U.S. Catholics are transforming the lives of impoverished families in the Philippines. Children and adults who once lived in fear of storms and intruders are now thriving in safe, sturdy homes — and the entire neighborhood has embraced the Church’s call to community.
Generous Cross Catholic Outreach supporters recently enabled Answering the Cry of the Poor (ANCOP), a Catholic lay ministry, to complete its second year of building homes in Samal, a city in the Bataan province. Thirty families who had been living in insecure, makeshift homes or underneath bridges are now protected by solid houses and enjoying the peace of a much safer neighborhood.
Parents and children are now able to sleep through the night, even when storms stir. Each new home has a strong roof and lockable doors and is a safe space for children to learn and grow. How touching it is to see the people of God come together to bless our brothers and sisters in need!
Related: How Catholics Are Sharing Safe Shelter With the Poor
For Modesto and his family, a sturdy new home was only the start of their new life of hope. Today, they are also protected by a supportive community of caring neighbors!
Before ANCOP’s ministry team selected them to receive a new home, the family had nowhere to live. They were being removed from their ramshackle home because the landowner wanted the land for other purposes. The old dirt-floor dwelling was made of wood scraps and couldn’t keep out the rain, but it was all the family had.
Praise God that ANCOP was able to come to their rescue. Modesto and his family were invited to become part of the new neighborhood, and now they have a sturdy home that’s all their own! In addition, they have friendly neighbors who are committed to upholding Christian values within the community. All the beneficiaries participated in eight-week value formation and Christian life programs offered by ANCOP, which is the humanitarian arm of Couples for Christ. Devoted to “bringing Christ’s transforming love to the poor,” this Vatican-recognized international lay organization invites housing beneficiary families to participate in ministry programs, monthly household prayer meetings and quarterly fellowship meetings with other families.
A new homeowners’ association also promotes unity in the neighborhood. All beneficiary families are participating, while elected leaders create community activities, involve families in decision-making and manage a community fund for the ongoing benefit of all the members. ANCOP will continue to guide the association during its first 12 months to ensure the neighborhood remains vibrant and engaged.
Together, we can ensure ANCOP continues to be a beacon of hope for poor and outcast families in the Philippines. Ministry leaders stepped out in faith to acquire a large tract of vacant land in Samal to create this new neighborhood, and Cross Catholic Outreach supporters in the United States responded generously by funding 27 homes in the first year and 30 more homes this past year. The multiyear outreach will continue in Samal until 127 families are welcomed into safe, sturdy homes.
Housing insecurity is growing rapidly worldwide, and part of our response is supporting ANCOP’s life-changing work in Samal. Since 2006, Cross Catholic Outreach has helped ANCOP build hundreds of homes for needy families in the Philippines and provided support for the operation of its successful spiritual development programs. You can learn more about ANCOP and its work here.
Your continued generosity will enable compassionate Catholics to reach our neighbors in need around the world. Together, we can ensure vulnerable families no longer fear the darkness of oncoming storms but see the bright future that awaits them and their children.
Donations from this campaign will be used to cover any expenditures for this project incurred through June 30, 2027, the close of our ministry’s fiscal year. In the event that more funds are raised than needed to fully fund the project, the excess funds, if any, will be used to meet the most urgent needs of the ministry.
