For considerable years of existence, the Ministry to the Filipinos in the diocese of Orlando has been celebrating religious activities to minister to faith expressions deeply rooted in the Filipino culture.  These are Simbang Gabi Novena Advent Masses, Our Lady of Antipolo, San Lorenzo Ruiz de Manila, and Santo Nino de Cebu festivities.  The recent and rapid growth of Filipino population in Central Florida became aware of these popular religious forms of worship. The Filipino migrants flocked to these events with great devotion, feeling joyfully ‘at home’ in these celebrations where their faith was born, continually nourished and called forth to grow. The Filipino clergy, through the leadership of Rev. Peter Puntal, felt the need to formulate a vision-mission statement that would provide guidance and direction of a more efficient and comprehensive program of pastoral care to the Filipino migrants.  Realizing that without a vision, the ministry will be sporadic, and hence less sustaining and effective, not mentioning a great financial waste of resources.

The day turned out to be an unforgettable experience of a community with a joyful camaraderie amidst a grueling process of scanning the present situation of the ministry, celebrating the strengths, as well as enumerating the challenges, the burning issues and unmet pastoral needs that ought to be considered in the visioning process.  Four groups were created to plow through these realities. Resulting with four vision-mission statements from the different groups at the end of the day, a committee of five members was selected to consolidate, collate and formulate one vision-mission statement of the Ministry with literary flair, style and beauty.  The committee members were Sheila Sta. Maria, Cecile Eco, Joebalt Evidente, Dan Ago and George Tunaya.  Rev. Roy V. Eco was an invited guest.