“You must be ready to serve persons who are poor, wherever you are sent...
since that is your purpose.”
(St. Vincent de Paul. Conference 71, Coste IX)

The call to be more present and closer to the lives of poor persons in marginalized areas of the Philippines was shaped by two pivotal events that deeply marked the mission of the Daughters of Charity: the Second Vatican Council and the declaration of Martial Law.

Attentive to the calls of the Church and the signs of the times, the Sisters immersed themselves in the daily struggles of the poor, especially in rural communities. A major breakthrough came in 1983 with the establishment of a pastoral community in Basilan, Mindanao, undertaken amid life threatening conditions. This mission focused on nurturing Basic Ecclesial Communities, strengthening faith and solidarity at the grassroots.

Today, the Daughters of Charity are engaged in a wide range of pastoral ministries: campus outreach, accompaniment of indigenous peoples, nurturing Basic Ecclesial Communities, programs aimed at countering human trafficking, serving street children, fostering interreligious dialogue, and advancing education and evangelization.

Serving Indigenous Communities in the Mountain Regions of Southern Taiwan

In the 1980s, responding to an invitation from the Catholic Diocese of Kaohsiung, the Daughters of Charity began serving in Liukui, Meishan, and Taoyuan—mountainous towns in northeastern Kaohsiung City that are home to many indigenous communities. As younger generations migrated to cities in search of work, these villages were increasingly left with elderly residents and women caring for children.

Amid this shifting landscape, Sister Anna Nguyễn and Sister Maria Hà visited families in the villages, walking alongside women burdened by hardship and offering companionship to elders often left in solitude. They organized youth activities and, together with parish priests, provided catechism classes for children—bringing pastoral care, encouragement, and a compassionate presence to the heart of these communities.

Pastoral and Insertion Apostolates

Serving Indigenous Communities in the Mountain Regions of Southern Taiwan

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