Projects

In the remote mountain village of Baan Thoet Thai, Thailand, just six miles from the border with Myanmar, PIME Missionary Fr. Paolo Salamone serves hundreds of vulnerable children and families facing overwhelming difficulties. As pastor of Holy Trinity and St. John Paul II Catholic Churches, Fr. Paolo provides spiritual leadership not only to his parish communities but also to people living in 25 surrounding villages. His ministry extends far beyond traditional pastoral care. Every day, he responds to the urgent educational, material, and emotional needs of families struggling with poverty, displacement, and the ongoing humanitarian crisis along the Thailand-Myanmar border. At the parish, Fr. Paolo operates a hostel that provides a safe home for nearly 70 children. About 30% of these children come from refugee or migrant families who have fled violence and instability in neighboring Myanmar. The hostel offers them security, care, access to education, faith formation, and the opportunity to build a brighter future. Aside from the children living in the hostel, more than 500 additional children in the surrounding villages depend on Fr. Paolo's support. These children receive assistance with educational expenses, school supplies, faith formation programs, and, in many cases, food and medical support for their families. For many, this assistance is the difference between a child staying in school or abandoning their education. In addition, the needs of Fr. Paolo’s mission have continued to grow since the 2021 military coup in Myanmar and the ongoing civil conflict. Thousands of families have been displaced from their homes crossing into Thailand seeking safety. Arriving with few possessions and limited resources, these refugee families face significant challenges as they attempt to rebuild their lives in an unfamiliar environment. Your contributions to this project help provide food, shelter, education, school supplies, faith formation programs, and medications for refugee children and low-income families. Your support will make a direct impact in sustaining and expanding Fr. Paolo’s life-changing ministry.

For years Pope Francis and the Iraqi Church have asked us for solidarity with our Iraqi Christian brothers and sisters, who have suffered the harsh persecution of Isis and have lost everything. In 2014 Asia News brought about the "Adopt a Christian from Mosul" campaign to stay close to them.  This movement has made it possible to meet the daily needs of Iraqi refugees who fled Mosul and the Nineveh Plains. Many of them still live in Kurdistan and cannot return to their homes. The local Church is caring for their social reintegration, which is difficult in a country that struggles to find peace and economic development amidst the Islamic State. Asia News invites readers and friends to continue supporting the "Adopt a Christian from Mosul" campaign to keep close our brothers and sisters who have suffered so much. 

PIME AsiaNews has launched a campaign to help families dealing with the toll of heavy monsoon rains that hit most of Pakistan recently and is still getting worse by the hour. Almost 70 percent of the country is struggling with the calamity. More than 1,200 people have lost their lives so far – thousands have been injured, more than 800,000 livestock have been washed away and a million homes have been destroyed. Such a picture of widespread devastation cannot leave AsiaNews indifferent. We have decided to expand the Pakistan fund – our active campaign in support of workers at Pakistani brick factories – in order to help the victims of the country’s latest calamity. 

PIME Missionary Fr. Paolo Ballan works in the Suihari Mission in Dinajpur, Bangladesh, a Christian community in a mainly Muslim area. His rural mission includes 48 villages and has about 4,800 parishioners. Most of the people in Suihari are of the ethnic Santal group or other ethnic tribes (Oraon, Mahali, Bormon). Fr. Paolo saw a great need for strengthening the catechists of his mission villages. With proper training and materials, they can assist and support area youth through their pastoral work. Many youth leave their villages for work or school so those that remain are often the weakest academically or otherwise disadvantaged. To respond to this need, Fr. Paolo created a 3-year project for strengthening and training catechists that requires $16,241 annually. Your assistance for this project will support the catechists in Suihari, helping them uplift the youth of Dinajpur.

PIME Missionary Fr. Danilo Fenaroli works in the Far North region of Cameroon in Africa, where water is a scarce and precious resource. In this region, water determines every aspect of life from agricultural production and health to development and productivity. Without a stable source of water, agriculture and livestock production depends on rainfall, which is seasonal and unreliable with no source for irrigation.  At certain times, rivers also dry up forcing women and children to travel great distances to obtain water of poor quality that impacts their health through parasites, infection, and disease; it is also time-consuming and unproductive. Lack of rainfall can lead to food shortages also impacting health.  To all of this, the threat of terrorism is added from the Boko Haram sect that spread fear and crisis in this area. In the past 3 years, the PIME US Mission Center and its supporters have funded 9 wells with Fr. Danilo for over $100,000! Wells have been dug in the villages of Zarmazougui, Ligasang, Mobono, Moudawa, Zouzoui, Mahai, Magada, Broui, and Barawa chef. Fr. Danilo has a list of over 40 villages in need of wells with a cost of $11,793 per well and the PIME U.S. Mission Center continues to support his efforts. Water in the Far North of Cameroon is life. Can you help Fr. Danilo provide this most basic need bringing life to the people in his communities?

PIME Missionary Fr. Ace Marbella Valdez works in the slums of São Paulo, Brazil, in an area known as “Comunidade Anchieta”. On the southern outskirts of the large city of São Paulo, this slum is made up of 5,000 people living in poverty in makeshift houses of waste wood and junk materials. Most people are barely able to provide enough food for their families during the month. Despite Brazil being a mainly Catholic country, most people in the Anchieta community haven’t received the sacraments of initiation (Baptism, Communion, and Confirmation). It is a context in which “primary evangelization” and basic Catechism is much needed, even for adults. A special place in the community is the São José de Anchieta Chapel, a small chapel in the slum where the faithful gather for Mass and prayer. The “Oratório São José de Anchieta” is an activity on Saturdays for children ages 6-12 next to the Chapel. Assisted by volunteers, Fr. Ace starts the day for the children with a moment of prayer in the chapel followed by a simple breakfast and then games, sports, and crafts. In addition, other volunteers go door to door visiting families in need providing them some basic food items. The day ends with a simple Catechism and a prayer. In 2024, Fr. Ace reached out to the PIME U.S. Mission Center for help of $5,556 to support these simple but deeply meaningful activities that enrich the life of his community. Thanks to direct contributions and 2024 Giving Tuesday donations of PIME USA supporters, the $5,556 was raised for Fr. Ace to bring Christ to the children of the Anchieta slums in 2025!    In addition, the project has been so successful, it has been extended for two more years (2026-2027). Support for $7,222 is needed annually to continue the activities of the Oratório. Can you help Fr. Ace and the volunteers to continue bringing Christ to the children of Ancheta in São Paulo?

