2013 – Hijas de Jesús Community, EL Salvador, Misamis Oriental

The presence of the Hijas de Jesús in El Salvador began in 2009, when Fr. Valerian, MIC, Director of the Divine Mercy Shrine, expressed to Sr. Rosemarie Gaitan, F.I., the need for a sister to collaborate with the Shrine, particularly in the counselling of pilgrims. In response, Sr. Georgitta Hormillosa, F.I., Provincial Superior, sent Sr. Ma. Emma Quinquero, F.I., who arrived in August 2010, accompanied by Sr. Emma Balingas. At that time, the sisters continued their apostolate in Catarman, Camiguin, and the community became known as Catarman–El Salvador.

After a period of evaluation and discernment, the sisters gradually transitioned from Catarman to El Salvador. In June 2013, the Hijas de Jesús community left the house and apostolate in Catarman, entrusting the work there to Alay Kapamilya and Social Development (AKAPS-DEV), and transferred its residence to Divine Mercy Hills, Brgy. Ulaliman, El Salvador City. The community was then officially known as Hijas de Jesús–El Salvador. A Memorandum of Agreement with AKAPS-DEV was signed on January 1, 2014.

In their new setting, the sisters sought to discern God’s will in response to the needs of the people, particularly through the Our Lady of Snows Parish and the surrounding communities. Their apostolate gradually focused on catechesis in public schools, counselling, Basic Ecclesial Communities (BECs), and pastoral accompaniment of families, youth, and women. They also collaborated with the outreach of Kong Hua School and helped establish BECs in Taytay and later in Amoros and other communities.

One significant initiative began on October 25, 2013, when the sisters invited women to a training in rosary-making, providing them with an opportunity for livelihood. What began as a small project for a few women eventually developed into a multipurpose cooperative, responding to the economic needs of families while promoting Gospel values and community development.

The apostolate of the sisters continued to expand. Aside from counselling at the Divine Mercy Shrine and pastoral work in the BECs of Taytay, Amoros, and Pasil, they taught catechism in Himaya Elementary School, Ulaliman Elementary School, PSB Elementary School, and Molugan National High School, and accompanied students at Miraculous Medal Academy. They also collaborated in catechetical and BEC ministries at the parish, vicariate, and Archdiocesan levels in Cagayan de Oro.

In 2015, the El Salvador community became part of the Cebu-Mindanao amplified community. Through the years, the sisters have continued to deepen their presence among the people through counselling, catechesis, community formation, livelihood initiatives, and pastoral accompaniment, seeking to serve God by responding to the needs of those at the peripheries.