Project #1.A Hung Hoa, VIETNAM $5,000

In Muong La Parish, located in northwest Vietnam, the majority of the population of 16,000 consists of the H'mong ethnic minority. Among the Catholics, the faith has been handed down from parents or grandparents who never had formal faith formation.

With funds from you, the parish would strengthen and expand catechesis by developing formation programs and activities, training catechists, and improving their skills through quarterly workshops.

Project # 1.B Tsiroanomandidy, MADAGASCAR $4,000

The Bishop of Tsiroanomandidy wholeheartedly approves funding for the purchase of a Honda 125cc motorcycle for the two priests and a seminarian serving this bush parish consisting of 13,200 Catholics (35% of the population) spread across 23 small Christian communities. It takes 8 hours on the motorbike to transverse this District covered by poor dirt roads or sand trails, and 12 hours during the rainy season. Yet when roads are not flooded out, these dedicated priests provide pastoral care to each of these communities 3 times a year, in 1 year baptizing 376, giving First Communion to 253, Confirming 119, and celebrating 56 marriages, in addition to making home visits to get to know about the lives of their people. Furthermore, all priests must travel to the Diocese chancery for monthly meetings and training, and run errands, all putting a great deal of wear and tear on a single motorcycle.

The old motorcycle inherited from the previous pastor finally gave out, and a new Honda would be a well-deserved and uplifting gift for these priests to continue doing God's work. Please, listen to your hearts and give generously.

Project #2.A Virac, PHILIPPINES $8,000

The Diocese of Virac, Philippines, is comprised of 3 mountainous, rural villages that rely on agriculture for their livelihood. Occasional typhoons can destroy everything - crops, homes, and places of worship. At the newly established mission church of Mary, Undoer of Knots, the numbers of faithful who find great solace are already outgrowing this humble building.

Funds are needed to expand and renovate it into a suitable place of sacred worship for the fervent Catholic congregation, as well as a gathering space for the surrounding community. This adaptable space will not only house regular educational and evangelization programs but also serve as a dependable evacuation center in times of natural disasters and crises. This effort has been named the "Beacon of Faith and Resilience Project" to provide a sanctuary of hope, learning, and refuge for all inhabitants in the entire area.

Project # 2. B Minia, EGYPT $5,000

Many Christian families in the Minia Diocese of Egypt live in rural areas, which require young women who have completed their secondary education and wish to access further study to move away from home and close to universities. In Egypt's unstable economy, low-income families struggle to find safe, affordable housing for their daughters.

The Minia Diocese owns a building near universities that could provide suitable housing for women from rural/remote areas, however, it is in serious disrepair. Funding is needed to paint and update both the electrical and plumbing systems. Once renovated, this building could accommodate 45 students, providing a good study atmosphere, moral/religious training, and supervision for the physical and mental health of these young ladies.

Project #3.A Nebbi, UGANDA $5,000

Over 400 households in Wadelai Catholic Parish lost housing and livelihoods due to monsoon rains which caused landslides and flooded rivers. The flood damaged or destroyed mud-brick homes. Water points and sanitation conditions have deteriorated. Displaced people - especially women, children, people with disabilities, and the elderly - lack shelter and live on embankments, roads, and open spaces.

This project, guided by the Paimol Sisters, aims to support 402 female-headed households with emergency life-saving assistance through shelter cash grants. The Paimol Sisters will provide technical assistance to reconstruct safe shelters in a cost-effective manner.

PROJECT # 3.B Homa Bay, KENYA $6,000

Bishop Odiwa of the Diocese of Homabay, Kenya, recommends the following project from the Passionist Missionaries. The Tonga Children's Home needs the construction of water tanks to provide reliable clean water to the Home and Tonga village. The Home currently serves 172 orphans, 46 of these have HIV/AIDS. Some of the 172 reside with guardians but attend school and receive services at the Home.

The mission of the Tonga Children's Home is education, food, material support, medical and mental health care, with the goal of equipping the children to become independent members of the community. The Brothers of the Passionist Missions are completely dedicated to their work at the Tonga Children's Home.

Project # 4.A Arusha, TANZANIA $5,000

The Little Brothers of the Gospel of the Archdiocese of Arusha Tanzania want to help widows in the village of Mlangarini in Arusha gain financial stability by providing them with sewing machines. The sewing services from their small businesses will generate income for themselves and their children, with the goal of boosting the whole community.

Life expectancy of men in this poor area of the country is lower than average because of higher numbers of fatal accidents, as well as, TB, HIV/AIDS, alcoholism, etc. Widows are left destitute and with no assistance from family or government. The funding of this project is a crucial step toward financial independence and hope for the widows.

