It is with joy I share with you Catholic Mission’s Project Booklet for 2025.
This year, our focus is on Zambia with two new projects laid out for you within these pages. We have also included a handful of other life-giving projects to provide insight on the breadth of our work.
Catholic Mission has a variety of additional projects around the world that you can be part of. Please reach out to your local representative should you wish to learn more.
I graciously thank you for your ongoing support. For those of you joining us for the first time this year, I extend my warmest of welcomes and invite you to join us in our lifegiving journey.
Fr Brian Lucas National Director
In 2024, I had the privilege of visiting our project partners in Zambia and got to witness the incredible work they are doing in their communities.
Pope Francis’ chosen theme for 2025, “Missionaries of Hope Among All Peoples,” brings me back to the communities I visited, where I saw firsthand the hope in people’s eyes as they looked towards their future.
One of the most moving projects I encountered was in Chalabesa (pg. 4), where mothers travel for days just to access basic healthcare. By coming together to support this project, we can help ensure that more mothers receive the care they need closer to home, allowing them to welcome their babies without fear for their health.
I hope these projects touch your heart and gives you a glimpse of the work Catholic Mission’s supports around the world.
Bruna Correa Digital Online Assistant
This image: One of the children in Mpika Diocese.
Cover image: Mother and her child at an outreach post in Zambia waiting for a health check-up.
Feedback: Catholic Mission would love to hear from you. Call toll free: 1800 257 296
Write to: PO Box 1668 North Sydney NSW 2059 Email: info@catholicmission.org.au
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Catholic Mission acknowledges that we live and work on the land of Australia’s First Peoples. We pay our respect to the ever-present spirituality of Elders past and present.
Warning to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people – this publication may contain images or references to those who have passed.
In Zambia, healthcare coverage is poor with less than 3 doctors available per 10,000 people (almost 40 in Australia), a number below the World Health Organization recommendations. Over 30 percent of women do not have adequate support and medical care during childbirth. Women from rural communities, like those that make up the Mpika Diocese, also have to make long and often dangerous journeys to give birth in a hospital which is usually underequipped and overcrowded.
Country snapshot:
Flag: Population: Currency: Language: 20.6M ZMW English
Mpika Diocese, one of eleven dioceses in Zambia, manages six medical facilities. Chalabesa Mission Hospital and Chilonga Mission General Hospital are at the heart of this project.
Through this work the diocese will improve health care services across the region, promoting improved health outcomes for women and children, including:
• Providing safe spaces for expecting mothers to give birth.
• Improving the referral process for expecting mothers in need of specialised care.
• Helping reduce maternal and neonatal mortality.
The diocese also manages an outreach-based health education program focusing on maternal, neonatal, and child health issues, and provide growth monitoring programs, immunisations, and vaccinations.
With your help we can support this vital work, increasing access to healthcare and creating healthier communities across Mpika Diocese.
Who are we partnering with?
Abraham Muma is the Health Desk Coordinator and Resource Mobilisation Officer in the Mpika Diocese. In his role, he manages health services across the six medical facilities across the diocese.
Originally from Chingola, 600 kilometres from Mpika, Abraham is passionate about providing accessible healthcare. His hope is to transform healthcare in the diocese into a beacon of hope.
He shares about the challenges faced by many women in the community:
Life for our mothers is really challenging and when they fall sick or when they come to the hospital, they have to cover long distances.”
Above: Abraham Muma, one of our project partners in Zambia. *For full project budget outline, ask your local representative.
Zambian Kwacha
Your support can help:
• Build a mothers’ shelter and 10 outreach posts connected to Chalabesa Mission Hospital.
• Build a relatives’ shelter and renovate the maternity wing at Chilonga Mission General Hospital.
• Purchase various means of transport such as motorbikes and bicycles, which will be used by staff during outreach activities.
• Update medical equipment such as incubators, resuscitators, and delivery beds.
• Provide food supplement support for mothers.