Located in a remote rural area of Kampong Cham Diocese, Cambodia, Chomran Vicha Thama Pech High School serves 130 students from poor farming and laboring families who would otherwise struggle to access education. Many families face significant economic hardship, and without the school’s support, students are at risk of dropping out of school for factory work, manual labor, or early marriage. The school provides free education for Grades 10–12, offering young people the opportunity to gain knowledge, develop their skills, and build a better future for themselves and their communities. PIME Missionary Fr. Paul Sunil Babu Jangam, PIME, is the pastor responsible for Chomran Vicha Thama Pech High School and oversees the project, which needs $11,111 USD to fund a critical financial gap in their operating costs for the 2026-27 school year. Your support for this project will help provide teacher salaries, educational materials, and student development activities, ensuring that students and teachers can continue this vital educational ministry having a lasting impact on many lives.

Barreirinha is a city in Northern Brazil on the banks of the Amazon river. This is where PIME Missionary Fr. Gabriel Djata works at Our Lady of Good Help Parish. His parish includes many remote communities along the Amazon river, primarily consisting of Indigenous peoples on the peripheries with little to no income. Accessing these villages takes up to 14 hours in multiple boats. The costs associated with each trip, such as fuel, travel, food, and medications, limit the number of these visits. In 2025, Fr. Gabriel reached out the PIME U.S. Mission Center for annual support of $5,159 to bring the Gospel, the sacraments, spiritual care, and food to these marginalized communities. With your help, Fr. Gabriel aims to ensure all of God’s people, especially those who are the poorest, experience the love of Christ in their lives.

The economic crisis in Lebanon is putting the education system and the 100-year-old network of 330 Catholic schools at risk. In addition to providing an excellent educational (1 Lebanese child out of 5 studies in these schools), they are privileged meeting places for young Christians and Muslims removed from the sectarian tendencies that today are threatening the Land of Cedars. Operating costs, teachers' salaries, the rise in prices due to inflation, and the loss of their currency’s purchasing power are exhausting school resources and they are unable to bear the costs. For the first time, the problem of "early dropouts" has emerged strongly, fueled by two years of closures and distance learning linked to Covid-19. In response to this educational emergency at this difficult moment for Lebanon, PIME Asia News is launching a campaign to support Catholic schools and the education of Lebanese, Christian, and Muslim youth.

Our PIME US Mission Center has been supporting our PIME Missionaries in Myanmar with this Emergency Project since August of 2021. As the entire world was dealing with the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, the country of Myanmar suffered doubly when a military coup took place in February of 2021. Since that time, the civil war between the people and the government has continued. There are continued military bombings and conflicts; the people there live in a constant state of fear and are often forced to flee into the forest, leaving everything they have behind. And now, on March 28, 2025, another tragedy has occurred - a powerful 7.7 magnitude earthquake struck central Myanmar, which was followed by 6.4 aftershocks causing buildings to collapse, destruction of churches, and panic throughout the country and even into neighboring Thailand. Warnings were issued in China, Vietnam and Laos, where they also felt strong fluctuations in buildings – and it is feared that this earthquake may be one of the most devastating in modern times. The governments of Myanmar and Thailand have declared a state of emergency, and the people need your support and prayers in a new way. We once again turn to our friends to assist our brothers and sisters in Myanmar in their time of need. Can you continue to help bring Christ’s light to the darkness for the people of Myanmar who find themselves in yet another desperate situation?

The village of Tikem, situated in a rural area of Chad in the Diocese of Pala, faces significant challenges due to harsh climate and scarce resources. The local economy relies on subsistence agriculture and livestock, making it vulnerable to climate variations. Educational levels are low, and access to essential services is limited. The parish school in Tikem is a critical educational resource in an area with inadequate or scarce public options. It also fosters community amidst issues of poverty and limited opportunities for students. Fr. Luis Alberto Perez de la Cruz, a PIME Missionary and the pastor in Tikem, brings Christ to the people of the village through his ministry. He recently requested the assistance of the PIME U.S. Mission Center and its supporters to ensure education for the parish’s students with $5,556 for the 2025-2026 school year. This funding will allow him to create a conducive learning environment for 125 children, including hiring teachers and basic school materials such as pens and pencils, blackboards, and desks. Your help for this project will offer these underprivileged students an invaluable education that they would otherwise not receive.

Several of the PIME sisters in Cameroon work in Bibemi and Djalingo in the Garoua Diocese. The people of this area do not own any land. Instead they work the land belonging to the large landowners, and when the harvest comes in, the landowners claim the majority, leaving the people with very little.  The situation for women here is even more challenging, as they are completely dependent upon their husbands for every need and are viewed as property in light of dowries paid for marriage. While the Sisters work in education with the local women to help them find equality, changing the system is not always easy. Sr. Lucia Cavallo, MDI-PIME, and her follow PIME sisters have found an opportunity to create a project to help women fight social inequality and gain financial independence. By planting and owning their own peanut crops, these women can gain some financial stability and have a decision in the direction in the lives of their families. The project also has the added benefit of reducing local alcoholism, as instead of devoting time to making a local alcoholic beverage called ‘bil bil’, the women will be harvesting their crops.  Sr. Lucia’s plan requires $6,853 annually to rent a plot of land and a plow and provide the seed for planting peanuts. The women will plant and harvest the peanuts, storing their crops locally and selling them when prices are the highest. Your support of this project will help provide equality and independence and improve the quality of life of the women and girls in Bibemi and Djalingo.   

