PASTORAL CARE MINISTRY
The Archdiocesan Shrine of Our Lady of Lourdes is a Center that advocates physical, psychological, moral and spiritual healing. Through the invocation of its patron, the Immaculate Virgin, Health of the Sick and Refuge of Sinner, it prays for the sick and those afflicted by maladies of every kind.
In order to respond concretely to the psychological and spiritual needs of the parishioners, the Lourdes Shrine established the Pastoral Care Ministry (PCM) in September 2016. After recruiting volunteers mostly from parishioners themselves, they underwent several training in Basic Guidance Intervention, Life Coaching, and Stress Debriefing which took several months. It had its Ministry Kick-off on December 11, 2016.
It also ventured by networking with Dr. Rey Bautista, the head of the Talisay City After-Care and Out-Patient Rehabilitation Program for Drug Dependents. This program was formed in compliance with Republic Act 9165, which requires drug dependents caught by the law to undergo two years of rehabilitation and aftercare treatment.
The Drug Problem is a complex problem. While PCM acknowledges that a drug-dependent person is a sick person that needs medical, psychological, social and spiritual treatment, its capability is just to give the After-care support for the client. Its commitment is to give psycho-social, spiritual direction or life coaching to those who come for help using a psycho-social spiritual approach by including God in its intervention.
PCM is aware that it cannot solve all the problems but it wants to give a listening ear and a welcoming atmosphere to help clients sort out and understand their situation. Its After-care support is not limited only to those having drug problems. It also caters to anyone who needs Counseling or Spiritual Direction.
Among its intervention, PCM offers a Daily Counselling Program in Lourdes Shrine from 3:00 – 5:00 PM at the Counseling Room, 1st 
Floor – PPC Building. It also sponsors every Friday from 6:00 – 7:00 PM the gathering of Narcotics Anonymous (NA) using the 12-Step Recovery Program for recovering drug addicts. This Fellowship Program aims to motivate them to be drug-free and sober.
Though the PCM has limited capability, it dreams to make a concrete impact in the Parish Community in order to touch the lives of the parishioners and contribute in making this world more beautiful and caring.
-Fr. Randolph “Randy” Figuracion, SDB-
