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Pastoral Care in the Philippines Providing pastoral care in La Union, the Philippines, is one of hundreds of ways in which Medical Mission Sisters around the world try to be a healing presence to those in need today. When she returned to the Philippines from Indonesia in 1993, Sister Betty Mathay decided to devote her time to pastoral care. Her mother had been partially paralyzed by a stroke, and she had personally learned the importance of visiting and caring for the sick. Sister Betty worked as a pastoral caregiver in a private hospital, and in a government hospital in Zamboanga City. She then spent 4 years as a co-chaplain with a priest in the Zamboanga City Medical Center. After that, as part of community building in our community-based health program, she did pastoral work by visiting families in the program, and by offering Bible reflections and weekly sharing with the mothers. She is currently working in a district hospital in Bagulin, La Union, the Philippines. “For me, the basic principle in pastoral care is to be there, to be present with people, to offer a touch and a smile that will lighten their pain. This gives people a feeling that someone cares for them, thus healing will come to them.”
She adds, “To be healed, people need to feel that they are cared for and loved in spite of their sickness and the difficulties or financial burdens they have caused their families. With pastoral care healing may come about -- if not physical, then spiritual. In some cases eventually this is total healing into the fullness of life, when they are at peace and able to let go and return to the giver of life.”
As part of her ministry, Sister Betty also visits homebound patients in Bagulin, bringing Holy Communion to those who request it. She also serves in a number of administrative positions within our Community. “When I see a smile, a spark in people’s eyes, and they start communicating, I always feel joy in my heart, as healing is happening and God is there healing all of us.”
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