Reach-Out Davao celebrates its Ruby Jubilee this year with celebrations slated December 6, 7 and 8.
Sr. Diane Cabasagan RGS, local leader of Reach-Out Davao, said the three-day celebra tions began on December 6 with a Vocation Encounter at the San Pablo parish in Juna Subdivision in Matina. Vocation contacts in Mindanao attended.
On December 7, at 10 a.m. a Eucharistic Celebration will be led by Archbishop Fernando Capalla of the Archdiocese of Davao. His concelebrants include Bishops Guillermo Afable and George Rimando. This is a special day to give thanks to God for the many blessing of the past 40 years.
In the afternoon, Good Shepherd Sisters, mission partners and friends will join the tree planting in Mintal, Davao City.
On December 8 , a Vocation Formation Session will be held at Jade Valley in Tigatto, Davao.
It was on December 7, 1971, that Good Shepherd Sisters started Reach Out Center, a ministry of residential care for unwed mothers, with counseling services and an outreach ministry for women engaged in prostitution.
In its 40 years history, Reach out responded to the needs of people in Mindanao including doing advocacy work for justice and the defense of human rights, community organizing and helping political detainees. The history of Davao also witnessed networking with government and non-government organizations as the urban poor are given financial assistance through projects and farmers are introduced to sustainable agriculture. The increasing exodus of Filipinos going abroad to work as migrant workers urged the sisters to begin the Center for Overseas Workers to reach out to migrants and their families. Reach-out Davao continues its advocacy, counselling services for survivors of domestic violence, street children, women prisoners continue to this day.
Part of its history was the heroism of three of its members who were among the four Good Shepherd Sisters who offered their lives so that others may life. Srs. Consuelo Chuidian, Sr. Concepcion Conti, Sr. Virginia Gonzaga and Sr. Catherine Loreto gave up their life vests to women and children and perished in the sinking of MV Cassandra on November 21, 1983.
Reach out Davao is the very first community founded in Mindanao. Today there are five Good Shepherd apostolic communities in Cagayan de Oro, Iligan-Bukidnon, Kalilid, Pagadian, Davao city and a contemplative community in Butuan City.