• Provide delivery packs including a baby blanket, clothes, sanitary items and wraps to new mothers.
Above: One of the nurses at Chilonga checking up on a newborn.
Who will you be supporting?
This project will support many women and children as they will be able to access vital healthcare services of high quality in a timely manner. By reducing stress on expectant and labouring mothers, Mpika Diocese can empower women and work towards a brighter future.
Suzen’s story:
Suzen is 46 years old. She has six children, three of whom she delivered at Chilonga Mission General Hospital. Her biggest challenge was travelling to the hospital alone, so when her sister travelled to Chilonga to give birth, Suzen came with her and stayed at the relatives’ shelter. It was overcrowded, and it was shared by both men and women which was difficult. Suzen shared why many women end up having home deliveries:
People want to delay coming here [to Chilonga Mission General Hospital] because of the bad conditions.”
Given’s story:
Given is 25. She is a single mother of three children and struggles at times to support her family. Given was fortunate to attend the Chalabesa Mission Hospital for all three of her children’s births. She shares of her experience:
The challenges I faced on all my pregnancies is that I delivered through [caesarean] c-section. Another challenge is that the shelter at the hospital is in a very bad shape, it’s near the toilet and people complain of hunger.”
Above (from top): Suzen visiting Chilonga with the current relatives’ shelter behind her; Given and her youngest child with Sister Catherine Chisanga, the manager of Chalabesa Mission Hospital.
Support the Universal Church
Catholic Mission supports the PMS Universal Solidarity Fund (USF) through projects allocated by the Holy See. Dioceses and religious congregations around the world can apply to the USF to receive support. These projects are divided into three societies. For more information see page 20. The following project is an example of this work.
Timor-Leste is a small island nation located in Southeast Asia, 730 km North-West of Darwin with its closest neighbour being Indonesia. Securing its independence from Indonesia in 1999, it is one of the youngest countries in the world. However, the road to independence was difficult with much civil unrest, coming at a high cost for the local communities. The country still faces socio-economic challenges because of the compounding impact of its past which significantly affect its development.
As the Timorese people are continuing their journey to building a better future for themselves, Catholic Mission has previously partnered with them on several direct projects. We also support a range of Vatican allocated projects across the region.
This particular project seeks to build two chapels in Baucau Diocese. The Catholic community make up over 97 percent of the population in Timor-Leste. Creating resources to support projects such as these are vital, and with your help we can ensure the missionaries in the country can continue sharing the mission of Jesus with the community.
Scan to donate to projects like this.
Above: A student walking to school in the Diocese of Baucau, Timor-Leste.
Since 2018, the Zambian Government launched its Education-For-All Policy which has led to an increase in access to education across the country. Although there have been great bounds in education there are still a number of challenges, one of which includes issues around student accommodation.
Some children in Zambia have to travel over 10 kilometres on foot to get to school.
Country snapshot:
Flag: Population: Currency: Language: 20.6M
For many children, the distance to travel to school every day is difficult to manage, especially given the lack of safety and reliable transportation options. This is particularly true for girls, who may face additional challenges along the journey. Dormitories can significantly reduce risk by providing a safe and secure environment where girls are protected.
Education is one the most effective ways to help break the cycle of poverty and improve economic and social outcomes. In Zambia, where the economy is heavily reliant on agriculture and informal work, educated women are more likely to find other sources of income such as starting their own business, and contribute to their overall community development.
Your support will help to build a hostel near the Our Lady of Victory School for up to 80 female students so that they can regularly and safely attend school.
By supporting this work, you will be helping lay the foundations for future educational development in the region. Girls will not only travel from Mpika but other parts of Zambia to study here.
Who are we partnering with?
Bishop Edwin Mulandu began working in Mpika Diocese in 2021. His grandfather was a catechist and always said one of his grandchildren should become a priest. It was in Grade 10 that Bishop Edwin decided to enter the priesthood.
