Being a missionary is, in response to Christ’s call, to have left everything behind to go far from your homeland and bring the Good News to places where people have not yet received it, or received it only recently.
We are all Missionaries!
Pope Francis reminds us that the mission for all requires the commitment of all. We need to continue our journey towards a fully synodal and missionary Church in the service of the Gospel.
With the joy and loving concern of our Mother, with the strength born of tenderness and affection (cf. Evangelii Gaudium, 288), let us go forth to bring everyone to the invitation of the King,
our Savior.
How can I be a Missionary?
Being a missionary is not just about going to distant lands. We can be missionaries at home, in our neighborhood, and in our communities. In the message of his Holiness Pope Francis for World Mission Day 2024 we are reminded that:
“Every Christian is called to take part in this universal mission by offering his or her own witness to the Gospel in every context, so that the whole Church can continually go forth with her Lord and Master to the ‘crossroads’ of today’s world.”
Mission territories: where we work
From remote villages in Africa to bustling urban centers in Asia, our missionary work has reached the far corners of the Earth, illuminating lives with the light of Christ.
We share, we serve, and we give in 1,100 mission territories!
Learn about some of them 👇
Algeria
$94.762,00
In Algeria, 20% of the population is poor, that's 6.3 million people.
TPMS reveals the compassionate heart of Jesus through their work which often entails providing food, education, and medical care.
Angola
$32.000,00
38% of Angolan children under five years of age are undernourished.
TPMS supports programs for the “protection of life.” This aid includes basic things like health care, food, and water.
Apostolic Prefecture in the Marshall Islands
$22.000,00
As of 2021, there were 5,123 Catholics (8.7% of the population) on 112 mi2 of islands in a marine area nearly the size of the United States, served by 6 priests, 3 deacons, and 6 nuns across 5 parishes
TPMS will care for and support this new mission territory until it is self-sufficient.
Archdiocese of Agana
$30.000,00
Catholics represent 85% of the inhabitants of Guam, a U.S. territory located in the Pacific and home to some 160,000 people.
TPMS helps churches where Christianity is too new.
Argentina
$69.000,00
49% of the Argentinian population lives in poverty.
TPMS provides assistance like support for pastoral and evangelization programs, healthcare, and education.
Bangladesh
$28.800,00
In Bangladesh, over 10 million children suffer from malnutrition, facing severe health and developmental issues. TPMS provides medical care for these children, nutritional support, and educational programs to improve their living conditions and offer them a brighter future.
Bangladesh
$626.017,00
More than 30 million children in Bangladesh are growing up in abject poverty.
TPMS provides healthcare for children with disabilities and special needs, advocacy for orphaned children, and outreach such as food and water.
Bolivia
$21.000,00
37.9% of Bolivians simply do not have access to healthcare.
In response, our aid encompasses basic healthcare and support for those who don't have access to health services.
Brazil
$15.000,00
Brazil has a total of 14.6 million illiterate people.
With your donations, we support the ongoing development of both education and spirituality for children in this country.
Chile
$31.500,00
In Chile, more than 7 million inhabitants are Catholic, and in the vicariate of Aysen, almost 80% of its inhabitants actively practice the faith.
TPMS supports the apostolic vicariate of Aysen in southern Chile. Through the Ordinary Subsidy given each year to mission Churches, your donations help nurture the Church in regions where it is emerging by spreading the Gospel, feeding the hungry, and fostering vocations.
Colombia
$43.950,00
In Colombia, nearly 5 million people live in extreme poverty, lacking even the essentials to live.
TPMS supports those engaged in catechesis and religious educations.
Colombia
$5.750,00
In Colombia, nearly 3 million children are out of school due to poverty and conflict. TPMS provides educational resources, safe learning environments, and spiritual guidance to help these children build a better future.
Costa Rica
$17.500,00
Nearly 32% of all children and adolescents live in poverty.
We provide support for pastoral programs, catechists, and catechetical work
Diocese of Caroline
$30.000,00
Beginning as a mission territory in 1905, thanks to the growth of priestly vocations, today this region has the title of Diocese.
Through the Ordinary Subsidy given each year to mission Churches, your donations help nurture the Church in regions where it is emerging by spreading the Gospel, feeding the hungry and fostering vocations.
Diocese of Fairbanks
$15.000,00
Alaska is the largest state in the union and encompasses approximately 600,000 square miles. Priests and religious must cover great distances and endure harsh environmental conditions, difficult terrain, and extreme poverty to do their work. With your donation, we help the formation of priests and religious sisters.
Ecuador
$24.500,00
More than 20% of children under 2 are already chronically malnourished.
TPMS helps fulfill fundamental needs in this country, including access to food and water.
El Salvador
$21.000,00
The poverty rate in El Salvador remains one of the highest in Latin America. More shocking is that 1.8 million Salvadorans are living in poverty, without access to basic food requirements.
TPMS assists in upholding the Church's evangelization efforts in areas deeply affected by poverty.
Falkland Islands/Malvinas and Superior of the mission sui iuris of Saint Helena, Ascension and Tristan da Cunha
$35.000,00
The Falkland Islands/Malvinas territory is one of the 8 sui iuris missions worldwide.