PIME Missionary Fr. Dowluri Suresh Kumar, or Fr. Bosco as he is known, is the pastor of Our Lady of Good Help Parish in Barreirinha in the Brazilian Amazon. His mission includes not just the river city of Barreirinha and its outskirts, but also the people who live on the riverbanks and in the Indigenous lands of the Sateré-mawé and Quilombola (Afro-descendant) ethnic groups. These communities live in extreme hardship, with their access to food and supplies becoming dependent on the Amazon River itself, where it becomes difficult for boats to come when the river shrinks during the dry season, and with houses built of wood that are flooded and, at times, washed away by the river in the rainy season. Father Bosco, with this vital ministry, provides some security to these needy families living in this unpredictable Amazon river region with food. With a budget of $8,333, he is able to provide food baskets with essential monthly supplies to numerous poor families for over six months.  Beyond addressing physical hunger, Fr. Bosco aims to bring spiritual comfort to the many souls entrusted to his care into 2026. Your contributions to this initiative shine a light of hope in these isolated communities and help support their struggling families.

The Far North region of Cameroon in Africa, as well as parts of neighboring Chad, has some of the harshest and poorest conditions on the continent. In 1997, PIME Missionary Fr. Danilo Fenaroli established the Bethlehem Foundation to assist the people in this region. The Crèche was established as a vital part of the Foundation in 2002 to care for the youngest and most vulnerable. The Crèche welcomes and cares for babies who have lost their mothers in childbirth, hosts sick children, and provides food to malnourished children 24 hours a day 7 days a week. Aside from nurses and aides, The Crèche also has social workers who keep in touch with the families of the babies to return them to their relatives or extended families at the age of 2 or 3. Ornella Gregori is a PIME Lay Missionary working in The Crèche. She tells us how every day is a challenge to keep the children healthy and well-fed. PIME U.S. donors have generously supported The Crèche since 2021, beginning with just milk. PIME U.S. supporters continue to support the ongoing and broader nutritional needs of these little ones of $33,203 annually from 2026-2028.  Can you help the most precious and vulnerable in need of basic sustenance and a head start in life?  

Bishop Davide Carraro, a PIME missionary was appointed Bishop of Oran, Algeria, in late 2023, and oversees the Pierre Claverie Centre, the most important Catholic center in his diocese. The Center, where Blessed Pierre Claverie is buried, plays an important role in fostering interreligious and intercultural dialogue. To strengthen its mission, Bishop Carraro requested support from the PIME U.S. Mission Center, as $5,556 is needed annually to host and accommodate visitors such as church members, migrants, travelers, and Sub-Saharan students.  In 2026, and additional project for $9,444 will support commemorative events within the “Year of Pierre Claverie – Living Together and in Peace”, marking the 30th anniversary of the martyrdom of Blessed Pierre Claverie, Bishop of Oran. Blessed Pierre Claverie was assassinated on August 1, 1996, during Algeria’s decade of terrorism, together with Mohammed, his Muslim driver. Their shared death stands as a lasting symbol of Christian–Muslim friendship and commitment to peace. This anniversary is especially significant in Algeria, where 99.9% of the population is Muslim and the Catholic community represents less than 0.01% of the population. The project aims to renew the Christian community, preserve the Church’s recent historical memory, and strengthen bonds of friendship and interreligious dialogue with the wider Algerian population.  The Pierre Claverie Center promotes fraternity and harmony between those of different generations and cultures, among different Christian denominations, between Christians and Muslims, and among those of different social classes. Through a message of the love that dwells in us all, all are welcomed at the Center. Your support for this project will promote unity among people and religions in Algeria at a time when it is most needed.

The Religious Institute of the Franciscan Sisters of St. Joseph (Hermanas Franciscanas de San José) was founded in Mexico City in 1946 by Mother Maria de San Jose Vera Mancilla. In Mexico, the sisters serve in seminaries, have started missions in some Mexican states, and care for the needy. The sisters also have a long history and many ties with the PIME missionaries in the U.S. The sisters served for years at PIME’s various U.S. locations: in the 1960s in Oakland, N.J., in the 1960s-90s in Newark, OH, and from the 1980s-2000 in Detroit. In the 1990s, they also helped Fr. Luigi Maggioni and Fr. Steve Baumbusch set up PIME’s mission in Mexico in the Archdiocese of Acapulco, Guerrero. PIME Missionary Fr. Bruno Piccolo also worked with the sisters for many years and has kept in touch with them since they left. In 2023 several sisters celebrated their Silver Jubilee, and Fr. Bruno and PIME U.S. Mission Center Director Fr. Daniele Criscione were their guests for the celebration. Recently the sisters’ General Superior, Sr. Celiflora Gonzalez, reached out to the PIME U.S. Mission Center in need. Sister Celiflora presented a project for $11,111 to support the elderly sisters of their congregation with healthcare expenses, including medicine and food. Your support for this project will help the sisters who are now in need and who for so many years served PIME’s U.S. family in so many ways