His daily mantra is Isaiah 6:8 “Here am I! Send me!” which guides him in his support for his community.
Bishop Mulandu strives to provide holistic support caring for the social, economic, and spiritual needs of his diocese.
He shared his joy for the work he does:
I love the people of God. And all that I’m doing, all that I do is because of the love of the people.”
Above: Bishop Mulandu walking on the road near his residence. *For full project budget outline, ask your local representative.
Zambian Kwacha
Your support can help:
• Build safe accomodation for children to help them attend school, providing a secure space to stay during the school term.
• Prevent many children from having to walk up to 10 kilometres to attend school. The community will benefit significantly from this project as their priority is for their children to have access to education year-round.
Above: Students in Mpika Diocese who will benefit from the accomodation in the future.
This image: Families waiting at one of the outreach posts for a check up.
Every day when I’m saying Mass, in my heart I have intentions for those people who support us, for our benefactors. So, prayer is the only gift that I can give in return to the good things, to the support that we have received and that we are still receiving from the people of God in Australia.”
Located in Kampot Province, Phnom Voah Farm covers over eighty hectares of land. Catholic Mission has partnered with the Vicariate of Phnom Penh since 2014 and together we have seen the growth of a selfsustaining, organic, life-giving farm. However, the extensive size and elongated shape, coupled with its mountainous location, present unique management and development hurdles.
Country snapshot:
Flag: Population: Currency: Language: 16.8M KHR
The farm employs over 20 staff. It also provides vital practical experience for hundreds of students from St Francis Technical High School.
Although it has seen significant development in recent years, the farm is still facing three significant challenges:
• Limited electrical infrastructure.
• Use of an old and unreliable tractor.
• Limited water supply across the farm which is impacting long-term sustainability, limiting responses to fires, and reducing produce yield.
Who are we partnering with?
Born in Strasbourg, France, Bishop Olivier Schmitthaeusler, MEP travelled to Cambodia as a missionary after his ordination in 1998. He immediately began learning the Khmer language. He later became a pastor in the Takeo and Kampot areas towards the south of the country.
Bishop Olivier was appointed the Vicar General in 2007 and became the Apostolic Vicar of Phnom Phen in 2010.
He is passionate about creating positive change and has shared his passion for this work:
Phnom Voah Farm is an amazing place to reconnect ourselves with our Creator and the beauty of creation.”
Above (left to right): Samai Sum Program Officer, Lawrence Gigliotti Associate Director of Programs, Bishop Olivier Schmitthaeusler, and Pisey Soeurn International Programs Co-ordinator
Cambodian Riel
Your support can help:
• Build and maintain electrical infrastructure for Phnom Voah farm, reducing night time hazards, and increasing produce yield through refrigeration.
• Purchase a tractor which will significantly improve various farm operations including land preparation, planting, and harvesting, with the goal to increase crop yields. It will also help minimise the farm’s maintenance costs and environmental impact due to fuel efficiency.
• Build and install an irrigation system to increase productivity by supplying water to more parts of the farm and, more vitally, help manage fires as needed.
Sat Phearum, Farm Manager, shared how vital new resources, such as electrical infrastructure, can help:
It will allow us to effectively care for animals... and plants. We can operate cold storage facilities, extending the shelf life of our organically grown produce. Staff can safely and easily manage the farm at night."
Mongolia, located in east Asia, is landlocked between China and Russia. According to the World Bank, 20.1% of Mongolians experienced poverty in 2024. In Ulaanbaatar, the country’s capital, many families live in financially vulnerable situations and cannot afford schooling. With most of the population under the age of 30, education is vital for the future development of the country.
Country snapshot:
Mongolian Tugrik
The Salesian Fathers of Don Bosco, seeing these needs, established the Don Bosco Industrial Training Skills Center (DBITSC) in 2001 to provide affordable avenues for students to gain qualifications. Many students come from poor and low-income families and the school keeps tuition fees low, however this places significant strain on the schools resources. This project aims to support the DBITSC, and Br Andrew Tran SDB who is the current Principal of the school, in delivering quality education to youth across the country.
