Joaquim Magalhães de Castro
The Camillian presence in Asia began in China in 1946. After their expulsion in 1952, this initial missionary experience in the region was transformed with renewed vigor, leading the Order to expand its presence to ten Asian countries. Throughout this journey, special attention has always been given to the formation of future missionaries, not only for local churches, but also for service in other countries of the world. From January 18 to 24, 2026, a meeting of active Italian Camillian missionaries on that island, in the Philippines and in Indonesia, took place in Lotung, Taiwan. It was a significant meeting, which was attended by seven missionaries, who together bring an extraordinary legacy of 399 years of missionary work. The theme of the meeting, “Charism and Mission,” was moderated by Father Amelio Troietto, a doctor and missionary in the Philippines. The focus was a profound reinterpretation of the missionary experience in the light of the charism of Saint Camillus de Lellis, highlighting the fact that “fidelity in service to the sick and the poor continues to generate works, vocations, and hope.” The meeting in Lotung demonstrated how long experience becomes an asset for the mission. These missionaries, now men with considerable experience, testified that, with goodwill, trust in Providence, and the support of many generous friends, it is still possible to perform true “miracles of good” for the Gospel, for the Church, and for the Order of Saint Camillus. A memory marked by active gratitude, which nourishes the present and enables future charitable works of the Camillian Mission in Asia.
In Taiwan, where the Camillians have been present for 74 years, the order’s institutions bear witness to a long and fruitful commitment to health: two hospitals — St. Mary’s Hospital in Lotung, with approximately 700 beds, and St. Camillus Hospital in Makung, currently under renovation and with more than 150 beds —, a center for people with disabilities that houses 230 people, a nursing home with 110 beds, a nursing school with more than 1,000 students, and a cultural dance center. In the area of pastoral care, the Camillians are responsible for 12 small parishes, five of which are located in mountainous regions where the population lives in extreme isolation.
In the Philippines, where the Camillians have been present for 51 years, three small hospitals, three outpatient clinics, and a nursing home have been built. The missionaries also provide pastoral care in three parishes and serve as chaplains in several large hospitals in Manila and Davao, bringing evangelical comfort to hundreds of suffering people.
In Indonesia, where the Camillians have been present for 16 years, educational work continues to be the main focus, with approximately one hundred young people being guided in their vocations in four seminaries. In addition to this fundamental ministry, two social centers have been opened, one on the island of Flores and another, more recently, on the island of Timor, to offer shelter and educational opportunities to young people from other islands, who are often in situations of extreme need.
When the Camillians arrived in Indonesia, their dream was clear: to serve the sick and the poor in the spirit of Saint Camillus de Lellis. In recent years, many initiatives have been launched step by step, both in the area of education and in the social area, where hundreds of needy families are being served and dozens of people with mental health problems are being helped. Alongside these important projects, three “original” dreams also emerged, perhaps unexpected, but full of meaning: San Camillo water, San Camillo ice cream, and San Camillo pizza.
It took almost sixteen years for these initiatives to become a reality. They did not arise from a financial plan or a business strategy. They sprouted from the simple desire to bring an “Italian touch” to the many children, the poor, the sick, and the friends of the mission. A sign of joy. A moment of shared enthusiasm.
San Camillo mineral water — affectionately called “holy water” because of its purity and quality — has been distributed locally for ten years. Providing safe and tested drinking water is an important public health service. Many in need receive it free of charge, especially during difficult times.
Then came San Camillo ice cream. Gelato San Camillo was not founded to generate profit, but to bring joy. “Every time a child tastes ice cream made with love for the first time, we feel that this is also a form of evangelization: making someone feel loved and valued, and giving them something to celebrate,” says one of the missionaries.
And finally, the most recent example: the San Camillo Pizza. Another small sign of how committed the Italian missionaries are to helping others. Baking a pizza and sharing it with young people, families, and the sick becomes an opportunity of encounter, community, and dialogue.
The focus of these three initiatives is certainly not profit, but joy. It is the desire to create places of peace, dignity, and normalcy in often difficult circumstances. Ultimately, this is also the mission of the Camillians: not just to build structures or launch programs, but to create small moments of beauty.
A glass of fresh water. An ice cream to be shared. A pizza to be eaten together. These are simple dreams. However, “in the many smiling faces, the Gospel is reflected in action. And, after sixteen years, we can say that even these small gestures have become concrete caresses for so many poor and sick children in Indonesia.”
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