After the country’s independence in 1960, the capital of Cameroon, Yaoundé, experienced a huge expansion that included the arrival of people of different ethnicities from all over the country. Today the city of over 4 million has the problems of a large city such as overpopulation, uncontrolled expansion of poor neighborhoods lacking infrastructure, distinct class lines, unchecked influx of people coming from rural areas, and immigrants coming in from over the border. The parish of Ntem-a-si, where the PIME missionaries began their pastoral work in November 2005, is also one of the very poor neighborhoods of the capital. This is where PIME Missionary Fr. Fabio Bianchi works and lives among the people bringing Christ closer to them. Located on the slopes of a hill, this large district is mainly made up of dilapidated houses of both wood and earth. Unemployment, a poor standard of living, and lack of access to healthcare in this area are especially high for the most vulnerable, that is, women and children. In addition, infant mortality remains high and malaria is ever-present.  In 2023 & 2024, Fr. Bianchi completed a two-year project for the healthcare needs of the women and children of his mission with the PIME U.S. Mission Center.  He was grateful to our PIME U.S. donors who supported this project through direct donations and PIME’s MDP Medical Fund for $33,323.  In 2025, Fr. Bianchi made a new request for the help of the U.S. PIME Mission Center and its supporters for $17,338 annually for 3 years (2025-27).  Working together with the skilled personnel of the PIME Sisters dispensary in Yaoundé and with your help, Fr. Bianchi will continue to help the vulnerable poor of his mission to continue to have access to healthcare in 2025-27. Your support for this project brings the healing touch of Christ to the children and their mothers in need in Yaoundé.  

Bangladesh is one of the poorest countries in the world with an extremely precarious national healthcare system. Public institutions are becoming more and more private, excluding the weakest segments of the population. The consequence is that healthcare is a privilege of the few while most of the population is excluded from the most basic services. PIME’s missionaries in Bangladesh have operated the Assistance Center for the Sick for years, recently moving it within the compound of the PIME House in Dhaka.  In 2022 they took care of over 1,000 patients and hope to increase the care they provide each year.  The PIME Missionaries in Bangladesh needs annual support of $8,138 to help poor patients with their health options locally or at central hospitals, including expensive procedures and testing. Can you help provide basic care for the vulnerable and sick in Dhaka?

Radio Sol Mansi (RSM) is a Catholic radio station in Guinea-Bissau, Africa, founded by PIME Missionary Fr. Davide Sciocco in 2001.  What began as a community radio station in Mansoa has grown and is currently heard by many Catholics and those of other religions, especially Muslims, across the country, even in remote areas. From the beginning, Radio Sol Mansi has often been the "first missionary" arriving in the homes and villages of many Guineans. Aside from social outreach, music, and sports, the station’s news is considered one of the most reliable in the nation. Its programming also includes education on human rights, women's issues, children's rights, health, protection of the environment, drug use prevention, juvenile delinquency, peace education, as well as religion. Education for peace and the development of interreligious dialogue is fundamental to RSM.    In 2024, PIME’s U.S. supporters helped Fr. Davide and Radio Sol Mansi with $12,043 to implement human trafficking and drug use prevention programs as well as for much needed equipment.  In 2026, the station needs $16,667 for the production of educational programs and awareness campaigns; training journalists and correspondents; strengthening technology (computers and improving transmission quality) and broadening the reach and impact of messages of peace, tolerance, and civic participation across the country. Your support of this project will help Radio Sol Mansi promote the mission of Catholic radio through peace and interreligious dialogue throughout Guinea-Bissau.

The city of Tozeur, Tunisia, is located on the border with the Sahara Desert. Since 1990, it had centered its local economy on tourists flocking to the famous desert. In 2011, this business stream was brought to an abrupt halt, permanently and negatively affecting the people of this area. The unemployment rate in the Tozeur region is the highest in Tunisia, with young people now being particularly impacted. Just north of the city of Tozeur, in the Rass Edhraa District, there is a high concentration of young people growing up with few prospects of future employment opportunities. According to national statistics, more than 100,000 students drop out of the school system each year. Here PIME Brother Marco Monti works with the NGO New Humanity,  which has partnered with a local educational support center to welcome 150 students per year and provide them with multidisciplinary educational and vocational activities.  In 2024 and 2025, PIME U.S. donors supported Brother Marco’s request for $16,667 to support the scope of this program, designed to keep youth in school and off the streets.  This assistance ensured proper resources for 181 kids welcomed into this program, expanding their horizons and educational possibilities. The program was so successful it has been renewed for 2026 for $26,874. Will you give the youth of the Rass Edhraa District the opportunity for a brighter future?

PIME Missionary Fr. Simone Caelli works in Parañaque in the Philippines in the parish of Mary Queen of Apostles, the same parish in which American missionary Fr. Steve Baumbusch worked during his years in the country. The parish extends over two cities (Parañaque and Las Pinas) and has about 150,000 inhabitants. Fr. Simone explains it is difficult to calculate exactly how many people are in the area as it is a mix of illegally occupied land managed by the government, squatters who set up makeshift homes in a slum, an area with large depots of transport companies, as well as some middle-class homes.  Unfortunately, corruption in the Philippines is widespread and the wealth disparity is huge between the ultra-rich, or “dynasties” as they are known, and the poor. This hugely limits economic opportunities, especially for the Filipino youth. Fr. Simone notes one way out of this vicious circle is through education, and a university education dramatically increases the chances of students finding a good job in the Philippines or abroad. It also improves the situation of the whole family and the local community in general. In 2024, Fr. Simone reached out to the PIME U.S. Mission Center and its supporters for help with a project to support the higher education of students in his parish, all of whom come from disadvantaged families. His project needs $8,917 USD per year for 4 years (2024-2028) to help 10 young people from 19-24 years of age with their higher education. Aside from helping them with fees, university reporting, materials, clothing, and teaching tools, he will also offer them spiritual training and space for study, as their homes are often inadequate. These 10 students are studying varied careers such as Tourism, Hotel Management, Criminology, Psychology, Information Technology/Systems, Culinary Arts, and Hospitality Management. Your support for this project can break the cycle of poverty, helping these young people find opportunity and a brighter future.

