UFANJE: Celebrating 20 Hope-Abundant Years of “Kuya Ivan”: Bl. Ivan Merz in the Philippines

Last October 1, 2023, the Cause for Canonization of Blessed Ivan Merz Inc., headed by President and Vice-Postulator Dr. Dave dela Cruz, celebrated the 20th anniversary of their presence in the Philippines. From a center that housed and toured various relics of the saints—culminating into a reliquarium, the very first chapel dedicated to Blessed Ivan Merz in Asia—this pious journey was illustrated through many colorful pages of hope.

The center became a place of grace, including the honor of housing a Tabernacle that exemplified the unwavering devotion of Bl. Ivan to the Eucharist. It also established the Kusina of Blessed Ivan, which catered meals to the homeless and frontliners during the onslaught of the pandemic. Numerous online doctrine and worship courses were held, academic scholarships were fulfilled, and, above all, the building of a chapel provided a home to God’s people—most especially the least, the last, the lost, and the “unchurched,” those in need of rekindling their love for God.

The year-long celebration began on March 5th with the opening Mass of the Year of Thanksgiving, presided by His Excellency, Bp. Teodoro Bacani, Jr. This year also marked the 100th anniversary of Blessed Ivan’s Doctor of Philosophy, the foundation of the Croatian Eagle, and Catholic Action—alongside the 20th year of his beatification. Graced with blessings, the community joyfully continued their extraordinary corporal and spiritual works of mercy through numerous apostolates, including tours of the Sacred Relics with catechesis on the lives of the saints, most especially their patron, bringing Ivan Merz to even the most far-flung provinces and inspiring people to live a life glorifying God.

On October 1, 2023, feast of St. Therese of the Child Jesus, the spiritual family officially commemorated their second decade of prayerful service to the Filipino Catholic faithful. Fr. Leoncito “Falky” Falkasantos, one of the group’s spiritual directors, presided over the Mass. His homily highlighted the value of contrition and humility, most especially in the confessional, as essential for charitably becoming instruments of God’s love in our turbulent world: “We must not let [our] pride become high and neglect confession… Masama maging masungit”—“It is wrong to be ill-tempered,” especially in how we treat our brothers and sisters.

After the Mass, Dr. Dave read his address to the faithful, saying he could never have known that their powerful and compassionate intercessor before God—though more than 6,000 miles away—could touch so many Filipino lives and that his intercessory prayers would become so evidently instrumental in the lives of many. In simple celebration, siopao (steamed dumplings) were prepared outside, with the faithful given an “assignment”: to take one for themselves and another for someone suffering on the margins of life and society. This act was a living witness to Christ’s words, “For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat,” sharing the joy and charity of Bl. Ivan with the least favored.

Remembering the group’s motto, Ducere et Docere Populum Iesum (“To lead and educate people to Jesus”), and echoing the call of Bl. Ivan Merz, the cause remains dedicated to bringing people closer to God. It also rejoices in how the Filipino Catholic faithful have loved their Croatian professor, spiritual teacher, and friend—referring to him affectionately as “Kuya”, a Filipino term for “older brother.”