Daughters of St. Mary of Providence 3.16

In 1994 the two Sisters came from Italy to start the mission here in the Philippines. The Daughters of St. Mary of Providence begun their mission among the poor people especially the differently able children and young adults, the seniors/elderly, the youth and the regular children who are not able to go to school.

The DSMP has three houses in Quezon City. One of these is the Sacred Heart Center which is located in Fairview that caters a day training program for special people children and young adults, and the "children of the garden" a tutorial program for poor children who have difficulties in their subjects in schools. Sacred Heart Center also offers programs such as socialization, physical and occupational therapies, and spiritual activities and medical mission. Now Sacred Heart Center has 150 special people and 30 regular children for tutorial.Second, the Holy Family Center located in Holy Spirit Drive, Don Antonio is a center for the elderly and senior citizens, day care program for children ages 3-4 years old, and the advancement of women who are experiencing difficulties in marriage life and poverty. We have now 37 elderly/seniors coming everyday for socialization, livelihood and spiritual program and activities, 32 children for day care program and 20 women for advancement program. Third, Guanellian formation house located in BF homes Batasan is a convent for those young ladies who have the desire and vocation to become religious sisters in our Congregation.

SACRED HEART CENTER HISTORY- 2007-2015

For a number of years the Sister held programming for the Elderly and Special Children in the in the Sister's house located at #7 Sotto Street, BF Homes, Quezon City. The program and services offered continued to grow until the need for a larger location was necessary. After celebrating ten years of dedicated service by Staff and Sisters the search for a larger more convenient location began.
The Sisters became aware of the availability of a building for sale that was originally a college dorm with many rooms. Ms. Ella Balsa was our realtor and drew up the Bill of Sale with Mrs. Vergara and her Twin Hearts Corporation which designed and built the college dorm units. Sr. Patricia McCafferty, Sr. Rita Butler and Mr. Len Omeric traveled from Chicago, Illinois and after visiting the location in Fairview the decision was made to purchase the land and the building on August 31, 2007. Arthuro Tad-ay, the original architect and builder of the college dorm, began renovations and adapt the dorm rooms for various departments and program areas that visitors see today.
The new location was named Sacred Heart Center in order to make known the love of the Sacred Heart of Jesus for Senior and Elderly men and women and the Persons with Disabilities.
In order to prepare the Staff, Special Children and the Elderly for the the transition to the new location the Sisters, Staff, Special Children and Elderly came into the building before Christmas break for two weeks of programs to become familiar with the new surroundings.
With much joy the Center was dedicated on January 15, 2008. Bishop Mylo Vergara and the Servants of Charity blest the new location with a Mass of Dedication. Sr. Patricia McCaffetry, Provincial Superior and Sr. Rita Butler traveled from Chicago to share in this event.
From 1993 the Philippine Mission was an Apostolic Work the Congregation of the Daughters of St. Mary of Providence with Headquarters in Rome, Italy under the responsibility of the Mother General. On October 7, 2008 the Philippines and Mexico became part of the Immaculate Conception Province, located in Chicago, Illinois, USA.

Physical Setting
Sacred Heart Center is located on one thousand three hundred forty seven square meters of land and has one Main building for programs and services on the first two levels and the Sister's living quarters on the third level; a main kitchen, and a separate building provides living quarters for a small family who have the responsibility of security, grounds-keeping and other duties for the Center. There is a spacious playground for the children and area for basketball and badminton activities.
In 2011 a Covered Court was built in honor of the Canonization of St. Luis Guanella. Cardinal Sanchez with the Servants of Charity dedicated Guanella Hall. This building is used for assembly and large group activities.
Sacred Heart Center is in the process of being registered as a social welfare and development agency by the Kagawaran ng Kagalingang Panlipunan at Pagpapaunlad (DSWD). In 2014, through the University of Perpetual Help in Laguna the National Government Agency CHED Program also recognized Sacred Heart's Occupational Therapy Development as a qualified Training Center for the University's Internship Program.