For nearly 170 years, PIME has served the people of northeastern Bangladesh in the Diocese of Dinajpur, building a lasting presence among some of the region’s most vulnerable communities. For the past 28 years, PIME missionary Fr. Fabrizio Calegari has worked alongside local families, particularly among poor and often marginalized tribal populations who face social discrimination and limited opportunities. In addition to his missionary responsibilities, Fr. Fabrizio has played a key role in supporting the Diocesan Youth Commission, helping to strengthen faith formation, leadership development, and community engagement among young people. This work is especially important in a region where Christian communities are scattered across remote villages and access to ongoing spiritual and educational formation can be limited. Recognizing the need to strengthen the identity, faith, and prospects of young people in northeastern Bangladesh, Fr. Fabrizio launched a comprehensive youth development program for 2023–2025, serving about 2,000 youth ages 16 through university. Supported by the PIME U.S. Mission Center and dedicated donors, the initiative provided human, social, and Christian formation through leadership training, health education, recreational activities, community celebrations, and ongoing outreach. A key feature of the program is We Together, a bi-monthly magazine with a circulation of approximately 1,700 copies that shares inspiring stories of local role models, faith-based reflections, practical life advice, and youth successes. Complemented by a strong social media presence, the program helps young people build confidence, develop leadership skills, and cultivate a strong sense of identity and belonging. Approved again for 2026 with a budget of $14,170, this project will continue empowering vulnerable youth to become resilient, well-rounded leaders capable of creating a brighter future for themselves and their communities. Your support for this project will help these young people through 2026 and beyond.    

The MDP Medical Fund supports the medical needs of the most vulnerable in PIME’s missions. These needs vary from assisting those suffering with Hansen’s disease (leprosy), tuberculosis, malaria, malnutrition, and AIDs/HIV to providing hospital equipment, medicines, nutritious food, and clean water. The MDP Medical Fund brings the mercy and the healing touch of Jesus to the sick, the burdened, and the poor. Funding through the MDP Medical Fund provides care to the most vulnerable would otherwise not receive it. We thank all our supporters who contribute to this fund on a one-time or ongoing basis.  Many donors give monthly, semiannually, or annually sustaining this life-giving fund.  Thanks to our supporters the healing touch of Jesus is felt by those suffering on the margins, sharing the comforting presence of His love with others.

Sr. Roberta Pignone is a Missionary Sister of the Immaculate (PIME Sister) and a medical doctor. She works amid the poor in the slums of the Diocese of Khulna in Bangladesh treating those who come seeking help, especially those with leprosy and TB. Sr. Roberta is not only the director of the 33-bed Damien Hospital, but she is the only doctor on staff and also oversees 3 clinics and 15 TB control centers. In addition, Sr. Roberta and the PIME sisters in Khulna are involved in intensive outreach efforts where the poorest and most vulnerable in their area are - in the slums around them. They crisscross the streets of Khulna to educate people and treat those at highest risk for spreading these diseases. They visit areas such as factory or mill sleeping quarters and rickshaw garages known to be pockets of disease. Venturing onto the streets and into the slum villages, Sr. Roberta and her team show graphics alerting the local people as to what the disease symptoms might look like while also using a loudspeaker to broadcast information from their van. In 34 years of their work here they have treated over 4,800 leprosy patients in the Khulna metropolitan area, and they have helped 6,795 TB patients since 2001. The goals of their leprosy program are the detection and treatment of undiscovered cases, prevention, ulcer reduction, and social rehabilitation. For TB they expect to detect at least 70% of new cases while curing 85% of them. Their ultimate goal is to create greater awareness of these diseases among the general population and to remove the stigma associated with them. Not only does Sr. Roberta’s work keep these infectious diseases under control but she provides physical and emotional healing to the suffering.  Since 2021, PIME USA supporters have helped Sr. Roberta stock a new dispensary with medications for her TB and leprosy patients, helping her to raise the amount that was so desperately needed. Sister Roberta and especially her patients are grateful to their PIME USA supporters for this life-saving help.  In order to maintain this vital assistance to the most vulnerable, Sister Roberta’s dispensaries continue to need annual assistance of $11,000.  Sr. Roberta and the PIME sisters in Bangladesh bring healing, hope, and love to the suffering in some of the most deprived areas of the country. Can you help Sr. Roberta provide healing and bring the mercy of Christ to the sick?   

Guinea-Bissau’s health system faces severe limitations, reflected in persistently high maternal and infant mortality. Although the infant mortality rate has declined in recent years, it still has the highest rate compared to similar countries. Isolated areas are particularly affected leading to dangerous delays in accessing care.  PIME Missionary Fr. Stephen Khu Du helps to coordinate the Mothers’ Home clinic in Bafatá, which is committed to providing care to reduce maternal and infant mortality. Recently, with the help of PIME U.S. Supporters, the PIME U.S. Mission Center was able to fund a similar project on the west side of the country, in São Domingos. Mothers’ Home provides comprehensive, preventive care for pregnant women, new mothers, and newborns by offering medical staff, screenings, nutritious meals, hygiene supplies, medicines, and health education. Fr. Stephen needs $25,677 to continue supporting the health and wellbeing of the mothers and infants in Bafatá. Will you provide life-saving care to mothers and babies in Guinea-Bissau?

