History of

Faith and Light

Philippines
HOW FAITH AND LIGHT
PHILIPPINES STARTED?
In 1984:
God is Great (GIG) Prayer Group
Meetings at the Dehesa Residence
in Alchan, Mandaluyong:
 Led by Bella Feliciano, assisted
by Emma Dehesa
 Members composed of some young
catechists and leaders in the parish.
1983:
 Jing Amparo had returned to his
home in Davao in 1983, after two
years as a house assistant in L’Arche,
Liverpool.
He communicated his desire
for L’Arche to begin in the
Philippines to Chris Sadler,
Regional Coordinator, based in
India. 
In May 1984:
 Jean Vanier and Chris came to the
Philippines to visit Jing and to assess
the feasibility of starting L’Arche in the
Phils.
 Hosted by Little Brother (LB) Bernard
and by the Little Sisters (LS) of Jesus
in Manila.
 When they went to Davao, they were
met by Bishop Gaudencio Rosales of
Bukidnon, a good friend of the Little
Brother and
 Little Sisters of Jesus.
 Coming back to Manila, LS
Marlene-Karla had arranged for
Jean to meet Bella just before he
was to fly back to France.

 Bella had to attend a pre-scheduled

3-day retreat.
Chris stayed on for a week:
 She attended a GIG prayer meeting
and gave a night of sharing for the
prayer group about persons with
intellectual disability (PWID) from
L’Arche, and Faith and Light;

 Chris asked the group “Who would

be willing to be in such a
community (Faith and Light)?
 Bella raised her hand and then almost
everyone else followed after her.
 Chris named Bella to be the
“community correspondent.”
September 28, 1984:
 First Mandaluyong Sampaguita
Faith and Light Community
started.

October 1984:
 A Faith and Light Davao
Community led by Liz Canastillo,
upon the initiative of Jing
Amparo, was born.
 Bella stayed in touch with Liz
to support her in her efforts. 

In January 1985 :

 Bella was requested to attend a

Faith and Light meeting in India
among leaders of Faith and
Light Australia and India.
May 1985:

 The Mandaluyong Community had

its first pilgrimage, a Mass was
held at the Lourdes Grotto in
Novaliches.

 Bella had invited LB Bernard to

preside the Mass but he, in turn,
invited Fr. Joseph Larsen, CICM to
do so instead. This was Fr.
Joseph’s introduction to FL.
 The Mandaluyong community
welcomed Fr. Joseph as chaplain.
 He was faithful in attending core
group meetings and community
celebrations.
 He was very close to persons with
intellectual disability, especially
Baloloy.
September 1985:
FL Mandaluyong ‘gave birth’ to another
community in National Bilibid Prison
(NBP).
 Through Nellie and her husband,
Nonoy-a Maximum Security inmate, the
LS, Mrs. Dehesa, and Bella, and some
other parish catechists led a bible
sharing among the inmates;
 When they heard about the
Mandaluyong FL community, they
asked if one could also be started in
NBP;

 NBP Chaplain, Msgr. Esperidion was

so touched with the celebration that he
‘mandated’ a similar celebration to be
held the very next month!
From 1985-1986, four (4) other Faith
and Light Communities were born:

 YellowBell Community, NBP,

Muntinlupa City: Gwendolyn
Llano with Msgr. Esperidion;

 Gumamela Community, Bicutan:

Del Arcilla and her group;
 Sun Flower Community, Tagaytay:
Dottie Trinidad and Fr. Oscar
Garces, OFMCap;

 Lotus Community, Transfiguration

Parish in Quezon City through its new
pastor, Fr. Allen Aganon.
 THE FAITH AND LIGHT
COMMUNITIES THAT FOLLOWED:
Communuity Year Started Place Chaplain/s
Bougainvillea June, 1987 La Paz Parish , Makati Rev. Fr. Rolly Agustin
City Rev. Fr. Celsi Pascual
Rose 1989 Holy Family Parish, Rev. Fr. Rey Cruz, Rev. Fr.
Pasig City Celsi Pascual, Msgr. Allen
Aganon;
Birds of Paradise June, 2002 Our Lady of Good
Counsel Parish,
Paranaque City
Dona Aurora December, 2002 St. Joseph Parish, Las Msgr. Allen Aganon
Pinas City
Gladiola May , 2003 San Rafael Parish, Rev. Fr. Rey Cruz
Pasay City
Easter Lily May, 2003 St. Joseph Parish, Rev. Fr. Wilfredo samson
Muntinlupa City
 THE FAITH AND LIGHT
COMMUNITIES THAT
FOLLOWED:
Communuity Year Started Place Chaplain/s
Baby’s Breath 2003 Ina ng Awa Parish, Msgr. Melchor David
Muntinlupa City
Chrysanthemum June, 2003 Sta. Rosa de Lima Parish,
Pasig City
Milflores July, 2003 Cathedral of the Rev. Fr. Roy Rosales
Immaculate Conception,
Pasig City
Forget-Me-Not June, 2006 Presentation of the Child Rev. Fr. Rolly Agustin
Jesus Parish, Paranaque
City
Euphorbia August, 2006 Ang Muling Pagkabuhay Sis. Monique
ng Ating Diyos
ParishCaloocan City
 THE FAITH AND LIGHT
COMMUNITIES THAT
Communuity
FOLLOWED:
Year Started Place Chaplain/s
Dumaguete 2012 Dumaguete City Rev. Fr. Eric Lozada

San Antonio de Padua 2013 San Antonio de Padua Rev. Fr. Willy Ramos
Parish, Paranaque City
St. James The Great September, 2014 St. James the Great Parish, Msgr. Allen Aganon
Muntinlupa City Rev. Fr. Rolly Agustin

Morning Glory December, 2014 St. Francis Xavier Parish, Msgr Florencio Salvador
Cagayan de Oro City Jr., SLD, SSJV
 THE FAITH AND LIGHT
COMMUNITIES THAT FOLLOWED:

 Two communities in Cebu City,

Marem Flores;
 One community in Iloilo City,
Linda Que.
At present, Philippines have seven (7)
existing Faith and Light Communities

Sampaguita Community (San Roque

Parish, Mandaluyong): Lucy Castillo

Gumamela Community (San Martin de

Porres Parish, Paranaque ): Paquita
Fernandez
At present, Philippines have seven (7)
existing Faith and Light Communities

3. Bougainvillea Community (La

Paz Parish, Makati): Orlando
Pagsuyuin

Birds of Paradise Community (Our

Lady of Good Counsel Parish,
Paranaque): Elizabeth Agan with Rose
Cadapan
At present, Philippines have seven (7)
existing Faith and Light Communities

Milflores Community (Immaculate

Conception Cathedral, Pasig): Maridel
Valencia

Morning Glory Community (St. Francis

Xavier Parish, Cagayan De Oro): Connie
Cabriera
 At present, Philippines have seven (7)
existing Faith and Light Communities

St. James the Greater Parish, Muntinlupa City: Beth and

Jocel Novenario with Fr. Rolly Agustin
REFERENCE BISHOP

In the year 2004, through Jean Vanier’s

request, it was then Bishop Gaudencio
Rosales who confirmed Fr. Joseph
Larsen as our National Chaplain. That
was when and how he became Faith and
Light Philippines’ Reference Bishop.