastoral reflection and collaboration, extending that vision to the formation of young people and those who accompany them.

Bishop Rapadas warned that enthusiasm alone is not enough to sustain Christian service. Youth ministers must ensure that their passion remains directed toward the Gospel and the people they are called to serve.

“Passion needs a worthy object, or it burns out or burns wrong,” he said.

Addressing those in leadership, the bishop asked whether their commitment was rooted in a genuine vocation or had become merely routine.

“The most dangerous thing that can happen to a youth minister is not failure. It is the slow cooling of the heart while the work continues,” he said.

Bishop Rapadas also invited youth leaders to examine how they respond to conflict, differences, and the challenges of accompanying other young people.

His message placed the congress theme in the context of personal conversion, emphasizing that being rooted in love requires more than outward activity. It calls youth ministers to examine their intentions and ensure that their service reflects Christ’s compassion.

The congress provides a regional space for youth ministers to share pastoral experiences, strengthen relationships, and discern how the Church can better accompany young people in their faith and mission.

Bishop Rapadas’ reflection challenged participants to look beyond the visible results of their ministry and consider the spirit in which they serve, reminding them that lasting mission depends not only on what they do but also on the love that motivates them.