Project #4.B Yendi, GHANA $6,000.

In this rural area, young girls do not have proper education, training, or access to legitimate sources of income, making them vulnerable to sexual exploitation, including trafficking, abuse, and early, unplanned pregnancies.

Funding is needed to provide poor girls with vocational skills, training, and mentorship. Upon completion of a 3-year program, graduates will be provided sewing machines so they can earn a living, help their families, and serve as role models for other girls seeking to escape poverty and subjugation. An extension of this program will be activities to create awareness among community leaders, adults, parents, and young people of the importance of education, dignified employment, and anti-trafficking laws.

Project # 5.A Songea, TANZANIA $6,000

The Benedictine Sisters of St Agnes Chipole serve nearly 200 children at their orphanage. In the past, the sisters were able to provide nourishment for the children by raising their own crops and accepting food donations from the community. But the recent lack of rainfall has resulted in few crops and rising food prices, creating a tragic situation now.

The situation is now dire because of crop failures and no money to buy food. Funding is needed to buy enough maize, beans, and cooking oil to sustain the children until the next harvest. With proper nourishment, the children will be able to stay healthy and study well.

PROJECT #5.B Daresalaam, TANZANIA $5,000

The Benedictine Brothers of St. Placidus House provide many pastoral and social services in Daresalaam, Tanzania. They want to buy bread-making machines not only to provide food for themselves and the 44 orphans in their care, but also for priests, nuns, and many needy in the area. They also hope to produce enough bread to sell and generate much-needed income for their order. Finally, the requested funds will enable them to renovate their existing bread-making room into an expanded bakery business.

The brothers are currently making bread by hand every day, and the number of the hungry is ever on the increase. Sources of funding for the Brothers are meager, making the establishment of this bread business doubly important.

PROJECT #6. A Lahore, PAKISTAN $6,000

The pastor of St. Francis de Sales Parish needs transportation to help him fulfill his pastoral duties: visiting outstations, and small Christian communities, as well as attending to sick calls. To cover so much ground geographically, an off-road motorcycle is needed.

This type of motorcycle makes navigation possible even during inclement weather. Teaching religion classes in different area schools will become possible, as well as presiding at liturgical celebrations at substations. Visiting homes and responding to calls from the elderly without delay will become a reality too. Please help this pastor serve his people.

PROJECT #6. B Sumbawanga, TANZANIA $7,000

Mvimwa Abbey, run by missionary African Benedictine monks, is located in a rural area of Tanzania inhabited by nomadic tribes with strong traditional practices. Arranged early marriages are still common, with betrothals even before puberty, and some girls being forced to marry just after finishing primary school (5th grade). Often girls suffer abuse, persecution and trauma. As a way out, many girls appeal to the abbey to help them gain access to education and a better future. As a result, their families, having lost marriage dowries, renounce and refuse to support their daughters.

For over 30 years Mvimwa Abbey has provided education as a means of evangelization on multiple levels. Through their efforts to enlighten the surrounding tribes on the importance of education for all, these Benedictine brothers hope to contribute to the care and protection of the young women of their community.

The funds are needed to purchase 100 goats that the monks will raise, breed and sell as an on-going business to support the girls' education and care. Furthermore, these men will provide a goat shed.

PROJECT #7 Arua, UGANDA $5,000

The Bishop of the Catholic Diocese of Arua, Uganda is presenting this project request by the Marian Brothers for the construction of fish farming ponds in a village of 1000 inhabitants, and for the training of the women in Aqua Culture. The church has donated 10 acres of property for this purpose. A nearby women's fish farming cooperative will conduct the aquaculture training.

The Marian Brothers' mission in the Arua area focuses on teaching, evangelization, and spiritual formation of youth, caring for refugees and the marginalized, and training women in agriculture and livelihood programs. As is often the case, it falls to the women to learn skills and trades to have a livelihood and put food on the table for their children.

PROJECT #8 Mwanza, TANZANIA $4,000

Mwahoba is in a rural area where the main occupations are agriculture and cattlekeeping. This is where the Congregation of the Brothers of the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus established their formation house and have been living off the land. But after three years of severe drought, they must now find a stable income-generating project to be able to continue to operate this House of Formation.

There is a fast-growing town nearby, Hungumalwa, that needs block bricks to meet a high demand for housing. The Brothers are skilled in operating the type of machinery for making block bricks, however, they need funds to purchase such a machine. Once such funding is secured, the Brothers could then cover costs for transportation, and electricity.

MISSION PROJECT #9

NEW VOCATION - Aid young women in their discernment of Sisters of St. Peter Claver in various countries.