LONDON, U.K. — When Arlan Vicencio joined the two-part Mission With the Poor Retreat (MWPR) in London, he expected an orientation. He never imagined that the Catholic retreat would transform his perspective on serving the poor and living out his faith.
“Giving without encounter slowly becomes a transaction, and a transaction lets you feel good without being changed,” shared Arlan, who attended the retreat on August 1 and September 5 at Our Lady and St. Joseph Church in Stanford-le-Hope, Essex, as part of the London B chapter of Couples for Christ (CFC).
A former Singles for Christ member who transitioned to CFC in May 2025, Arlan said he initially approached the retreat thinking about material poverty. He left reflecting on “poverty of the spirit,” something he admits he is still “working through.”
Together with 40 other CFC members and leaders, Arlan found the MWPR both challenging and inspiring. It invited participants to look beyond charitable acts and examine their own attitudes toward generosity, love for God expressed through love for neighbor, and the people they seek to serve.
“[The] MWPR does not just ask what you will give. It asks what you are holding on to, and why. You will leave more generous, and also more honest about yourself. Both are worth the day,” he said.
Why Serving the Poor Means More Than Simply Giving
One of the most striking lessons for Arlan was found in the retreat’s name: Mission With the Poor, rather than Mission for the Poor.
“That the retreat is called Mission With the Poor, not ‘for’ them. That preposition did a lot of work on me,” he explained.
Reflecting on Jesus’ words, “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven,” Arlan began to see the people he hoped to help in a new light.
“Reflecting on this, the people I came to help may actually be further along than I am,” he shared.
Listening to the talks based on Catholic social doctrine challenged him to understand Christian charity not simply as providing material assistance, but as encountering others with humility, recognizing their God-dignity, and remaining open to being changed through those encounters.
Another memorable moment was a slide featuring a quote from St. Mother Teresa: “Do not wait for leaders. Do it alone, person to person!”
For Arlan, the message reinforced the importance of putting faith into action through personal encounters and everyday acts of service beyond the structures of organized group outreaches or activities.
Supporting CFC ANCOP’s Mission Through Education
Today, Arlan serves as a CFC ANCOP Ambassador for the United Kingdom, where he looks forward to becoming more deeply involved in the mission.
“Ambassadors’ work is quieter: keeping our chapter’s scholars funded, caring for sponsors, and supporting other initiatives related to the mission,” he shared.
A qualified accountant, Arlan also assists ANCOP UK and CFC UK with finance and governance, helping support the community’s ongoing work.
The impact of the mission can be seen in the achievements of its sponsored students. To date, 10 students sponsored by CFC ANCOP UK have passed the Certified Public Accountants Licensure Exam in the Philippines.
“That number matters to us,” Arlan said, expressing his hope that more CFC ANCOP-sponsored students will pass their licensure examinations and become full-fledged professionals.
Often, a simple retreat can fan a small flame into a fiery zeal for souls, and reality sometimes exceeds expectations.
