Bishop Ruperto Santos of Antipolo called on young people to embrace synodality as a way of life, describing it as “a journey of listening, learning, loving, and leading together” in faith and service.
In his homily during the opening Mass of the MISSION POSSIBLE Youth Social Hackathon on October 24, the prelate said, “Our life is a synodality in action. We listen, we learn, we love, and then we lead.”
He likened synodality to “a caravan,” where the faithful “follow, and not only follow, we also take the lead so that we can guide them, we can lead them.”
The MISSION POSSIBLE initiative, which runs from October 24 to 26, is jointly organized by Assumption Antipolo and LiCAS News.
The three-day event gathers students from 12 schools to develop creative, faith-driven responses to the social realities affecting their communities.
The Philippine edition follows earlier Hackathon seasons in Thailand in 2024 and 2025. Continuing the spirit of those pioneering runs, the Antipolo gathering invites students to “journey together” — a hallmark of synodality — as they listen, discern, and act collectively on issues that impact their schools and communities.
Through collaboration, dialogue, and faith-based reflection, participants are encouraged to identify real social problems and design innovative solutions that embody solidarity in action.
Bishop Santos said that living in synodality means cultivating solidarity through the proper use of “head, heart, and hands.”
He explained that solidarity begins with the head, “by being ourselves, the personhood that we have.”
“Solidarity is listening, and listening starts with the head,” he said. “We listen to our parents, we listen to our teachers, we listen to ourselves, and we listen to our friends.”
He urged young people to use discernment and reflection in choosing what to keep and what to discard from the many influences they encounter. “Use your head, you can discard, you can retain,” he said.
The bishop continued, “After the head, we have to use our heart. The heart is to trust, and the heart is to love. What is useful, what is beneficial, what is good, we have to retain and we have to love.”
He added that love and faith must be shown through action. He encouraged the young “hackers” to “love” and “show it,” adding, “You will use your heart, perform and produce, be productive.”
Bishop Santos told participants that the three-day youth hackathon was an opportunity to cultivate the seeds of faith, leadership, and social commitment.
“Today, and until Sunday, it is just like cultivating. It is just like sowing. And later on, your fellow classmates and students will be reaping what you have started today,” he said.
He reminded them that their participation was not by chance but a divine calling. “It is not accidental that you are here. It is not because of your luck or chamba, or sinuswerte (luck), that you are here. God makes things possible. It is you that God wants you to be here,” he said.
The bishop reaffirmed the youth’s vital role in the life of the Church, saying, “Remember, you are very important. Always believe you are needed. You are special. You are important. You can make a difference in the future,” he said.
“Leaders of the Church. Leaders of the society. And it is just starting here with this seminar,” he said.
