Support the Missions

2024 Lenten Message from the Executive Director

This Lenten season, will you give the gift of freedom to a suffering person?

By making one special donation to The Society for the Propagation of the Faith, you can give that gift in two powerful ways today:

FIRST, you can give the gift of true spiritual freedom in Christ, because The Society for the Propagation of the Faith supports the proclamation of the Gospel and the building of churches along with mission priests, religious Sisters and Brothers, and lay pastoral leaders all over the world. Across massive swaths of Africa, Asia, and Oceania, countless people have yet to encounter Christ, but the Pope’s Missions are bringing these people to Him and the Church every day.

SECOND, you can also give a more temporal form of freedom by helping missionaries provide food, education, and medical care to suffering people. Through initiatives like the wheelchair project in Cambodia, we are even restoring mobility to people disabled by the scourge of war.

During Lent, as we commemorate the 40 days Jesus Christ spent fasting in the desert and enduring temptation by Satan, it’s important to remember the people in our mission territories who live in something of a “spiritual desert.” Many have endured unspeakable evil . . .

. . . and you can reach them with life-giving support and Christian witness by donating a special gift of $80, $150, $200, or another amount to The Society for the Propagation of the Faith.

Let me share with you about an area deep in the heart of war-torn Cambodia where there is a workshop on the side of a humble church where people whose bodies were scarred by war make wooden wheelchairs and give them away – for free – to men and women whose bodies were ravaged by landmines.

This is the powerful story of Jesuit Enrique “Quique” Figaredo, affectionately dubbed “the Bishop of the Wheelchairs” who heads a wheelchair project that during the past three decades has given away more than 30,000 wheelchairs.

“The Bishop of the Wheelchairs” Jesuit Enrique “Quique” Figaredo

His story is a testament to the profound difference that can be made in people’s lives when faith meets action. I wanted to share it with you because it’s such a powerful example of the kind of work you make possible through your support.

Bishop Enrique began working with the Cambodian refugees in 1985 following the devastating violence Pol Pot’s brutal regime inflicted on the population.

Impoverished Cambodians were left with deep emotional scars along with millions of landmines that dot the lush landscape. In response, Jesuits opened a mission and almost immediately began bringing wheelchairs to disabled people.

Thirty new churches have been built in three decades (serving about 75,000 Catholics today) with the vital support from the Society for the Propagation of the Faith.

Today, the wheelchair project employs 18 people — all of whom are amputees due to landmine injuries. They build an average of 100 chairs a week, selling a third of them to large organizations so they can give the rest to beneficiaries unable to cover the production costs (about $150). What a glorious example of faith in action!

You and I are called not only to abstain from luxuries during Lent, but to a true inner conversion of the heart as we seek to follow Christ’s will more faithfully. We know that people left maimed and disabled by war are close to God’s heart, and your contribution today will help bring them comfort, support, and the gospel.

Thank you for considering this heartfelt appeal on behalf of the Pope’s missionaries. May the peace and joy of Christ be with you as we prepare to celebrate the Lord’s Resurrection.

-Monsignor Terrance Fleming, Executive Director

@missionofficela
  • We wanted to share just a few highlights from the Religious Education Congress. We cant wait to see you next year! #mission #recongress #TPMS #RECongress #Lent #MissionOffice #PontificalMissionSocieties
  • Thank you to everyone that stoped by our booth at the RECongress. We hope those of you who came to listen to the missionary testimonies enjoyed the experience. It was lovely to see everyone that came by to spend some time with us. 

