03/08/2026
𝐌𝐄𝐒𝐒𝐀𝐆𝐄 𝐎𝐅 𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐍𝐋𝐂 𝐂𝐇𝐀𝐈𝐑
𝐎𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝟏𝟐𝟒𝐭𝐡 𝐏𝐫𝐨𝐜𝐥𝐚𝐦𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐀𝐧𝐧𝐢𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐬𝐚𝐫𝐲 𝐨𝐟 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐈𝐠𝐥𝐞𝐬𝐢𝐚 𝐅𝐢𝐥𝐢𝐩𝐢𝐧𝐚 𝐈𝐧𝐝𝐞𝐩𝐞𝐧𝐝𝐢𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐞
𝐒𝐮𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐢𝐧𝐞𝐝 𝐛𝐲 𝐆𝐫𝐚𝐜𝐞, 𝐍𝐮𝐫𝐭𝐮𝐫𝐞𝐝 𝐢𝐧 𝐅𝐚𝐢𝐭𝐡, 𝐒𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐅𝐨𝐫𝐭𝐡 𝐢𝐧 𝐌𝐢𝐬𝐬𝐢𝐨𝐧 (𝐄𝐩𝐡𝐞𝐬𝐢𝐚𝐧𝐬 𝟐:𝟖)
Fellow faithful,
With grateful hearts, let us celebrate the 124th anniversary of the proclamation of the Iglesia Filipina Independiente, our nationalist Church.
For 124 years, God has sustained our Church through changing times, guiding us through trials and triumphs alike. As we give thanks for this enduring journey, we also renew our commitment to the mission God continues to entrust to us.
Our anniversary invites us to reflect on this year’s theme, “Sustained by Grace, Nurtured in Faith, Sent Forth in Mission,” inspired by Ephesians 2:8–10. It is the same theme that guided our recently concluded General Assembly and the national conventions of some of our lay mandated sectors, reminding us that God’s work in and through the Church continues in every generation.
Indeed, we are sustained by God’s grace. From the very beginning of our Church, God’s steadfast love has carried us through colonial disinformation, structural vulnerability, and countless other adversities. That same grace continues to strengthen us today—not only as a Church, but also as individuals seeking to live faithfully in an increasingly complex world.
Yet grace calls for a response. We are invited to nurture our faith by recognizing God’s presence in our lives and in the life of the Church. Strengthened by that faith, we are sent to do God’s mission: to work for the renewal of the Church, to serve the anawim and to join in the restoration of all Creation. In a world groaning under inequality, violence and exploitation, we are called to become living witnesses to God’s transforming love.
The renewal of the Church is not merely an institutional aspiration. It is essential if we are to remain a credible sign of hope for all Creation. Our Church must continue to proclaim the Reign of God through compassionate service, courageous witness, and steadfast advocacy for justice, peace, and the integrity of Creation.
This mission belongs to all of us! It cannot rest solely on the shoulders of our clergy or a handful of lay leaders. Every baptized member has a place in God’s work.
May our Church always be a welcoming, safe and nurturing community where every person finds a home in Christ, regardless of where they are in life’s journey. In turn, may every member discover their place in the life, work and witness of the Iglesia Filipina Independiente. Let us faithfully embrace our calling as Christian stewards, deepen our participation in the celebration of the Holy Eucharist, take part in the ministries of our local churches, and offer our unique gifts for the glory of God and the service of our neighbors.
Our proclamation anniversary is one meaningful way to renew that commitment. As we prepare for the Month of the Laity this October 2026, the National Lay Council, together with the national lay organizations—the Youth of the IFI, the Women of the Philippine Independent Church, and the Laymen of IFI—continues to prepare opportunities for every member to grow in faith, participate in the Church’s mission and respond more fully to God’s grace.
As we celebrate 124 years of God’s faithfulness, let us remember that the same grace that sustained our forebears continues to sustain us today. May we respond with steadfast faith, joyful service and courageous witness, so that others, too, may encounter God's grace through our lives. Together, let us continue building the Reign of God here and now.
Mabuhay ang Iglesia Filipina Independiente! Kasama ang Panginoon, magkaisa tayo at kumilos para sa ating tunay na pagsasarili.
