The Missionaries of the Poor began their ministry among the poorest of the poor in Naga City in the Bicol region in 1993. Their preliminary works among the poor consisted of
© Visiting the indigent and poor families in San Rafael squatter and relocation site, bringing them food, clothing, medicines and companionship and pastoral care.
© Visiting and catechizing the shut-ins and scavengers at the City Dump Site in Balatas and providing them both the corporal and spiritual works of mercy.
© Hospital visitations and hands-on work among the sick patients at Bicol Medical Center and the mentally-ill inmates at the Regional Mental Hospital in Cadlan, Pili.
From this humble beginning, this MOP mission in Naga City - named Heart of Mercy Mission and dedicated to the Sacred Heart of Our Lord Jesus Christ - has grown tremendously and has given birth to other missions in Cebu in 2004 and in Manila this year, 2011. Since then the Philippines has provided the most vocations to the Institute such that today over 40% of all professed members of the community are from the Philippines. Many of these are now missionaries serving in our MOP missions around the world such as in Jamaica, Haiti, USA, Africa and Indonesia.
Works of Mercy
The apostolate of the MOP includes shelter and care for homeless, abandoned and the unwanted children, disabled and elderly, and to provide social and pastoral assistance to the indigent and needy. Their apostolate includes: providing shelter and residential care for homeless/abandoned children, disabled and the elderly; outreach for the welfare and development of poor and indigent children (including education, healthy and feeding programs); food distribution to indigent families; medical missions for the poor; prison ministry; and visits to the mental asylum. Their pastoral programs include weekly Masses, daily rosary, catechesis and value-oriented seminars.