Gracias a todos los que pararon por nuestra mesa en el congresso. Esperamos hayan disfrutado de la experiencia de escuchar el testimonio de los misioneros. Fue muy agradable ver a todos.  #RECongress #TPMS #mission #recongress
  • "Through the desert God leads us to Freedom" this is the theme that Pope Francis calls on all of us to reflect. What is holding us back or down preventing us to have a fruitful relationship with God? Pope Francis tells us "God shapes his people, he enables us to leave our slavery behind and experience a Passover from death to life." #Lent #Mission #TPMS
  • Thank you to everyone stopping at our booth at the RECongress 2024 #RECongress #TPMS  Archdiocese of Los Angeles
  • Stop by our booth at RECongress to play the mission wheel or hear the testimony of missionaries. #recongress #mission #TPMS
  • Today we are keeping all of the youth from the Archdiocese of Los Angeles who are attending Youth Day. May they all know that God loves them and walks with them as they choose the path they will walk.
  • Today is the beginning of Lent. In the United States we also celebrate Valentines Day. We as Catholics are also remembering the great love that God has for us his children whom he invites to come with contrite hearts to Him. As we all embark on our Lenten journey let us know that God loves us.
  • The Religious Education Congress for the Archdiocese of Los Angeles will be this weekend, February 15-18, 2024. If you are attending stop by our booth (# 433 & 532) to say hi, learn more about the missions with our wheel of mission, take a picture, enter our raffle and get free Lent material in English and Spanish. #PontificalMissionSocieties #missionaries #MissionOffice #TPMS
We wanted to share just a few highlights from the Religious Education Congress. We cant wait to see you next year! #mission #recongress #TPMS #RECongress #Lent #MissionOffice #PontificalMissionSocieties
4 weeks ago
View on Instagram |
1/9
Thank you to everyone that stoped by our booth at the RECongress. We hope those of you who came to listen to the missionary testimonies enjoyed the experience. It was lovely to see everyone that came by to spend some time with us. 

Gracias a todos los que pararon por nuestra mesa en el congresso. Esperamos hayan disfrutado de la experiencia de escuchar el testimonio de los misioneros. Fue muy agradable ver a todos.  #RECongress #TPMS #mission #recongress
Thank you to everyone that stoped by our booth at the RECongress. We hope those of you who came to listen to the missionary testimonies enjoyed the experience. It was lovely to see everyone that came by to spend some time with us. 

Gracias a todos los que pararon por nuestra mesa en el congresso. Esperamos hayan disfrutado de la experiencia de escuchar el testimonio de los misioneros. Fue muy agradable ver a todos.  #RECongress #TPMS #mission #recongress
Thank you to everyone that stoped by our booth at the RECongress. We hope those of you who came to listen to the missionary testimonies enjoyed the experience. It was lovely to see everyone that came by to spend some time with us. 

Gracias a todos los que pararon por nuestra mesa en el congresso. Esperamos hayan disfrutado de la experiencia de escuchar el testimonio de los misioneros. Fue muy agradable ver a todos.  #RECongress #TPMS #mission #recongress
Thank you to everyone that stoped by our booth at the RECongress. We hope those of you who came to listen to the missionary testimonies enjoyed the experience. It was lovely to see everyone that came by to spend some time with us. 

Gracias a todos los que pararon por nuestra mesa en el congresso. Esperamos hayan disfrutado de la experiencia de escuchar el testimonio de los misioneros. Fue muy agradable ver a todos.  #RECongress #TPMS #mission #recongress
Thank you to everyone that stoped by our booth at the RECongress. We hope those of you who came to listen to the missionary testimonies enjoyed the experience. It was lovely to see everyone that came by to spend some time with us. 

Gracias a todos los que pararon por nuestra mesa en el congresso. Esperamos hayan disfrutado de la experiencia de escuchar el testimonio de los misioneros. Fue muy agradable ver a todos.  #RECongress #TPMS #mission #recongress
Thank you to everyone that stoped by our booth at the RECongress. We hope those of you who came to listen to the missionary testimonies enjoyed the experience. It was lovely to see everyone that came by to spend some time with us. 

Gracias a todos los que pararon por nuestra mesa en el congresso. Esperamos hayan disfrutado de la experiencia de escuchar el testimonio de los misioneros. Fue muy agradable ver a todos.  #RECongress #TPMS #mission #recongress
Thank you to everyone that stoped by our booth at the RECongress. We hope those of you who came to listen to the missionary testimonies enjoyed the experience. It was lovely to see everyone that came by to spend some time with us. 

Gracias a todos los que pararon por nuestra mesa en el congresso. Esperamos hayan disfrutado de la experiencia de escuchar el testimonio de los misioneros. Fue muy agradable ver a todos.  #RECongress #TPMS #mission #recongress
Thank you to everyone that stoped by our booth at the RECongress. We hope those of you who came to listen to the missionary testimonies enjoyed the experience. It was lovely to see everyone that came by to spend some time with us. 

