Davao priests join basketball tourney for charity in Cebu

“Davao Agila” Team: Some members of the Diocesan Clergy of Davao will join a basketball tournament in Cebu City from July 6 to 10, 2015 for the benefit of their chosen charity, the Archdiocesan Nourishment Center (ANC) of the Archdiocese of Davao. (Photo: John Frances Fuentes)

DAVAO CITY—Some members of the Diocesan Clergy of Davao will join the basketball tournament in Cebu City for the benefit of their chosen charity in the Archdiocese of Davao—the Archdiocesan Nourishment Center.

The tournament, dubbed as Spring Rain Mission’s Cup, the 3rd Inter-Clergy Basketball Tournament is set on July 6 to 10 in Cebu City and will be participated in by 14 teams of priests from different dioceses and religious congregations in the Philippines, bringing with them their mission and advocacy.

The Davao Clergy who will be playing in Cebu, who call themselves as ‘Davao Agila’ and composed of 12 priests have chosen the Archdiocesan Nourishment Center (ANC) since this is one of the programs of the Archdiocese of Davao for the poor and needy.

Fr. Leif Simbajon, parochial vicar of Sto. Rosario Parish in Toril, who is part of the Davao Agila team said they have chosen ANC because they want the children to benefit from the proceeds of their prize as they see the need to continue the feeding program of malnourished children in the Archdiocese of Davao.

“I was once assigned in the Our Lady of Fatima Parish and ANC is located near the parish and there I have seen the health situation of the children who are mostly our parishioners and I also saw the eagerness of the volunteers to serve but the feeding program needs funding for its continuity,” said Fr. Simbajon.

ANC is located in the house formerly occupied by the Missionaries of Charity. The same house was also the residence where Blessed Theresa of Calcutta, the founder of the congregation once slept during her visit in Davao City years ago.

Aside from feeding the children, the ANC is also taking care of their spiritual nourishment and the parents’ spiritual being and parenting.

“We will be playing basketball hoping that we will have a good play. We are confident that the Lord is with us as we enter the court and play the games,” said Fr. Rene Ribac, professor of St. Francis Xavier Regional Major Seminary and member of the Davao Agila Team.

“Playing for the Mission and Win for your Mission,” is the tournament’s tag line that inspires the Davao Clergy to practice and do their best in the basketball court.

“We will need the prayers of our fellow priests and the faithful of the Archdiocese of Davao,” said Fr. Ribac during an interview.