After the COVID-19 pandemic hit in 2020, Myanmar experienced a military coup in February of 2021. Both events have brought the country conflict and suffering with economic instability, strikes, civil conflict, and unrest over the past few years. In addition as of May 2024, the United Nations estimates over 3 million individuals have been displaced. When schools in Myanmar reopened after the pandemic, only an estimated 10% of eligible students returned to classes. Thousands of teachers joined civil disobedience movements and did not return to school. Before the pandemic, education in Myanmar was very neglected, and compulsory schooling was only until the age of 10. The civil strife of the past few years has dismantled an already precarious education system. Loikaw in the eastern part of Kayah State has been the site of especially intense fighting with an estimated 200,000 or more residents leaving their homes. Many Karenni tribal Catholics in this area have become internally displaced, going in search of safer places. Thousands of displaced individuals arrive daily in Taunggyi City, where the NGO New Humanity International is located. With the influx of displaced families in Taunggyi City, New Humanity together with several other NGOs have set up a primary school to receive displaced children. The educational approach combines the study of the traditional Burmese curriculum with the organization of workshops and group activities, overseen by a psychologist. This approach addresses the dual need of filling an educational void that has persisted for several years and supporting children from a psychological perspective. The project the children have named “Our School” in honor of their education and a peaceful childhood will support 350 children from 5 to 15 years old with annual support of $39,319 USD. Your support of this project will help ease the pain of the ongoing traumatic experiences in Myanmar and provide some stability for learning amidst the challenges the country continues to face.

The PIME Mission Development Projects (MDP) General Fund supports mission projects in the 20 countries where PIME is present. This fund assists with all types of needs – social development, education and training, transportation and technology, emergency disaster aid, and pastoral projects, among others. Projects supported by this fund fall under the category of greatest need and are especially essential for our missionaries. The mission cannot operate without vehicles or transportation, equipment, fuel, staffing/salaries, repairs and expansions of chapels and buildings, Catechism, pastoral materials, utilities, and even computers. These are all a necessary part of the work the PIME fathers, brothers, and sisters carry out daily in their missions but many of these projects lack funding. The MDP Projects General Fund allows PIME to fund these essential needs so the work in the missions continues smoothly.     We are especially blessed by those who help our missionaries in solidarity as friends of the poor through this fund, assisting wherever the need is greatest.  

PIME works in Mumbai, India, in an area next to a garbage dump where the people have settled into makeshift housing without basic services. Many of the people here pick through the garbage salvaging what they can to survive. Children roam aimlessly in unhygienic surroundings – because only 30% of children in Mumbai slums have access to pre-primary education. The children of the area are vulnerable and lack basic health, hygiene, and education. This project aims at breaking the cycle of poverty by targeting the youngest children in Pre-K with quality education/academics, sports, and education on values. His program will enhance academic performance and the skills needed for primary education and beyond, boost self-confidence, reduce dropout rates and positively affect families and the community.  Thanks to funding of $16,667 from PIME’s 2023 Serata supporters, 117 children received Pre-K education in two educational centers in the year. The program had a huge impact on these young children in the slum who would not have had this opportunity without your help. Our team continues to support these children with a 3-year project (2025-2027) to provide these children an advantage through Pre-K education. The project for the 2024-2025 school year is for $17,196. Can you help Fr. Mateus provide a way out of poverty for the smallest students in the Mumbai slums?  

The Dhanjuri Leprosy Control Center needs assistance in the treatment, care and therapy of patients. This Center is a charitable program of the Catholic Church of the Dinajpur Diocese in Bangladesh. It aims for full implementation of multi-drug therapy service in partnership with the government and covers 13 sub-districts of Dinajpur, areas known as the highest leprosy endemic of Bangladesh.  Activities at the Center include case detection through the information program, house to house visits and absentee tracing, treatment of all patients, prevention of deformity (P.O.D.), community based rehabilitation, education for both patient and the public and staff development training.  Thanks to the help of PIME USA donors, those with leprosy in Dinajpur have been helped over the past few years.  The clinic continues to need annual support of $5,555 for the coming three years (2023-25). With your help, the leprosy patients of Dinajpur will continue to receive the healthcare they need for years to come.  

The parish of Sao Joaquim do Pacui in Macapá is home to subsistent farmers who earn about R$1300,00 ($350.00) per month. They live off the land and protect the forest from threats posed by agribusiness and lumber companies. The community struggles to support the parish due to financial constraints and lacks the resources to maintain its spaces. The pastoral center is in disrepair and the recent collapse of the center's roof has made the project even more challenging for the people to rebuild and renovate the much-needed space.  The parish’s Deacon, Deacon Gilson Dos Santos, has prepared a plan for the renovation that requires $20,078.  Your support for this project will help the community rebuild the parish pastoral center so they may continue to hold religious education for all levels and social meetings and gatherings in building their faith community.

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Founded in 1995 in Phrae, Thailand, the St. Joseph Center was established through the collaborative efforts of PIME missionaries and volunteers. The Center is dedicated to supporting children and young people with disabilities by providing education, rehabilitation, and developmental opportunities that promote independence and social inclusion. Serving children from Phrae and the surrounding provinces, it offers a range of programs, including school integration, physical therapy, music, English language instruction, recreational activities, and home-based rehabilitation services. The Center also advocates for the rights and inclusion of people with disabilities, working to address the social stigma and marginalization they often face in Thai society. St. Joseph Center Director and PIME Missionary, Fr. Prasanth Kumar Gunja, requested the support of the PIME U.S. Mission Center and its supporters for a $25,744  medical and educational project to assist the Center’s 45 children and 15 young adults for 2026-2027. Major expenses include physical therapy staff, medical supplies, facility renovations, utilities, and food. Your assistance will help provide specialized education, rehabilitation, and developmental programs assisting the Center’s disabled children and youth to become independent, confident, and with a greater sense of belonging within their communities.

