28/02/2026
“𝑱𝒐𝒖𝒓𝒏𝒆𝒚 𝒘𝒊𝒕𝒉 𝒎𝒆—𝒂𝒄𝒓𝒐𝒔𝒔 𝑹𝒐𝒎𝒆 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝒂𝒄𝒓𝒐𝒔𝒔 𝒎𝒊𝒍𝒆𝒔 𝒐𝒇 𝒉𝒐𝒑𝒆—𝒔𝒖𝒑𝒑𝒐𝒓𝒕 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝑯𝒂𝒍𝒇𝒘𝒂𝒚 𝑯𝒐𝒎𝒆.” – 𝐅𝐫. 𝐂𝐨𝐬𝐭𝐚
What if you took a moment to meet the man behind a meaningful mission—Rev. Fr. Jose Geraldo Costa, CICM?
On March 26, Fr. Costa will run 42 kilometers for a cause close to his heart: the Rome Edition of Run for Hope, part of Run Rome The Marathon, in support of the Halfway Home for Boys.
A native of Brazil and a CICM missionary since 1987, Fr. Costa was ordained in the Philippines in 1999. A child psychotherapist by profession, he is one of the founders of the Saint Louis University-Centennial Halfway Home for Boys and the former Director of SLU Sunflower Child and Youth Wellness Center (SCYWC), both initiatives of SLU.
Established in 2003, SLU-SCYWC offers psychological assessment, shelter, and holistic care for vulnerable children, helping them heal from traumatic childhood experiences. On the other hand, the Halfway Home for Boys is a safe haven for abused, abandoned, and/or neglected children who were left to survive on their own – homeless, deprived of care, guidance, and safety. The Halfway Home for Boys offers not just shelter, but a chance to recover, rebuild, and grow into a responsible hopeful individual. Established especially for boys – since most child care centers and shelters in the Baguio and Benguet region are primarily for girls – the Home ensures they are heard, prioritized, and given the equal care they deserve.
Since 1998, Fr. Costa has served as a CICM missionary priest driven by a personal calling to fight against child abuse and neglect. Although now based in Rome as Programme Director of the Institute of St. Anselm, his advocacy remains deeply rooted and very much alive through the institutions he helped build and the lives he continues to inspire. This dedication goes beyond his pastoral duties and his missionary service. A committed triathlete, he reflects the discipline fueling his principle and advocacy.
Driven by the legacy of Run for Hope Philippines, Fr. Costa joins the 42-kilometer run under a “Sponsor My Steps” campaign for Run for Hope – Rome Edition. Donors may pledge support per distance covered:
₱250 for 250 meters
₱500 for 500 meters
₱1,000 for 1 kilometer
All proceeds will go directly to the Halfway Home for Boys.
As Fr. Costa presses onward, may his journey take along with him every neglected child along the way—helping them rise, heal, and bloom, as sunflowers glow beautifully.
Good luck on and thank you for your meaningful journey, Fr. Costa.
