New Zealand’s First venture into Direct Community outreach Fr Michael Pui, National Director for NZ, and Msgr Estaban Lo have been working together on a project to help students in a school in the Philippines. Our poorer brothers and sisters in Mission Territories apply to the PMS for support. Often, because of the demands on the Solidarity Fund, some projects are not fully funded. One such need is the Scholarship Programme in the St Therese Learning School-Old Sagay (Sagay City, Diocese of San Carlos), in the Philippines. The programme provides financial support for underprivileged children of the two coastal-barangays of the Parish. These two communities have a total population of 20,951 (Census, 2020), and the age group with the highest population is 5-9 years old. Twenty percent of them (24%) belong to families with insufficient income to sustain their basic needs for food and education. The aim is to give poor and talented children, irrespective of their religious background, a chance to have an education at the public elementary schools within the parish community. The long term hope is that the children will grow up to make a positive change in their community. In collaboration with the Parish of St James the Greater, Fr Michael Pui has made a pledge to run a Special Appeal* to raise funds towards the programme. Although the aim is to support 4 Elementary schools, Fr Michael had made a special commitment towards one, the St Therese Learning School, Old Sagay. In March 2026 he made a special visit to the school and parish, so that when he visits our NZ schools, he may provide a more tangible connection between them and our brothers and sisters who are struggling. The hope is the it will help New Zealand students re-discover the missionary outlook that were once in all our schools, that is, the spirit of “Children helping Children”. In the next few months, Fr Michael will be approaching schools and colleges. If you could support this initiative please: Scan the QR code, or contact the Office directly with credit card details, or simply Direct Debit:  Account Name: Missio Benevolent Society  06-0411-0021447-00 (Note: This account is different from the ones advertised for Mission Sunday)  For Reference, please provide your name/organization, and the word “Sagay”, and  communicate to us if you need a tax-receipt, or an acknowledgment only.  * Donations may go towards funding similar projects supported and approved by the PMS  {{ vc_btn: title=DONATE+TODAY&color=juicy-pink&size=lg&link=url%3Ahttps%253A%252F%252Fmissio.nz%252Fdonate%252F%7Ctitle%3ADonate%7C%7C }}

Support for the children from marginalised families This is a community based initiative that provides education, health, nutrition, and spiritual formation to the children of marginalised families in the Diocese of San Jose de Nueva Ecija. Through the generous support of the Pontifical Mission Societies (PMS) of New Zealand and Czech Republic, this project ensures that disadvantages children not only receive essential material assistance , but also grow in faith and values, strengthening their families and communities. View a video of the full Project Report here {{ vc_btn: title=DONATE+TODAY&color=juicy-pink&size=lg&link=url%3Ahttps%253A%252F%252Fmissio.nz%252Fdonate%252F%7Ctitle%3ADonate%7C%7C }}

This project was funded from the collective effort of the Solidarity Funds to construct a multi-purpose Activity Centre and Presbytery. The centre gives the village a place for many activities and the project also creates employment for the local village community.

Bangladesh: Diocese of Mymensingh. The Renovation of St Ann’s Girls’ Hostel, Bhatikashore. The hostel houses about sixty girls each year. The support enabled the P.I.M.E Sisters to get the entire hostel painted. It consisted of three floors; two dining rooms, a large study room, a chapel, a kitchen, five dormitories, a large dressing room, two verandas, and terraces. The bathrooms were modernized and the mosquito nets on all the doors and windows were also replaced.   This project is from the collective effort of the Solidarity Funds.   {{ vc_btn: title=DONATE+TODAY&color=juicy-pink&size=lg&link=url%3Ahttps%253A%252F%252Fmissio.nz%252Fdonate%252F%7Ctitle%3ADonate%7C%7C }}

Diocese of Talibon, Bohol, Supporting poor children. 70 children residing at the Barangays of San Pedro, and San Isidro in Talibon, Bohol benefited from the project. The support included giving 45 children school supplies and a weekly allowance. The Barangays are run by the Canossian Sisters. Diocese of San Jose de Nueve Ecija, education needs of children New Zealand together with PMS of Czech Republic, supported many children with basic education, spiritual formation, nutritional and medical needs. This is run by the Canossian Sisters, in charge of Holy Childhood Assistance project under the Community-Based Health Programme of the Diocese. 

The Diocese of Nouna in the province of Kossi, Burkina Faso has a predominantly young population, with children comprising a significant portion.  In recent months, there has been a massive movement of people from rural to urban areas resulting in a natural divide between populations, exacerbated by the fact that many of these children are aware they live in someone else’s home.  With little security in place, there is much incivility and organized crime.  The actions of unidentified armed individuals have had a profound impact on the students. Some were repeatedly threatened on their way to school, while others witnessed their school supplies destroyed or set on fire.  Many of the children who endured these abuses were on the brink of despair, not knowing where to find what they needed for their education.  Thanks to the aid received, 460 children have been provided with school kits. This assistance has been a huge relief for the children, as well as for the parents who were left speechless and the teachers who watched helplessly as their classrooms emptied day after day. The church is also working in a pastoral capacity to counter this situation by working with children and youth to emphasize nonviolence, culture, and social cohesion in order to convey a message of peace and tolerance.  Fostering interactions among children, particularly through activities like sports, is crucial to bridging this divide and promoting principles of mutual support. The children’s movements, “Brave Hearts” and “Valiant Souls” (CV-AV), as well as the children’s choir (Samuel Group), serve as a means of transmitting moral, human, and spiritual values to Burkinabé society. {{ vc_btn: title=DONATE+TO+THE+HOLY+CHILDHOOD+ASSOCIATION&color=juicy-pink&size=lg&link=url%3Ahttps%253A%252F%252Fmissio.nz%252Fdonate%252F%7Ctitle%3ADONATE }}