“School feeding not only fills stomachs, but has a proven track record of boosting enrolment, attendance and academic performance. For just pennies a day per child, this program changes lives – and ultimately can impact the futures...

My experience of ministering in prison in a foreign country at first was frightening. I kept thinking that I could contribute to these women deprived of their physical freedom. On the first day I was accompanied by...

Upon entering the prison, I felt myself starting to sweat — one, because it was hot, and two, I was nervous. I had never been in a prison or jail before and had an idea of what to expect from the books our class read but the prison...

When I was a child, I have so many things in my mind that I wanted to do when I grow up, one of those is to serve other people as what I can see my parents does to others and I want to emulate them. I saw how diligent they are...

I am Ma Josefa Taoc 23y/o aspirant in the Franciscan Sisters of the Poor Congregation here in the Philippines. I am for now only one journeying with the Sisters so, when I heard that there will be girls who will be staying...

As I boarded the small plane from Cebu City, Philippines to Dumaguete City to meet the Sisters, I was excited and a bit anxious to experience the Sister's ministries in a different culture and environment. I retrieved my bag...

The Kasambahay Human Development program is a training course offered by the University of Saint Paul in Dumaguete. This year it is celebrating its tenth anniversary. The program lasts one year and classes are held every Sunday...

Dumaguete Kahupayan Center, Inc. is a Pastoral Care and Counseling Center for women and children in the Diocese of Dumaguete. It aims to create a space where women children and other individuals will be respected, where they can...

"Do not conform yourselves to this age but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that you may discern what the will of God is, what good and pleasing and perfect". (Rm 12: 2) As a Franciscan Sister of the Poor, I affirm that since...

From 12 to 14 May in Dumaguete, Philippines, six young girls from different parts of the Negros Oriental Island visited us for a ‘vocation weekend’. Their arrival at our community brought great joy. Together we spent...

God is Providence: His Providence was evidenced to me when He asked me to go to Philippines, and also during my experiences in that country: two years ago while listening the presentation on our mission my heart skipped a beat...

Just twenty-five days after my arrival in Dumaguete City, it is with great joy that I share with you all what I have been witnessing since I have been here, in the Philippines . In this short period of time, I have been able to enjoy...

“What joy for us when, after having lived well here upon earth, we shall all meet again in that beautiful heaven!” - Frances Schervier - It's a blessing to be a part in the congregation’s pioneering effort to set up the mission in the Philippines...

Manong Elmer is one of the inmates at the Negros Oriental Detention and Rehabilitation Center, Dumaguete City, Philippines.  He had been residing at the detention facility for twenty three months now, while his case is still...

I have felt blessed by God for calling me to follow Jesus in the family of the Franciscan Sisters of the Poor. I am grateful that I have been called to follow in the footsteps of Mother Frances to care for the poor and the suffering...

“Shelter of hope” is a Ministry that we launched five years ago in the Philippines: it is a service of welcoming focused on helping young people who are living on the streets of Dumaguete City. In addition to offering meals...

Here I am, in the Philippines, writing to you about my thoughts and experiences as a missionary.  After recovering from the the long trip,  I was amazed as I began to enter into a completely new reality. Everything around me felt fantastical...

In these past few months, a few Sisters have had the opportunity to share in the life of our Mission in the Philippines. We have asked them to update us on their wonderful adventure. When Sister Licia visited Brazil and participated in our Area...

My experience last summer in the Philippines continues to resonate in my present daily life.  I spent almost two months with Sr. Cristina and Sr. Armi in Dumaguete City. Even though I arrived during the rainy season...

In our chapel in Dumaguete in September, we celebrated the ritual of the transition from New York to Rome with the prayer group of women who meet here periodically. The words of Mother Frances:  "We find God...