Cardinal Tagle urges OFWs to see work as mission of faith

December 26, 2025 – 8:00 AM

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ROME— Cardinal Luis Antonio Tagle called on overseas Filipino workers abroad to see their work as more than provision, describing it as “a mission of faith and witness.”

He said Filipinos abroad, whom he called his “fellow OFWs,” are sent by God not only to care for their families.

“I believe He also sends us to different countries to be witnesses of our faith— both as migrants and missionaries,” said Tagle, pro-prefect of the Vatican’s Dicastery for Evangelization, in his Christmas message.

Acknowledging the challenges faced by overseas workers, he urged them to remain faithful and remember that God is always present.

“I hope this will be our source of strength whenever challenges arise,” he said. “Knowing that God is with us and has brought us there, we can carry out our mission.”

According to the Philippine Statistics Authority, an estimated 2.19 million OFWs were working abroad in 2024, up 1.5 percent from 2.16 million in 2023.