Crossing Rivers, Finding Grace: Lessons from Fr. Mateo Sanchez’s Mission Diary

Kumusta, mga kaibigan! In this episode of JOSh Friends, we’re joined by Fr. Bros Flores, SJ—Jesuit missionary, former superior of the Bukidnon Mission District, and one of the shepherds of the Fr. Leoni Mission Foundation and Malaybalay Jesuit Retreat House.As he prepares to pass the torch after years of service, Fr. Bros reflects on a deeply personal connection with the diary entries of Fr. Mateo Sanchez, SJ, found in the moving book Balik Lantaw: Diary of a Jesuit Missionary.Fr. Mat’s honest writings—his struggles with language, his quiet victories, his moments of doubt and grace—mirror the lived reality of anyone who has walked the long road of mission. Even decades into his own Jesuit life, Fr. Bros finds comfort and clarity in the simple, humble words written in Cabanglasan many years ago: that we are never alone in the work God entrusts to us.Fr. Mat's vulnerability—his admission of limitations, his dedication to the Umayamnon people despite the odds—reminds us that mission is not about perfection. It’s about presence. About crossing rivers, both literal and spiritual, to meet people where they are.In a world where it's easy to feel lost in the noise of social media, Balik Lantaw brings us back to the heart of service: a ministry of accompaniment, listening, and transformation. And as Fr. Bros reminds us, even in transition, even in letting go, the mission continues—one step, one community, one diary entry at a time.Let us journey together in hope. 📖 Discover the powerful reflections of a Jesuit who walked with the Lumad in Bukidnon for 14 years. Read Balik Lantaw and allow Fr. Mat’s legacy to inspire your own path of service and discovery. Visit JesCom Exclusives at jescom.ph/josh and be moved by the everyday grace of mission life.