The DBITSC offers five major courses: auto-mechanical, welding, industrial sewing, plumbing, and office administration. All students are required to study computer literacy and English. An electrical course will also be implemented through this project. This course is being developed in response to a need for qualified electricians.
Since 2002, 19 graduates have become teachers and staff at the school, ten of whom are still working at Don Bosco. Each year ten to fifteen graduates are invited to work as permanent employees at the companies where they completed their work placement.
Who are we partnering with?
In 2014, Brother Andrew Tran Le Phuong SDB moved to Mongolia as one of the newest Salesian missionaries. He began by restoring equipment and providing training to people in Ulaanbaatar. Br Andrew also recently visited our valued supporters in Australia in 2024.
Dedicated to enhancing education and health services, Br Andrew prioritises the needs of the people most vulnerable through his current role as Principal at the training centre.
He shared his vision for the school:
HEAD-HEART-HANDS - these are the core values of education at Don Bosco where the student needs to be equipped for their future and nation.”
Above: Br Andrew Tran Le Phuong SDB is the Principal of the Center. *For full project budget outline, ask your local representative.
Your support can help:
• Refit and upgrade both the electrical and welding workshops with the latest equipment and tools, including brand new training materials.
• Upgrade the library, provide new computers for the school, and help to establish a social enterprise which will generate income for the school.
By supporting this work, you will be helping future generations to be lifted from poverty as their education provides them with greater employment opportunities, as well as supporting the development of Mongolia in the training of its emerging workforce. A former student shared their experience:
Don Bosco Technical School gave me the skills and confidence to build my future. Whether in welding, auto mechanics, sewing, secretarial work, or electrical studies, we didn’t just learn a trade—we prepared for life.”
Above (from left): A student in the current mechanics workshop.
What is Impact Investing?
As global challenges continue to impact the Universal Church, Catholic Mission seeks to assist local Churches in becoming more self-sustainable, enabling them to readily respond to challenges faced by their communities. Through Impact Investing, you can support long-term change for communities around the world. As Pope Francis calls for unity in the Church, we are compelled to heed this call and support the people most in need.
Catholic Mission’s Impact Investing initiative aims to build upon the success of projects we support around the world. Our unique model for Impact Investing seeks to replicate the loaves and fish parable, with such projects focused on generating reliable income streams through social enterprise, placing long-term sustainability and a lasting generational impact at the forefront of the partner’s goals. This focus can lead to more people being supported, turning our loaves and fish from some into many. We call this Mission Development.
Using the objectives set out by the Pontifical Mission Societies, Catholic Mission has used modern development research to form a best practice model that allows both mission and development to work hand-in-hand. Mission can provide a multifaceted approach to development. Connecting through faith allows us to reach communities we typically would not be able to support. Using a mission development lens, we can combine development practice with the spreading of God’s word through Gospel teachings, providing pastoral care, and supporting missionaries around the world through the building of churches, supporting catechist programs and training seminarians.
Above: Students at Lideta Catholic Cathedral School in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.
A step-by-step guide
Impact Investing at its simplest is a perpetual project distribution fund, which can be used, then reused to support other projects. An initial investment is sent to the project partner, which is then reused, as the project begins to generate profit. These funds are subsequently redistributed and used to support other Impact Investing projects. This method allows funds to be maximised and help support significantly more people, leading to a loaves and fish scenario where $1.00 becomes $1.25, which increases to $1.50 and so on. The gift grows over time, leading to vital improvements in the community over an extended period.
Catholic Mission’s Impact Investing program is now at a pivotal stage in its development, with the first project of its kind for our organisation – Impact Investing at Phnom Voah, Cambodia – moving to the next phase of implementation: the original project is now at a stage where funds can be used to support other projects in the area.
