Baguio City, the summer capital of the Philippines is a great attraction for its beauty and especially for its cool and invigorating climate. The late Mother Saint Xavier Versmeerch, Provincial Superior of the St. Paul of Chartres in the Philippines in 1927, thought of having a summer house for the Sisters in Baguio. The lot was bought from the Bishop of Nueva Segovia to which the Diocese of Baguio then belonged. The needs of the people of Baguio prevailed. The summer house was converted into a 40 bed hospital and was blessed on October 1, 1931. Notre Dame de Lourdes Hospital progressed and buildings were added to meet the increasing demand for quality health care.
The years 1937 to 1941 were peaceful years, blessed by God in every way. The Sisters’ work of mercy and love for the sick and the poor continued. December 1941 brought everyone face to face with reality of World War II. Baguio was the target of Japanese bombs because the U.S. military reservation at Camp John Hay. The Sisters hoped that the hospital would be spared of the atrocities of war. However, they had the sorrow of witnessing the bombing and subsequent burning of the hospital on March 15, 1941. The Sisters had tedious journey to Longlong, led a very hard life and suffered hungers and many deprivations. There were nights when they had to stay in the open air with no shelter. Many got sick and some died.
On October 7, 1946, a 40 bed hospital was blessed and inaugurated.
In 1958, the hospital was rebuilt. It was in October 1981 that the hospital celebrated its Golden Jubilee.
On July 16, 1990, a killer earthquake rocked Baguio. Many buildings and establishments were flattened to the ground. Many lives were lost. Notre Dame de Lourdes Hospital, owned and managed by the Sisters of St. Paul of Chartres and existing for more than 50 years with dedicated service to the people of Baguio, was not spared. It was a devastating experience, for the hospital was built on a fault line. It was painful, for Notre dame de Lourdes Hospital was not just as ordinary hospital, but one that stood for quality health care and compassionate caring.
Thirteen years have passed. The seed that lay buried in the ground has come to life again. The REBIRTH. . . It was a long journey, a process of spirit-filled discernment. The call to go back to Baguio to establish as apostolate, a ministry of caring, has produced an Out-Patient Diagnostic Center called Notre Dame de Chartres Diagnostic and Pastoral Center. The Sisters of St. Paul of Chartres have come back to fulfill their mission.
All the Sisters who are privileged to be in this Diagnostic Center commit themselves to serve with a difference and to live up to the Vision and Mission of the SPC Health Care Ministry in the Philippine Province, whose Vision states: “We the Christ-centered Caregivers of the SPC Health Ministry, participating in the Apostolic Mission of the Church to proclaim Jesus Christ, the Good News, to all, as authentic witnesses to the Divine Healer, commit ourselves to serve and care, with conscious preference for the most neglected.”
Our deep gratitude goes to Sr. Mary Magdalen Torres and her Provincial Council, Sr. Zeta Rivero and the Sisters of Perpetual Succour Hospital in Cebu, Sr. Norma Manzano, Sister Linda Tanalgo and the Sisters of St. Paul Hospital, Iloilo City who provided the major assistance in the building of this center, and all the Sisters of St. Paul of Chartres of the Philippine Province who helped in many ways, contributing their time, talent and treasure.
To Architect Edison Lacsa, the Architect of this building and all his workers and many unsung heroes who made all this possible, goes our deep gratitude. The community of Sisters and Sisters of St. Paul Retreat House in Pico, join us in praising God for the birth of this Center.
The beginning of all our establishments always bears an imprint of our Christocentric Spirituality. It is the same spirit that pervades this center. With Jesus as the cornerstone of this building, all things will be possible for the glory and the service of people of Cordillera Autonomous Region.
The special day was September 27, 2003. This was the day that the Lord had made, because where we rejoiced and gave thanks to the Lord because we are celebrating a new life. A concelebrated Mass was held with His Excellency Bishop Carlito Cenzon, CICM, D.D., Apostolic Vicar of Baguio and the clergy of Baguio concelebrating with him. Immediately after Mass casme the cutting of the ribbon by Sister Mary Magdelen Torres, Provincial Superior of the Sisters of St. Paul of Chartres, Philippine Provincial assisted by Sister Zeta Rivero, Sister Norma Manzano and Sister Linda Tanalgo. Bishop Carlito Cenzon, and the other clergy blessed the center. The surrounding and the parking lot. The special occasion was graced by the presence of other members of the Provincial Council, Sr. Mary Philip Galeno – Assistant Provincial for Health Ministry and Sisters Teresita Bayona – Assistant for Education Ministry and Sisters from the SPC houses, religious, priests and Sisters, medical staff and friends. A fraternal meal was shared by all present.
Notre Dame de Chartres Diagnostic and Pastoral Center with its state of the art facilities opened on October 1, 2004. It is now operating to serve everyone and with the collaborative efforts of the Sisters of St. Paul of Chartres and the team of medical and allied professionals, it is gradually making herself recognized.
The Call to Serve – Our Response
During the Centennial visit of Rev. Mother General in Baguio, the Doctors expressed their great desire to have a hospital. This was the same repeated request of the people of Baguio. We are fully aware of the need for a hospital and we want to heed the call. Like a heavy rain pouring on dry land, the Holy Spirit inspired the members of the Board to convert the Pastoral Center to a 25- Bed hospital. Thus on March 31, 2005 the work was started and to date, the hospital is finished. Today is the day that the Lord has made for today we will have this Eucharistic Mass and Blessing of the new 25 bed hospital. July 26, 2005 will be a landmark in the continuous growth of the seed that lie buried in the ground for 13 years since the killer earthquake of July 16, 1990. We very well remember September 27, 2003 when the Diagnostic and Pastoral Center was blessed. This day marked the germination of the seed in the ground. Today we see the progressive growth of the seed. The 25-bed hospital is complete to meet the Standard Requirement of the Bureau of Licensing of the Department of Health for a Tertiary in Hospital Category. We have an Operating Room equipped with the top of the line machines and facilities, a Delivery Room, Nursery and an Acute Care Area or Intensive Care Unit (ICU). You are assured of every competent professionals who are CHRIST CENTERED AND COMPASSIONATE MEDICAL NURSING AND ANCILLARY STAFF. The hospital came in full operation on August 22, 2005.
Those of you who had been assigned in Baguio will surely remember the statues of Our Lady of Lourdes, St. Joseph and St. Bernadette. You will be greeted by them when you come because they are now restored at their rightful place.
The trade name or Business name is NOTRE DAME DE CHARTRES HOSPITAL, while the Corporate Name remains the same: NOTRE DAME DE CHARTRES DIAGNOSTIC AND PASTORAL CENTER.
SHARING OF GIFTS is the secret of the mission. Our hospitals and schools gave assistance in various ways. We thank God for the inspiring leadership of Sr. Zeta Caridad Rivero, SPC, Provincial Superior of the Sisters of St. Paul Philippines Province and her council and the generous outpouring of help of our Sisters, Doctors and lay collaborators. We REMEMBER WITH FOND MEMORIES AND GRATITUDE our Sisters who have gone ahead of us. The mission here in Baguio is marked with CHRISTO-CENTRIC PASCHAL SPIRITUALITY from the very beginning. May God continue to bless our apostolate here in Baguio as we heed His call to serve.