Sr. Roberta Pignone is a Missionary Sister of the Immaculate (PIME Sister) and a medical doctor. She works amid the poor in the slums of the Diocese of Khulna in Bangladesh treating those in need of medical help, especially those suffering from leprosy and tuberculosis (TB). Sr. Roberta is not only the director of the 33-bed Damien Hospital, but she is the only doctor on staff and also oversees 3 clinics and 15 TB control centers. In addition, Sr. Roberta and the PIME sisters in Khulna are involved in intensive outreach efforts where the poorest and most vulnerable in their area are - in the slums around them. They crisscross the streets of Khulna to educate people and treat those at highest risk for spreading these diseases. They visit areas such as factory or mill sleeping quarters and rickshaw garages known to be pockets of disease. Venturing onto the streets and into the slum villages, Sr. Roberta and her team show graphics alerting the local people as to what the disease symptoms might look like while also using a loudspeaker to broadcast information from their van. In 34 years of their work here they have treated over 4,800 leprosy patients in the Khulna metropolitan area, and they have helped 6,795 TB patients since 2001. The goals of their leprosy program are the detection and treatment of undiscovered cases, prevention, ulcer reduction, and social rehabilitation. For TB they expect to detect at least 70% of new cases while curing 85% of them. Their ultimate goal is to create greater awareness of these diseases among the general population and to remove the stigma associated with them. Not only does Sr. Roberta’s work keep these infectious diseases under control but she provides physical and emotional healing to the suffering. Your support for the 2024 PIME Serata will assist Sr. Roberta in bringing health, hope, and love to those suffering in some of the most deprived areas of Bangladesh.

PIME Missionary and Treasurer of the Apostolic Vicariate of Mongo in Chad, Brother Fabio Mussi, witnessed the humanitarian emergency that exploded in the African country of Chad firsthand when the civil war in Sudan caused an influx of refugees to turn into a crisis in April of 2023. Since then, more than 844,000 Sudanese refugees and 220,000 Chadian returnees have crossed into Chad, most of them women, children, and the elderly. Overall, a total of 1.2 million forcibly displaced people have taken shelter in Eastern Chad. Since the crisis started, Brother Fabio has been involved in assisting the most vulnerable, especially refugee and indigenous women and their families. During the initial emergency relief efforts, he noticed that the women themselves had begun small, makeshift vegetable gardens. Following their lead, earlier in 2025, Brother Fabio began a pilot project to help the women grow vegetables for their families and to sell in markets. This new project provided these women with many tools they would need: seeds, fencing, a plant nursery, and, most importantly, the building of agricultural wells with motor pumps to provide the water needed in this desert area. Early results have positively impacted the lives of the women and their families in so many ways: they have become more independent of humanitarian aid, have nutritious food for their own improved health, and, when selling some of their produce, it provides an income for other needs (medicine, clothes, etc.). Equally important, they have begun to recover their dignity - becoming productive workers rather than aid recipients. The goal is now to expand this project and help these women find a path to resilience in the midst of this ongoing crisis. With your help, Brother Fabio can continue to move forward with plans to widen the impact of this agricultural project in 2026. Your support for this project through our PIME 2025 Serata will provide hope for these women and their families at the time of their greatest need.

Fr. Paulo Aparecido de Amorim now serves in the PIME Mission in Ayutla de los Libres - a mission that is spread between an urban and rural context, in the highlands outside Acapulco. Families in this mission are dispersed between the city and several remote villages; neither has many resources. Following the impact of Hurricane Erick on this area, the people of the PIME Mission in Ayutla de los Libres are more in need of basic aid than ever. Fr. Paulo is working to furnish a food pantry here at St. James Parish to address these needs.Fr. Paulo is asking for the help of PIME U.S. Supporters to provide $5,556 USD to set up this pantry with equipment, shelving, a refrigerator, and food staples. The devastation brought by last year's hurricane has had a lasting effect on this area of the world. Will you help the people of Ayutla de los Libres in their time of greatest need?  

In 1995, the St. Joseph Center was established in Phrae, Thailand, through a collaboration of PIME volunteers and missionaries. The Center provides support, education, and resources for children and young people with disabilities, seeking to foster their autonomy and integration into society. It assists children from Phrae and nearby provinces, and engages them in activities such as school integration, physical therapy, music, English, and recreation, as well as offering home rehabilitation services. The Center also focuses on raising awareness about the rights and inclusion of individuals with disabilities, who are often marginalized or stigmatized in Thai society. PIME Missionary Fr. Maurizio Arioldi works with the children of the St. Joseph Center and recently let us know of repairs needed in order for their buildings to comply with the Thai government's regulations on facilities for minors. The main repairs are to the coverings in the exterior halls of three buildings. Fr. Maurizio asked the PIME U.S. Mission Center and its supporters for help of $11,090 to make these needed repairs. Your assistance will help Fr. Maurizio ensure that these disabled children in Thailand continue to have a safe place for their education and integration into society.

In 1995, the St. Joseph Center in Phrae, Thailand, was created in collaboration with PIME volunteers and missionaries. The Center works to ensure reception, support, and education for children and young people with disabilities to make them as autonomous and integrated into society as possible. Children from different areas of the province of Phrae and the surrounding provinces are hosted at the facility for activities that include school integration and/or accompaniment, physical therapy, music, English language, and recreation.  Home rehabilitation services are also offered.  PIME Missionary Fr. Maurizio Arioldi works with the children at the St. Joseph Center and let us know about a recent flood that damaged a building the children use as an education laboratory.  After inspection of the damage, he was informed the building doesn’t have a stable foundation and is at risk of collapsing.  He turned to the PIME Mission Center for help to make the repairs for $5,752 USD.  Your assistance can help Fr. Maurizio ensure that these disabled children in Thailand continue to have a safe place for their education and integration into society.

St. Joseph Parish in the village of Kdol Leu is located on the banks of the Mekong River in the center of Cambodia. PIME Missionary Fr. Alessandro Motti works in this historic, 100-year-old community among a group of 100-150 Christians. In this mainly Buddhist country, the parish has also opened two presences nearby as a work of first evangelization where there are no Christian communities yet. St. Joseph is an active parish with about 50 children who come to the parish's Kindergarten from the nearby villages.  It is the only Kindergarten in the village, and most of the children are from rural, disadvantaged homes. Their 2-room school has teachers and a cook to provide them with instruction and nutritious food. With the growth of the Kindergarten, its teachers struggle to find an adequate space for organization.  Fr. Alessandro reached out to the PIME U.S. Mission Center and its supporters for help with a project of $5,556 to create a space so their teachers can prepare classes, meet with parents, and store their supplies. Your support for this project will help the Kindergarteners at St. Joseph in Kdol Leu to learn in the best environment.    