Through the Ordinary Subsidy given each year to mission Churches, your donations help nurture the Church in regions where it is emerging by spreading the Gospel, feeding the hungry and fostering vocations.
Guatemala
$39.500,00
One in two minors suffers from chronic malnutrition in Guatemala.
We support over 600,000 children from nursery school to secondary school in mission territories.
Haiti
$48.000,00
In Haiti, 80% of a population of 9 million live below the poverty line with less than two dollars a day.
We offer support for programs that assist in the comprehensive well-being of individuals.
Haiti
$28.510,00
In Haiti, nearly 60% of children under five suffer from malnutrition.
TPMS supports programs that provide healthcare, nutrition, and educational services to improve the overall well-being of these children and their families.
Honduras
$42.500,00
Honduras is a low-middle-income country with more than 60% of the population living in poverty.
We provide support for pastoral and evangelistic programs, catechists, and catechetical work.
Honduras
$10.000,00
In Honduras, over 30% of children suffer from chronic malnutrition, affecting their growth and development.
TPMS supports pastoral and evangelistic programs, catechists, and catechetical work to help improve the lives and futures of these children.
India
$2.335.649,00
India has 6.7 million children going without food.
We help overcome the challenges and obstacles that men and women Religious novices face in this reality.
India
$460.000,00
In India, 6.7 million children suffer from food insecurity, facing daily challenges of hunger.
TPMS supports efforts to address the obstacles and challenges faced by Catholic communities.
Indonesia
$1.036.151,00
In Indonesia, 25 million people live below the international poverty line.
TPMS helps missionaries with their baptismal responsibility for the Church’s missionary work.
Indonesia
$1.036.151,00
In Indonesia, 25 million people live below the international poverty line. TPMS provides support for missionaries in their work to uplift and serve impoverished communities
Kazakhstan
$226.300,00
2 in 5 children live in poverty in Kazakhstan.
TPMS provides financial support for the spiritual and theological formation of priests, laity, and youth, renovates parishes, feeds thousands of children, and sustains orphanages.
Kenya
$321.570,00
15 million Kenyans lack access to safe drinking water.
TPMS supports programs for “protection of life.” This aid includes basic things like health care, food, and water.
Kuwait
$27.000,00
Only 11% of Kuwait's population professes the Catholic faith.
We offer aid and support to young churches.
Lebanon
$5.000,00
More than 80% of Lebanon's population lives in poverty.
TPMS extends spiritual aid and guidance to those in need.
Liberia
$282.906,00
In Liberia, approximately 64% of the population lives below the poverty line.
The Pontifical Mission Societies support the proclamation of the Gospel, the building of churches, together with the work and witness of mission priests, religious Sisters and Brothers, and lay pastoral leaders.
Madagascar
$78.315,00
More than two in three children (67.6%) are multidimensionally poor in Madagascar.
TPMS assists and supports children in both personal and faith-related aspects as they grow.
Madagascar
$29.570,00
Madagascar faces significant challenges with over 70% of its population living below the poverty line.
TPMS supports initiatives aimed at enhancing the quality of life for vulnerable communities in Madagascar
Mexico
$28.500,00
1 out of every 2 children and adolescents in Mexico lives in poverty; of these, 20% live in extreme poverty.
TPMS extends spiritual aid and guidance to those in need.
Mozambique
$50.080,00
14.8 million people don't have clean water.
That's over half the population.
TPMS helps fulfill fundamental needs in this country, including access to food and water.
New Zealand
$170.817,00
Only 10.1% of the population is Catholic.
TPMS assists in the ongoing maintenance of churches, ensuring they remain safe and welcoming spaces for all who seek spiritual solace.
Nigeria
$338.270,00
87 million Nigerians live below the poverty line.
In response, our aid encompasses basic healthcare and support for those who don't have access to health services.
Nigeria
$845.874,00
In Nigeria, approximately 13 million children are out of school due to various challenges, including poverty and conflict.
TPMS supports educational programs that aim to provide these children with access to quality education and a brighter future.
Nigeria
$174.075,00
Nearly 40% of children under five years old suffer from chronic malnutrition.
TPMS supports nutrition and healthcare programs.
Pakistan
$525.931,00
In Pakistan, 1.8% of the population are Christians, just over 4 million people. More than 60% have suffered some form of discrimination because of their faith.
With your donation, TPMS assists the Church wherever it has been denied, forgotten, persecuted, or shunned.
Pakistan
$75.737,00
Approximately 22 million people lack access to safe drinking water, exacerbating health issues and sanitation challenges.
TPMS supports projects that promote access to clean water.
Panama
$21.000,00
About 27.7% of Panamanian children live in poverty and 12% experience malnutrition.
With your donations, we support the ongoing development of both education and spirituality for children in this country.
Papua New Guinea
$632.571,00
40% of people in Papua New Guinea live below the extreme poverty line.
TPMS will care for and support this new mission territory until it can be self-sufficient.
Paraguay
$22.000,00
The evangelization of Paraguay began in 1542, more than 480 years ago.
With your help, we support the training of catechists, altar servers, and the support of missionaries in the "Tierradentro" mission.
