Menu

QUIAPO PILGRIMS MINISTRY CALLED TO WITNESS TO TRUTH IN SPIRIT OF ST. JOHN THE BAPTIST

Sep. 01, 2026 08:52 AM

QUIAPO, MANILA — “All of us were asked to be witnesses to the truth.”

‎This was the message reflected upon by Rev. Fr. Richard Anthony A. Lim during the celebration of the Memorial of the Passion of St. John the Baptist on August 29, 2026, as he connected the saint’s mission of bearing witness to the commissioning of the new Pilgrims Ministry of the Minor Basilica and National Shrine of Jesus Nazareno St. John the Baptist Parish.

‎Fr. Lim emphasized that the ministry exists to help pilgrims encounter and experience Jesus more deeply while accompanying them in the different needs they bring to their pilgrimage.

‎“So that you [will be] able to encounter, experience Jesus better—to help you with all things that pilgrims look for,” he said.

‎These words point to the heart of the Pilgrims Ministry: service is not an end in itself. Every act of assistance and every encounter with a pilgrim should ultimately lead them closer to Jesus Nazareno.

‎This mission finds a fitting model in St. John the Baptist, whose life was centered on preparing the way for Christ and bearing witness to the truth. His ministry was never about drawing attention to himself; rather, he directed people toward the One who was to come after him.

‎In the same way, those who serve in the Pilgrims Ministry are called not only to assist pilgrims but also to become witnesses through their lives and service.

‎Fr. Lim stressed this responsibility, saying, “That in their [Pilgrims] ministry… they will also continue to speak the truth and through them, the people will also encounter the truth in them.”

‎This call to witness extends beyond those formally assigned to pastoral ministry. Every Christian is entrusted with the responsibility of witnessing to the truth through both words and actions.

‎The life of St. John the Baptist exemplifies this courage. Commemorated by the Church on August 29, John remained faithful to the truth even when it brought him into conflict with those in power. His proclamation eventually led to his imprisonment and death.

‎Yet John’s courage was rooted not in pride, but in humility. He understood that his role was to prepare the way for Christ, not to become the center of attention. His declaration, “He must increase; I must decrease” (John 3:30), captures the humility that defined his mission.

‎This serves as an important reminder for those engaged in pastoral ministry. Speaking the truth must never become an excuse for arrogance. Being entrusted with a ministry does not make one greater than those being served; rather, it places upon the minister a greater responsibility to remain humble.

‎This spirituality can likewise guide the Pilgrims Ministry in Quiapo— the ministry becomes a living testimony when pilgrims encounter not only efficiency, but also compassion; not only information, but also truth; and not only assistance, but also humility.

‎In this way, the Pilgrims Ministry participates in the mission of St. John the Baptist: to prepare the way, to bear witness to the truth, and to journey together in faith toward Christ. This mission is reflected in the ministry’s virtues of Kalinga, Pasanan, Kabsat, and Salya, which call its members to serve pilgrims with care, solidarity, companionship, and faithfulness.

‎As the ministry begins its mission, the example of St. John the Baptist offers a clear reminder: those who serve are not called to become the center, but to point others toward Christ.

‎Ultimately, the ministry belongs not to the minister, but to the truth—and to God.

 

 

 

 

Wilka Ella N. Aragon | Pilgrims Ministry/Quiapo Article Writer