Our Foundation
Why It Matters
A healing mission rooted in faith, service, and the love of Christ.
OUR STORY
Founded in Faith, Rooted in Service
In the sacred journey of faith and service within the Diocese of Sorsogon, the Sister-Servants of the Divine Healer (SSDH) stand as a testament to the transformative power of Christ's love. Established on January 13, 1984, under the visionary leadership of the late Bishop Jesus Y. Varela, D.D., the SSDH community was called to make Jesus' healing presence real and tangible in the lives of His people.
At the heart of their work is a commitment to empowering the laity and addressing essential needs within the community — from healthcare and livelihood programs to educational outreach and spiritual renewal.
Centered at the El-Retiro Compound in Cabid-An, Sorsogon City, the 3-hectare property houses both the school and retreat house where SSDH sisters reside and serve. From this fertile ground, the healing mission extends to every barangay in the Diocese.
THE NEED
The People We Serve
Healthcare Ministry
Sisters visit the sick and elderly across the Diocese, providing compassionate care, regular Communion, and holistic support to those confined at home or in hospitals.
Elderly Priests
At Balay Padi, SSDH sisters care for retired and infirm priests of the Diocese of Sorsogon, ensuring their later years are filled with dignity, comfort, and loving presence.
Disaster Response
When typhoons strike, the SSDH convent opens its doors as a shelter and relief center, providing food, safety, and critical support to affected families in Cabid-an and surrounding areas.
Education & Poverty
Through the Divine Healer Academy of Sorsogon and scholarship programs, SSDH breaks the cycle of poverty by supporting over 300 students from K-12 through higher education.
Livelihood & Environment
Livelihood projects in partnership with PALMFSI and Healing Servants Foundation reach all barangays, while ecological programs respond to Pope Francis' Laudato Si' call for care of our common home.
Spiritual Renewal
The El-Retiro Retreat House welcomes approximately 3,000 students annually for retreats and recollections, offering a sacred space for healing, reflection, and encounter with God.
Our Impact in Numbers
GEOGRAPHIC REACH
Reaching Every Barangay
The SSDH mission spans every barangay in the Diocese of Sorsogon, ensuring that no community is left without access to healing, education, and spiritual care.
From the 3-hectare El-Retiro Compound in Cabid-An, Sorsogon City — home to the school, retreat house, and convent — the sisters extend their reach to the farthest corners of the diocese.
The impact goes beyond provincial borders, with the SSDH scholarship program supporting graduate scholars from as far as Mindanao, reflecting the universal scope of their healing mission.
In Partnership with Spring Rain Global
The SSDH PDO works in strategic partnership with Spring Rain Global to implement the 6 Pillar Capacitation Model, ensuring that all advocacies are executed with professional excellence, measurable impact, and sustainable growth.
Together, we serve. Together, we heal.