Peru
$45.000,00
In Peru, 38% of indigenous children are malnourished.
TPMS supports those engaged in catechesis and religious educations.
Philippines
$43.164,00
3 in every 10 children belong to poor families.
TPMS extends spiritual aid and guidance to those in need.
Rwanda
$850.955,00
In Rwanda, 48.8% of the population is multidimensionally poor.
We provide support for pastoral programs, catechists, and catechetical work.
Singapore
$31.000,00
In Singapore, only 6.7% of the population is Catholic.
TPMS aids in the formation of priests and religious candidates, nurturing their spiritual growth and preparing them for their roles as spiritual leaders and mentors.
South Africa
$521.708,00
Three million South African households, 18 million people, live below the poverty line.
TPMS will care for and support this new mission territory until it can be self-sufficient.
Tanzania
$1.187.084,00
In Tanzania, 1.5 million adolescents are excluded from schooling.
TPMS provides assistance like support for pastoral and evangelistic programs, healthcare, and education.
Tanzania
$779.541,00
More than 70% of the population lives in rural areas with limited access to healthcare services.
TPMS supports rural healthcare initiatives to improve medical access and promote health education in underserved communities
Tanzania
$98.000,00
In Tanzania, approximately 30% of the population is Catholic, playing a significant role in education and healthcare for underserved communities.
TPMS supports pastoral and evangelistic programs that strengthen faith.
Thailand
$1.027.457,00
4.4 million people in Thailand are living below the poverty line.
We help overcome the challenges and obstacles that men and women Religious novices face in this reality.
Turkey
$18.000,00
Turkey's latest earthquakes killed at least 45,000 people and left millions homeless across nearly a dozen cities.
The Pontifical Mission Societies support the proclamation of the Gospel, the building of churches, together with the work and witness of mission priests, religious Sisters and Brothers, and lay pastoral leaders.
Uganda
$889.372,00
55% of children 0 to 4 in Uganda live in poverty
With your donations, we support the ongoing development of both education and spirituality for children in this country.
Uganda
$184.877,00
Nearly 5 million children are out of school due to poverty and other barriers.
With your donations, we support initiatives that enhance both education and spiritual growth for children in this country.
Uruguay
$36.000,00
The church has been present for more than 500 years in Uruguay.
With your help, we support the communities in their evangelization work.
Zambia
$43.409,00
60% of Zambia's population lives in poverty.
The Pontifical Mission Societies offer spiritual guidance and vital resources like food, education, and medical care to vulnerable communities in regions supported by the Pope's missions.
Mission stories
Sister Genevieve
We need to pray for peace in the world, in the Church, in the family, and in every heart … to build peace, we need to start with our own hearts.As a young girl in the mission Diocese of Loikaw, Myanmar, Sister Genevieve felt a profound desire to become a religious sister. In Rome, where she is studying thanks to a scholarship from the Society of St. Peter the Apostle, Sister Genevieve speaks lovingly of her homeland's small yet vibrant Catholic community. The faithful are nurtured through catechesis, the sacraments, and outreach programs for young people and married couples. Sister Genevieve reminds us, “We need to pray for peace in the world, in the Church, in the family, and in every heart … to build peace, we need to start with our own hearts.
Monsignor Mounir Seccal
The first thing we did to shelter the population was to open the churches and monastery gardens.Months after the 45-second natural disaster that hit Turkey and Syria, Monsignor Mounir Seccal, National Director of The Pontifical Mission Societies in Syria, described the situation in Aleppo as “catastrophic, with chaos and desolation,” going on to say, “The first thing we did to shelter the population was to open the churches and monastery gardens.” That’s not all. After opening the doors to refugees, they scratched the bottoms of their already empty coffers to buy blankets and warm meals. Monsignor Mounir Seccal laments, “Syria is living through a real tragedy.”
Sister Prisca
In each child's smile, we find the strength to continue. Here, we fight not just for education, but for transformation.In the serene Shire Highlands of southern Malawi, a region known both for its lush tea estates and its stark poverty contrasts, stands a beacon of hope - the Chisombezi School for the Deafblind. Just outside the bustling city of Blantyre, this school, managed by the Sisters of the Blessed Virgin Mary, is more than an educational institution. At the heart of this institution is Sister Prisca, a young, dynamic nun in her third year as the supervisor.
"Our journey is tough, and the resources scarce," Sister Prisca says, "but in each child's smile, we find the strength to continue. Here, we fight not just for education, but for transformation."
Former U.S. Ambassador to the Holy See Jim Nicholson passionately reminds us that we are all called to this mission of love and faith, echoing the invitation to become fishers of men in a world that thirsts for the Good News.
He has supported The Pontifical Mission Societies in the U.S. for several years since Nicholson's path intertwined with the Church in mission territories.
"I believe we can have an impact, not only through leading by example but by stepping up, getting involved. We are called to spread the Gospel, like the disciples did.
And we are called to help, educate, and evangelize, leading others to get to know, and love, the Church.".
- Former Ambassador Jim Nicholson
Through your generosity, you become true partners in our mission, sharing in the joy and blessings of bringing God's love to the world.