Those who serve Sacred Heart Center Center
In November of 2007 Sr. Arlene Riccio and First Directress came to oversee the remodeling of the building and the transition and to prepare for the dedication in January of 2008.
Sr. Eleanor Rosare and Sr. Roselyn Taneo, both Junior Sisters joined Sr. Arlene Riccio as the first Community of the Center.
In 2009, Sr. Eleanor traveled to Italy for the preparation for her Final Profession of Vows. Sr. Arlene and Sr. Roselyn remained as the Community.
September 8-17, 2009 Canonical Visit- Sr. Giustina and Sr. Franca Vendermin came for the first time.
January 26, 2011-Sr. Victoria Williams and Sr. Pushpa Kurus brought Sr. Usha Gadidesi and Sr. Jancy Pushparaj from India to join the Community of the Sacred Heart and to begin their two year missionary experience.
In October 20, 2012 Sr. Eleanor Rosare returned from Italy and on December 8, 2012 made her Final Profession at Good Shepherd Cathedral with the Servants of Charity ass the main celebrants.
May 5, 2013 Sr. Usha and Sr. Jancy ended their missionary experience and returned to India.
In October 2013 Sr. Arlene Riccio traveled to India and on October 22, 2013 accompanied Sr. Antoniamal to Sacred Heart Center to begin her two year missionary experience.
In January 2014 Sr. Eleanor became the second Directress of Sacred Heart Center.
March 16-30, 2014- Canonical Visitation of Mother Serena and Sr. Carla to the Philippine Mission.
April 17, 2014 Newly Professed: Sr. Mitcheale Martin and Sr. Marites Esteban joined the Sacred Heart Community.
October 22, 2014 Sr. Roselyn returned from Rome, Italy to Sacred Heart Center. December 8, 2014 made her Final Profession of Vows in Holy Spirit Parish Quezon City officiated by Most Reverend Bishop Antonio Tobias.



The Daughters of St. Mary of Providence, the Philippine Community is composed of nine sisters; eight of us are Filipino and one American, our Superior. The sisters are divided to work into the three different houses. Sr. Arlene Riccio, the superior together with Sr. Eleanor and our two junior sisters Sr. Micheale and Sr. Tess are working respectively in Sacred Heart Center for the Special children and regular children of the garden. Sr. Nenita Babiera and Sr. Roselyn Taneo are working at Holy Family Center for Elderly person, children and mothers. Sr. Toni Lim, Sr. Ana Duka and Sr. Mary Tabcao are in the formation house for the formation of young girls who want to join and become sisters.
The Sacred Heart Center is open for poor people with disabilities. Our aim is to give them chance to learn something that will help them in their daily lives despite of their disabilities. Every day from 8 am to 3 pm we bring them to the Center for tutorial. In every classroom they have their lessons and other activities such coloring, tracing, making handicrafts and computer literacy and educational games. They are also going for physical and occupational therapy for children who have sensory and motor problem. We are offering them nutritional snacks and lunch to fight against malnutrition. Every month we celebrate Holy Mass and confession for their spiritual growth and development.
The programs at Sacred Heart Center are made possible through the assistance of our 16 staff that helps us facilitate and care the Special people and children. There are also different interns from different school who are doing their on the job training such as the Perpetual Help University in Laguna, Bistek Caregivers of Quezon City, Fatima University in Lagro, Falcon High School, and Ateneo de Manila University.
People with good heart such as our benefactors and friends help us in providing for the food of our special people and children. The rest of the financial support comes from our Sisters abroad especially the Immaculate Province where the Philippine Community belongs.
Everyone in the center is trying to become aid and support for these needy people in our small act of charity and to show to them that they are as valuable persons as the rest of the people. In the center we value the love and compassion because we believe that everybody needs to be loved and to make alive the motto of our Founder to be the sign and the love of the Father for those who are alone and who suffer. Our founder said a Christian heart cannot pass by a poor person without helping him/her.