The Phnom Voah enterprise is an excellent model for future Catholic Mission Impact Investing projects in the region and abroad. With great success in produce sales on the farm, an increasing tourism industry generating additional income, and positive engagement in the community, the Phnom Voah Impact Investing projects stand as a testament to how these types of projects can exceed expectations. For more information on current Impact Investing projects see the following pages.
Above: Bishop Olivier giving visitors a tour of the new hotel facilities at Phnom Voah Hotel. *Ask your local Catholic Mission representative to see our unique project lifecycle.
Impact Investing project progress
Vicariate of Phnom Penh, Cambodia
Since the Phnom Voah Farming project began in 2014, the Diocese of Phnom Penh, in partnership with Catholic Mission, has seen the growth of a self-sustaining organic life-giving farm.
Catholic Mission’s impact investing journey began at Phnom Voah Farm and St Francis Technical High School, located south of Phnom Penh. Bishop Olivier Schmitthaeusler MEP, Apostolic Vicar of Phnom Penh, opened the farm and onsite restaurant to provide work for people from disadvantaged backgrounds in his community and give students from St Francis a place to practice what they learn in class. The farm has excelled in production with a wide range of fruits, vegetables, and livestock. It has employed over 20 community members and has provided vital practical experience opportunities for 178 agriculture students who have studied at St Francis.
From 2019 to 2021, before Impact Investing was introduced at Phnom Voah, the income generated sat at USD$129,024.90. In the first year of Impact Investing (2022), an annual revenue of USD$137,033.74 was generated through sales of produce, and visitors to the farm and restaurant. This was made up of USD$61,171.70 from produce sales and USD$75,862.04 from ecotourism at the farm, including bamboo train tours.
The initial investment of USD$400,000 has now been reinvested and is funding another impact investing project in the area - the Phnom Voah Training Centre and Hotel, just four kilometres away.
The hotel project began with the goal of facilitating greater community engagement and educational opportunities for youth across the region of Kampot Province and beyond.
Above (from top): Chenda, the head teacher of the hospitality and tourism course at St Francis Technical; visitors at the Phnom Voah Training Centre and Hotel.
Located a short distance from the hotel, St Francis Technical High School teaches hospitality and tourism courses. Previously, students could only attend work placement at the farm’s restaurant which could host limited numbers. Now, students from St Francis have been enjoying hands-on experience at the hotel. Since opening in August 2024, a total of 8,500 guests have stayed at hotel or camped onsite, plus restaurant visits and sales are steadily increasing. The hotel and surrounding grounds have been featured on the social media profiles of Cambodian influencers which is helping to boost the profile of the hotel and booking numbers.
The restaurant onsite sources fresh produce from the Phnom Voah Farm and the souvenir shop sells products from the CoCo de Takeo Handicraft Centre, another Catholic Mission supported project. Several graduates of St Francis Technical have been hired. The team consists of nine employees, the manager, restaurant manager, chef, two service staff, a housekeeper, farm maintenance, garden maintenance, and general maintenance.
Archdiocese of Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
Addis Ababa, the capital of Ethiopia, is a hub of activity with greater access to opportunities than rural areas, however, it is also impacted by a range of social and economic challenges. Providing education and job opportunities is a powerful tool in alleviating these stresses. The Lideta Catholic Cathedral School (LCCS) aspires to provide quality education to youth in the community, with the aim to support children across the country regardless of their background.
To broaden its impact, LCCS partnered with Catholic Mission to create a means of sustainably generating income which can be used for more student scholarships. A multi-level commercial building was built on a small parcel of land, owned by the school and adjacent to the LCCS campus.
Since construction was completed in December 2023, 34 shops have been rented out, generating a total average monthly income of $25,010*. Based on previous Catholic Mission project budgets for the scholarship program, AUD$40,000 can cover 84 one-year scholarships.
