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Divine Mercy Hills Medical Clinic
‘Placed on my heart’
By Bryan Thatcher, MD
From a young age, my father used to tell me about the holiness of Padre Pio. He also would tell me how my uncle had a tremendous conversion during World War II after attending one of Padre Pio’s Masses. I remember as a young doctor reading with fascination about how Padre Pio also helped build a hospital for the needy in his area. It fascinated me how this holy priest who was so committed to saving souls also took time to do the corporal works of mercy by trying to address the medical needs of the local people. His focus was on ministering to the whole person, which includes the physical needs.
Being a medical doctor and one who has visited and seen the poor in many countries around the world, I have always had the desire to help assist in the building of a clinic for the poor. But where would it be, and how could I accomplish such a task?
In July, I visited the Divine Mercy Hills Shrine on the island of Mindanao, Philippines. I met with the Very Rev. Father General Andrzej Pakula, MIC, and Vice General Fr. Joseph Roesch, MIC. Both were there on official Congregation business. The Marians have a house of formation on Mindanao with seven novices, and are also caretakers of the Shrine. We walked the grounds and saw an ideal spot for a clinic about one quarter of a mile from the Shrine.
We met with Archbishop Antonio Ledesma, SJ, DD, of the Archdiocese of Cagayan de Oro, Misamis Oriental, Mindanao, Philippines. He went with us to a local hospital and suggested another one for us to visit. He was very supportive and excited about the possibility of the clinic being built near the beautiful Divine Mercy Hills Shrine and Church (which is currently under construction). Current plans are to build a small medical and dental clinic with a conference room for basic teaching of nutrition, basic hygiene, and natural family planning.
We also visited several hospitals where our previously sent medical supplies were being used. The people were so appreciative of the sorely needed supplies that we had shipped to them.
I also visited an orphanage for abandoned street girls, ages 2 to 5 years old, and I saw something I had never seen — something that my wife and I had personally shipped was being used. We had loaded a crib and playpen that our daughter Clare had outgrown on the last container, and it was being used in the orphanage! It was so heartwarming to actually see something I donated personally being put to good use halfway around the world!
Although exact numbers are not in, estimates are that the facility and equipment will cost from $200,000 to $225,000. We are working to get the land donated and are in discussion to determine maintenance costs and who will be responsible for them.
If you would like to help us, you can either do it online or contact us at philippines@marian.org.
