ACWAD reaches out to the lost, the least, and the last

“God anointed his servants so they would be there for others, serving the poor, the prisoners, the sick, and for those who are sorrowing and alone,” — Pope Francis.

As the Church celebrates the Year of the Clergy and Consecrated Persons, the Association of Consecrated Persons of the Archdiocese of Davao, the Association of Consecrated Women of the Archdiocese of Davao (ACWAD) in partnership with Mother Ignacia National Apostolate Center (RVM MINSAC-Davao) organized a Five-Day Prayer and Reflection in preparation for the Holy Week celebration to Davao City Treatment and Rehabilitation Center for Drug Dependents (DCTRCDD) at Bago Oshiro, Mintal, Davao City from March 19 to 23, 2018. There were 211 participants composed of 36 women and minors, 64 men for the first batch, 43 men for the second batch, 20 administrators and staff of DCTRCDD and 48 parents and relatives.

The Lenten activity was done in five consecutive days and with different facilitators: on the 1st day, March 19 (Monday) for women and minors was facilitated by Sister Elsie di Maria of the Apostles of Jesus Crucified; 2nd day, March 20 (Tuesday) the first batch of men was with Sister Luz Pepito of the Sorelle Missionare deli Amore di Cristi; 3rd day, March 21 (Wednesday) with Mr. Jerson Buntoyan (RVM MINSAC-Davao); the 4th day March 22 with Mrs. Miraflor Masayon of Ateneo Grade School Campus Ministry Office and the last day, March 23, with the members of Marriage Encounter headed by Fr. Kim Lachica, of the Society of Jesus (SJ).

Furthermore, the Clergy and other Religious Men made themselves available in the sacrament of reconciliation and in the Eucharist. Fr. Raul Nieves heard the confession and presided the mass on the first day and the rest of the days the other Men Religious from the Carmelite Fathers, Society of Divine Vocation (SDV), Society of St. Paul (SSP) and the Society of the Divine Word (SVD).

Moreover, as the ACWAD, facilitators, Priests and other members of the Marriage Encounter spoke consoling words from the Scriptures to the participants, they also spent considerable time listening to their stories and answering questions pertaining to their faith. One touching comment we heard from them:

“Nagpasalamat ko sa Diyos na ang Gobyerno ug ang Simbahan naglambigit kanamo ug naghatag ug pagtagad sa among Espirituhanung paningahanglan. Daghan kaayong salamat.”

At the end of the activity, Dr. Gene L. Gulanes, FPCAM, the director of DCTRCDD handed to ACWAD and MINSAC-Davao the certificate of Recognition as partner institutions in the formation and rehabilitation of the residents.

Indeed, the entire event was overwhelming with the thought of knowing and even embracing the “smell of the sheep”… on the margins, on the peripheries, that society tends to brush aside and forget. As we celebrate the Lenten Season, God constantly reminded us that even in our sinfulness, weaknesses and failures, He sent His only Begotten Son, Jesus Christ to restore our dignity as children of God. (S. Ma. Leah M. Zozobrado, RVM)