VAUGHN ALVIAR
Chairperson
National Lay Council
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𝐌𝐄𝐒𝐒𝐀𝐆𝐄 𝐎𝐅 𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐍𝐋𝐂 𝐂𝐇𝐀𝐈𝐑
𝐎𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝟏𝟐𝟒𝐭𝐡 𝐏𝐫𝐨𝐜𝐥𝐚𝐦𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐀𝐧𝐧𝐢𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐬𝐚𝐫𝐲 𝐨𝐟 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐈𝐠𝐥𝐞𝐬𝐢𝐚 𝐅𝐢𝐥𝐢𝐩𝐢𝐧𝐚 𝐈𝐧𝐝𝐞𝐩𝐞𝐧𝐝𝐢𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐞
𝐒𝐮𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐢𝐧𝐞𝐝 𝐛𝐲 𝐆𝐫𝐚𝐜𝐞, 𝐍𝐮𝐫𝐭𝐮𝐫𝐞𝐝 𝐢𝐧 𝐅𝐚𝐢𝐭𝐡, 𝐒𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐅𝐨𝐫𝐭𝐡 𝐢𝐧 𝐌𝐢𝐬𝐬𝐢𝐨𝐧 (𝐄𝐩𝐡𝐞𝐬𝐢𝐚𝐧𝐬 𝟐:𝟖)
Fellow faithful,
With grateful hearts, let us celebrate the 124th anniversary of the proclamation of the Iglesia Filipina Independiente, our nationalist Church.
For 124 years, God has sustained our Church through changing times, guiding us through trials and triumphs alike. As we give thanks for this enduring journey, we also renew our commitment to the mission God continues to entrust to us.
Our anniversary invites us to reflect on this year’s theme, “Sustained by Grace, Nurtured in Faith, Sent Forth in Mission,” inspired by Ephesians 2:8–10. It is the same theme that guided our recently concluded General Assembly and the national conventions of some of our lay mandated sectors, reminding us that God’s work in and through the Church continues in every generation.
Indeed, we are sustained by God’s grace. From the very beginning of our Church, God’s steadfast love has carried us through colonial disinformation, structural vulnerability, and countless other adversities. That same grace continues to strengthen us today—not only as a Church, but also as individuals seeking to live faithfully in an increasingly complex world.
Yet grace calls for a response. We are invited to nurture our faith by recognizing God’s presence in our lives and in the life of the Church. Strengthened by that faith, we are sent to do God’s mission: to work for the renewal of the Church, to serve the anawim and to join in the restoration of all Creation. In a world groaning under inequality, violence and exploitation, we are called to become living witnesses to God’s transforming love.
The renewal of the Church is not merely an institutional aspiration. It is essential if we are to remain a credible sign of hope for all Creation. Our Church must continue to proclaim the Reign of God through compassionate service, courageous witness, and steadfast advocacy for justice, peace, and the integrity of Creation.
This mission belongs to all of us! It cannot rest solely on the shoulders of our clergy or a handful of lay leaders. Every baptized member has a place in God’s work.
May our Church always be a welcoming, safe and nurturing community where every person finds a home in Christ, regardless of where they are in life’s journey. In turn, may every member discover their place in the life, work and witness of the Iglesia Filipina Independiente. Let us faithfully embrace our calling as Christian stewards, deepen our participation in the celebration of the Holy Eucharist, take part in the ministries of our local churches, and offer our unique gifts for the glory of God and the service of our neighbors.
Our proclamation anniversary is one meaningful way to renew that commitment. As we prepare for the Month of the Laity this October 2026, the National Lay Council, together with the national lay organizations—the Youth of the IFI, the Women of the Philippine Independent Church, and the Laymen of IFI—continues to prepare opportunities for every member to grow in faith, participate in the Church’s mission and respond more fully to God’s grace.
As we celebrate 124 years of God’s faithfulness, let us remember that the same grace that sustained our forebears continues to sustain us today. May we respond with steadfast faith, joyful service and courageous witness, so that others, too, may encounter God's grace through our lives. Together, let us continue building the Reign of God here and now.
Mabuhay ang Iglesia Filipina Independiente! Kasama ang Panginoon, magkaisa tayo at kumilos para sa ating tunay na pagsasarili.
VAUGHN ALVIAR
Chairperson
National Lay Council