Gracias a todos los que pararon por nuestra mesa en el congresso. Esperamos hayan disfrutado de la experiencia de escuchar el testimonio de los misioneros. Fue muy agradable ver a todos.  #RECongress #TPMS #mission #recongress
Thank you to everyone that stoped by our booth at the RECongress. We hope those of you who came to listen to the missionary testimonies enjoyed the experience. It was lovely to see everyone that came by to spend some time with us. 

Gracias a todos los que pararon por nuestra mesa en el congresso. Esperamos hayan disfrutado de la experiencia de escuchar el testimonio de los misioneros. Fue muy agradable ver a todos.  #RECongress #TPMS #mission #recongress
Thank you to everyone that stoped by our booth at the RECongress. We hope those of you who came to listen to the missionary testimonies enjoyed the experience. It was lovely to see everyone that came by to spend some time with us. 

Gracias a todos los que pararon por nuestra mesa en el congresso. Esperamos hayan disfrutado de la experiencia de escuchar el testimonio de los misioneros. Fue muy agradable ver a todos.  #RECongress #TPMS #mission #recongress
Thank you to everyone that stoped by our booth at the RECongress. We hope those of you who came to listen to the missionary testimonies enjoyed the experience. It was lovely to see everyone that came by to spend some time with us. Gracias a todos los que pararon por nuestra mesa en el congresso. Esperamos hayan disfrutado de la experiencia de escuchar el testimonio de los misioneros. Fue muy agradable ver a todos. #RECongress #TPMS #mission #recongress
4 weeks ago
View on Instagram |
2/9
"Through the desert God leads us to Freedom" this is the theme that Pope Francis calls on all of us to reflect. What is holding us back or down preventing us to have a fruitful relationship with God? Pope Francis tells us "God shapes his people, he enables us to leave our slavery behind and experience a Passover from death to life." #Lent #Mission #TPMS
"Through the desert God leads us to Freedom" this is the theme that Pope Francis calls on all of us to reflect. What is holding us back or down preventing us to have a fruitful relationship with God? Pope Francis tells us "God shapes his people, he enables us to leave our slavery behind and experience a Passover from death to life." #Lent #Mission #TPMS
4 weeks ago
View on Instagram |
3/9
Thank you to everyone stopping at our booth at the RECongress 2024 #RECongress #TPMS Archdiocese of Los Angeles
1 month ago
View on Instagram |
4/9
Stop by our booth at RECongress to play the mission wheel or hear the testimony of missionaries. #recongress #mission #TPMS
1 month ago
View on Instagram |
5/9
Today we are keeping all of the youth from the Archdiocese of Los Angeles who are attending Youth Day. May they all know that God loves them and walks with them as they choose the path they will walk.
Today we are keeping all of the youth from the Archdiocese of Los Angeles who are attending Youth Day. May they all know that God loves them and walks with them as they choose the path they will walk.
1 month ago
View on Instagram |
6/9
Today is the beginning of Lent. In the United States we also celebrate Valentines Day. We as Catholics are also remembering the great love that God has for us his children whom he invites to come with contrite hearts to Him. As we all embark on our Lenten journey let us know that God loves us.
Today is the beginning of Lent. In the United States we also celebrate Valentines Day. We as Catholics are also remembering the great love that God has for us his children whom he invites to come with contrite hearts to Him. As we all embark on our Lenten journey let us know that God loves us.
1 month ago
View on Instagram |
8/9
The Religious Education Congress for the Archdiocese of Los Angeles will be this weekend, February 15-18, 2024. If you are attending stop by our booth (# 433 & 532) to say hi, learn more about the missions with our wheel of mission, take a picture, enter our raffle and get free Lent material in English and Spanish. #PontificalMissionSocieties #missionaries #MissionOffice #TPMS
The Religious Education Congress for the Archdiocese of Los Angeles will be this weekend, February 15-18, 2024. If you are attending stop by our booth (# 433 & 532) to say hi, learn more about the missions with our wheel of mission, take a picture, enter our raffle and get free Lent material in English and Spanish. #PontificalMissionSocieties #missionaries #MissionOffice #TPMS
The Religious Education Congress for the Archdiocese of Los Angeles will be this weekend, February 15-18, 2024. If you are attending stop by our booth (# 433 & 532) to say hi, learn more about the missions with our wheel of mission, take a picture, enter our raffle and get free Lent material in English and Spanish. #PontificalMissionSocieties #missionaries #MissionOffice #TPMS
1 month ago
View on Instagram |
9/9