Good Sams in the Philippines

Standing in solidarity with the poor

In the 1980s, the Catholic religious of Japan, though few in number, had an increasingly strong desire to stand in solidarity with the poor in Asia.

The Japanese Good Samaritan Sisters shared this Gospel urge. They wished to engage in a process of reconciliation with the people of the Philippines for the atrocities committed in World War II.

In 1990, two Japanese sisters established a community in Bacolod on the island of Negros, one of the poorest areas in the Philippines.

To support their outreach ministry to the poor, including local squatters, the Good Samaritans established the Bacolod Fund. This fund attracts generous donations from friends of the Sisters in Japan, graduates of Good Samaritan Schools, and other Church and civic organisations.

What the Good Sams do in the Philippines

In 2004, the sisters started a Kinder school for the poorest children. This school is the gateway to education because, though Government schooling is free, very few children attend unless they have access to early childhood education.

A health clinic and feeding programme are part of the Kinder school life.

Today the community in Bacolod is comprised of Japananese, Australian and young Filipina sisters who desire to be neighbour and to seek God in the Good Samaritan way of life.

You can help

If you wish to donate to the Good Samaritan mission in the Philippines, contact The Good Samaritan Foundation.