Tamrat Belachew, Project Manager, shared the importance of LCCS having a sustainable income:
We have many children coming from low income families so this [funding scholarships] gives them a guarantee to continue their studies.”
Students from Lideta Catholic Cathedral School in class.
Our work explained
Catholic Mission is the Pope’s international Mission agency in Australia. We partner with local churches in over 160 countries, helping communities in need to flourish by supporting grassroots projects, including healthcare, education, and spiritual care.
Direct Projects
Direct partnerships are formed through our work within the Pontifical Mission Societies (PMS) or through a missionary reaching out to us directly.
We aim to build local capacity and address immediate needs, supporting missionaries who need assistance in overcoming challenges in their community.
Holy See Allocations
In addition to our Direct Projects, Catholic Mission supports programs designated to us by the Holy See, categorised into the three Societies below.
Work with Communities (Society of the Propagation of the Faith)
Founded by Pauline Jaricot in 1822, our work with communities funds the day-to-day running of local parishes and dioceses. These projects include the implementation and ongoing support of essential healthcare, feeding and sanitation programs, pastoral services, and training of catechists.
Work with Children (Society of the Holy Childhood)
Founded by Bishop Charles de Forbin-Janson in 1843, our work with children seeks to ensure youth all over the world access the care they deserve. These projects include supporting schools, rehabilitation centres, health and nutrition programs, and care for pregnant mothers.
Work with Church Leaders (Society of Saint Peter the Apostle)
Founded by Jeanne Bigard in 1889, our work with Church leaders provides financial support and educational resources for seminarians and novices on their journey to religious life. These emerging leaders will walk hand-inhand with their communities, offering guidance and advocating for those in need.
Above: Catholic Mission staff on a content gathering trip in Mongolia, engaging with local missionaries.
I am fortunate to be able to create authentic connections, building relationships with people across the world. I have the privilege to journey with our project partners and see their communities grow through opportunities that would otherwise not be available to them.”
Impact Investing
Impact Investing focuses on income generation, sustainability, and long-term impact. Your gift to our Impact Investing Program is sown into a budding income-generating project for a period of time. As the project earns revenue and becomes more sustainable, your gift is reinvested in yet another new or growing, life-changing project. For more information on Impact Investing please see pages 16-19.
Regional Mission Development Office
The Regional Mission Development Office (RMDO) in Phnom Penh, Cambodia, is a hub for Catholic Mission’s work across Asia. The office was established in 2019 to assist the wider organisation in engaging with project partners to deliver life-giving projects, providing technical assistance at the local level, and building capacity in mission development across the region.
Based on its geographic location, the RMDO is ideally positioned for Catholic Mission staff to travel swiftly across Asia to visit partners, offering ongoing support and technical assistance, and monitor project progress. This provides access to projects we would not have knowledge of otherwise, which occurred during the pandemic with the RMDO responding to local needs as they arose, providing vital support.
Staffed by a local Khmer employees, the RMDO provides ongoing and regular training for local and international groups and are key in building the capacity of project partners across Asia. Additionally, the office provides a hub for Catholic Mission Immersions to Cambodia.
Australia
As part of our ongoing commitment to supporting mission in remote and rural parishes and dioceses, Catholic Mission continues to provide financial support to communities in Australia in consultation with local Bishops and missionaries on the ground. Currently, projects are funded in the dioceses of Geraldton, Port Pirie, Wilcannia-Forbes, Townsville, and Darwin. Catholic Mission has been supporting projects in Australia for 187 years.
Above (from left): Programs Officer Conor Nolan (left), National Director Fr Brian Lucas (centre), Sister Carmen Summut (right) visiting Lideta Catholic Cathedral School in Ethiopia; RMDO Team with Good Shepherd Sisters in Thailand.
Conor Nolan, Programs Officer at Catholic Mission, shares his experience of our work:
Our journey towards sustainability
Sustainable Development Goals
The 17 United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) are a universal blueprint for all countries and organisations to work towards. Our foundational values of communication, trust, faith, context, future, and capacity building, inform our work with communities and develop new relationships.
