Archbishop Charles Brown, apostolic nuncio to the Philippines, urged Catholic social action workers to adopt creative approaches in addressing persistent social problems facing the country.
Speaking at the closing Mass of the 42nd National Social Action General Assembly in Tagaytay City on Feb. 5, he said entrenched challenges require new ways of thinking, even as meaningful change often takes time.
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“The problems are perennial. The problems are constant,” Brown said, citing corruption, poverty, exclusion, malnutrition, and lack of education.
He said Church workers should not be discouraged by the scale of social challenges, noting that lasting change usually happens incrementally rather than through immediate, sweeping reforms.
“We need to have fresh solutions. We need to think of new ways, creative solutions to these perennial problems,” Brown said.
Reflecting on the Gospel passage in which Jesus sends out the apostles, Brown said their mission centered on repentance, which he described as “metanoia,” a Greek term meaning a change of heart.
He said social action requires openness to new ideas, creative strategies and inventive responses to long-standing issues affecting Filipino communities.
While systemic reforms may take years, Brown said helping individuals in concrete and practical ways remains essential to the Church’s mission and social witness.
“What’s important is the individual, the person,” he said.
The nuncio said society is ultimately shaped by the lives of individuals, stressing that small acts of service can have lasting impact when carried out consistently and compassionately.
Brown also emphasized that social action must be carried out collaboratively, warning against isolated efforts and urging Church workers to move forward together in a synodal manner.
“A solitary Christian is no Christian,” he said, adding that authentic social action requires cooperation, dialogue and constant communication among clergy, lay workers and bishops.
Brown said synodality strengthens the Church’s response to social problems by fostering shared discernment, mutual support and unity of mission rather than fragmented initiatives.
He praised Filipino social action workers for their commitment, calling their work central to the Church’s outreach, particularly among the poor and marginalized.
“There’s such a crying need in the Philippines for social action,” he said.
