The Camillians-Philippine Province held a press conference on May 25, 2024, at Our Lady of La Paz Parish (OLLPP) to launch the celebration of the 50th anniversary of the Camillian presence in the Philippines. Among the guests were Fr. Evan Paul Villanueva, Provincial Superior of the Camillian Philippine Province; Fr. Ivo Anselmi, one of the pioneering Camillians in the Philippines and parish priest of OLLPP; Fr. Rolando Fernandez, the first Filipino Camillian priest and local superior of the Mati Community; Fr. Angel Crisostomo, chairperson of the jubilee organizing committee; and Mr. Lito Zaguirre, OLLPP Head of Evangelization. The event was broadcast live on Radio Veritas and the Catholic Media Network.

During the conference, Fr. Ivo shared the story of how the Camillian mission began in the Philippines. Initially, there was no plan to establish a Camillian presence in the country. After completing his first year of Theology in Ireland, he was transferred to Taiwan with fellow Camillian scholastic, Fr. Pietro Ferri, to continue their studies in preparation for missionary work there. However, the language barrier in Taiwan proved challenging, so they were sent to the Philippines, where they eventually completed their Theology studies at Ateneo de Manila. Initially, there were three of them—Fr. Ivo, Fr. Pietro Ferri, and Fr. Nidini, who studied at De La Salle University. Together with Fr. Alberto Roman and Fr. Anselmo Zambotti, they formed the first Camillian community in the Philippines, officially established on March 8, 1975.

Fr. Angel outlined the planned activities for the “Camillian 50” celebration, which will take place in various locations across the country, from Baguio City to Mati, Davao Oriental. He mentioned that further details would be announced later. The activities, thoughtfully selected by both the religious and lay communities, aim to express gratitude, encourage reflection, and foster a renewed commitment to the Camillian mission. Fr. Evan noted that while the celebrations would be modest, they would serve as a means of revitalizing the true identity of the Camillians.

The “Camillian 50” will be a yearlong celebration. Key events include the Solemn Declaration of “Spiritual Twinning” between Nuestra Señora de la Anunciata Parish Church and the Basilica of the Annunciation in Nazareth on December 18, 2024, and a culminating event on March 8, 2025, at Anunciata Parish.