Many aspects of our work seek to address food insecurity and promote sustainable agriculture in disadvantaged communities. One example of this is our partnership with Phnom Voah Farm in Cambodia, which supports local communities in need of emergency food relief. Many of our education projects support student meal programs which also encourages school attendance. We also provide training for women to start their own small-scale farms, ensuring they can not only feed their families, but generate an income. We strive to address immediate food needs and the systemic issues that contribute to food insecurity.
We strive to help our partners increase access to healthcare, improving community well-being and health outcomes. Our health-focused projects cover a range of areas including construction, renovation, and operation of health facilities, providing medical supplies, increasing access to vaccinations, general health checkups, and improving pre- and post-natal care. Additionally, by ensuring communities have access to clean water and adequate sanitation facilities, we help our partners prevent a range of illnesses.
We strive to promote inclusivity, fairness and social justice by supporting projects which strive to reduce inequality in many forms. Projects which empower women, like maternal health, are vital as women are often the backbone of communities, providing care and guidance for future generations. Much of our work also promotes inclusive education, ensuring all people can learn in a safe environment. Additionally, in the formation space our team is making strides in cross-cultural partnership through interfaith dialogue, creating an organisation Reconciliation Action Plan, and running student and adult Immersions all over the world.
In building partner capacity, our Programs Officers seek to promote sustainable practices often in agriculture and land management. This can include encouraging communities to plant native tree species that support biodiversity and provide longterm benefits like shade, soil stability, and wind protection. Moreover, we encourage our partners to consider ways they can reduce costs while also benefitting the environment such as purchasing fuel-efficient equipment. Our Environmental Action Plan also promotes environmental stewardship both within our offices in Australia and within the communities we partner with. By taking a holistic approach to environmental challenges and focusing on empowering communities to be advocates for change we hope to ensure the land can support future generations.
Our unique approach
Our work is grounded in the idea of mission combining with development best practice to be what we call, Mission Development.
Mission is multifaceted and all people have a unique understanding of what it means. Catholic Mission responds to the call to love God and to love our neighbour by forming individuals and communities as missionary disciples of Jesus who share their faith in action and through prayer. As part of Catholic Mission’s organisational vision we share in God’s mission to reach out, give life by sharing our personal and financial resources to proclaim the Gospel; serve people in need; and act for peace, justice and creation in partnership with local churches, so that all may have life in Christ. Mission in action is never confined to a single person or to the present moment, but extends through communities, across generations, and eternally.
Mission Development incorporates community-led approaches, sustainability, inclusion, and accountability with the spreading of God’s word through gospel teachings, providing pastoral care, and supporting missionaries around the world.
Staying true to our values and Jesus’ missionary message, Catholic Mission has adapted the way we operate to ensure compliance with Australian Government regulations. We strive to meet the Holy Father’s call for a mission of compassion, while ensuring we nurture transparent and effective relationships with the people and communities we work with across the globe.
Our role as missionaries of hope among the people we work with is to be companions on the journey and advocates for positive change. To achieve this, we must pursue authentic connections and support the people we partner with in accessing the dignity they deserve.
Catholic Mission’s Associate Director of Programs, Lawrence Gigliotti shared his passion for this model:
Hope and mission are not just words, they require action. By employing Mission Development we can act with, not for, those we hope to support.”
Laudato Si
Similarly to the environmentally focused SDGs, Pope Francis’ first encyclical, Laudato Si’ (LS) speaks on caring for our common home. Catholic Mission can be an important motivator for the global church by embodying an ecological lens across its work both in Australia and overseas. According to LS 14:
All of us can cooperate as instruments of God for the care of creation, each according to his or her own culture, experience, involvements and talents.”
People living in the communities we partner with are often the most affected by ecological issues. The challenge for each of us is to reflect how we can each contribute to co-creating a better world with God.
