By Shivonne Prevena
FIVE members from the Archdiocesan Mission of New Evangelisation for Christ (AMNEC) were in Manila, Philippines, on Oct 8 to 14 to participate in a conference and training program with the Catholic Christian Outreach (CCO) Movement from Canada.
The program was led by CCO founders, Andre and Angele Regnier, and Benjamin Turland, head of the Parish Support Team. For nearly four decades, CCO has been at the forefront of inspiring Catholics around the world to rediscover the joy of missionary discipleship and to share the Gospel with renewed zeal.
The AMNEC participants learned that evangelisation need not be complex — it begins with a genuine relationship with Jesus and a life rooted in prayer. Central to the formation was the use of The Ultimate Relationship booklet, a simple yet powerful tool that helps others encounter Christ personally and place Him at the centre of their lives.
Beyond the classroom sessions, the Malaysian delegates were invited to experience missionary life firsthand. They visited Fondacio, a Christian community that nurtures leadership, faith, and social responsibility among young people. The encounter inspired a vision for future collaborations to offer Malaysian youth similar experiences of faith, community life, and service through social and environmental projects.
A particularly moving experience was the visit to the Missionary Community of St Paul the Apostle (MCSPA), led by Malaysian missionary Fr Francis Teo. The community serves the poorest of the poor in the slum areas of Manila, promoting the integral development of the human person. The AMNEC team joined the missionaries in their outreach visits, witnessing the face of Christ among those who suffer silently and finding renewed meaning in the call to “go forth and make disciples.”
During their visit, they also met Bro Patrick Groom from Malawi and Bro Joel Jeremiah, an 18-year-old from Johor, Malaysia, who have both responded to the call to become full-time missionaries with MCSPA. Their witness of faith and service was a powerful reminder that God continues to raise missionaries from every corner of the world.
Upon returning home, the mission culminated in a commissioning and certification ceremony on Oct 18 at the Church of St Francis of Assisi, Cheras. – Herald Malaysia