On June 19, 2025, Hurricane Erick (a Category Four hurricane) struck the PIME Mission in La Concordia, causing extensive damage to homes, roads, infrastructure, and livelihoods. PIME Missionary Fr. Castrese Aleandro serves this mission in the highlands outside of Acapulco, in Mexico – an isolated and already vulnerable area. Visiting La Concordia just 10 days after the hurricane hit, PIME U.S. Mission Center Director, Fr. Daniele Criscione, witnessed much of the destruction. Fr. Castrese has requested the assistance of PIME U.S. Supporters for $5,556 USD to help these communities - five were hit especially hard and are still in need of basic supplies and care. Many in the community need extensive, ongoing support. Will you help the people of La Concordia to recover from this disaster?

Barreirinha, is a municipality in the interior of the state of Amazonas, located in the remote micro-region of the city of Parintins, along the Amazon River in Brazil. This region is composed of Indigenous families and communities living in a dire state of poverty with houses built of wood that are flooded and washed away by the river during the rainy season.  Due to the lack of employment and other social and economic difficulties in this area, created by its isolated location, members of the community are extremely needy with low resources. With this project of $6,444, PIME Missionary Fr. Suresh Kumar Dowluri, or Fr. Bosco as he is known, will support the Sisters of Mother Teresa (Missionaries of Charity) with the work they have been doing for nearly 25 years in this mission - feeding underprivileged children five days a week at their Soup Kitchen.The goal will be to feed, to bring hope, and to create moments of joy for 1,350 children and their families each month. 

PIME Missionary Fr. Suresh Kumar Dowluri, or Fr. Bosco as he is known, is the pastor of Our Lady of the Angels Parish in the southern outskirts of São Paulo.  The area around Our Lady of the Angels is occupied by ever-growing slums or “favelas” with many living in extreme poverty without sewage, water, or electricity. Early in 2023, Fr. Bosco asked the PIME Mission Center for help in providing food baskets to the needy of his parish.  Thanks to your direct contributions and through the support of our 2023 Tastes of Italy event,  $7,778 was raised for Fr. Bosco to purchase basic necessities and deliver food baskets to the poor in the favelas.  In October 2023, Fr. Bosco completed the project delivering food baskets to a total of 552 families, rotating the selection over 8 months so that everyone in the parish could receive food. Fr. Bosco and the community of Our Lady of the Angels thank all their PIME U.S. supporters who helped in this act of charity, love, and sharing.   Fr. Ace Marbella Valdez has taken over as Pastor of Our Lady of Angels parish and needs further assistance of $10,000 to continue food deliveries throughout 2024.  He also continue Fr. Bosco's work to increase the number of families helped. Your support for this ministry will be a blessing to the neediest among us.  

The Bibemi Medical Dispensary is a health center that distributes medications in rural areas that do not have access to hospitals or other healthcare services. The Missionary Sisters of the Immaculate (PIME Sisters) manage the dispensary, which is located in the interior of the North of Cameroon. The closest city, Garoua, is 50 miles away, making the dispensary in Bibemi the only healthcare option for a geographically isolated agricultural population. Many here do not eat if the harvest is bad, and they can never afford the necessary medical treatments - which are often provided only at exorbitant, Western prices. Eye diseases are especially prevalent in Africa due to excessive sun exposure, a common problem for farmers and other day laborers. Recent studies have shown that glaucoma - a disease that eventually leads to blindness - affects Africans more than any other population in the world.  Sr. Vinija Nirrapel, MDI, of the Bibemi Medical Dispensary needs $13,182 to purchase a tonometer, a device to measure eye pressure for comprehensive eye examinations. These examinations will help to prevent premature blindness and provide proper eye care to the people of this area. Will you help Sr. Vinija equip the Bibemi Medical Dispensary and prevent blindness for these vulnerable people?

PIME Sister Chiara Colombo works in Port Moresby in Papua New Guinea at a hostel for girls opened there in 2010. The sisters help guide the girls, providing them with formation and support as they attend school away from their families. As the country's capital, Port Moresby has some big city problems including overcrowding, poverty, unemployment, and increased crime. Recently the hostel was the object of small acts of incursion by outsiders who broke through their fence. Not only did this threaten the security of the sisters and girls, but it damaged the fence itself. In addition, the street that overlooks the entrance to the hostel becomes unsafe at night and the sisters need to increase their security and that of the girls they watch over. So Sr. Chiara turned to the PIME U.S. Mission Center and its supporters to help by providing $6,667 USD to assist in replacing and building up the perimeter fence to keep all of them safe inside. Your help for this project will bring safety to the sisters and girls in Port Moresby so they may continue their path in following their formation in Christ.

Sr. Benedetta Nya Moe is one of the Sisters of Charity of the Maria Bambina Congregation in Hsipaw in the Lashio Diocese, Myanmar.  The Sisters of Charity here have been serving the education of disadvantaged children in this rural area for many years. Every year the number of children is growing in their boarding school for girls. It is the only place where girls from this area are welcomed and assisted. With limited space and a growing number of students, Sr. Benedetta needs to improve the kitchen in the convent compound, which is in disrepair and unsafe.  Sister is requesting $7,778 from the PIME Mission Center to complete the kitchen renovation project.  Your support for this project will help Sr. Benedetta and the sisters better serve the girls in their care in rural Hsipaw, Myanmar. 

Guinea-Bissau’s health system faces severe limitations, reflected in persistently high maternal and infant mortality. Rural and island regions are particularly affected due to weak infrastructure, long travel distances, and limited capacity to manage high‑risk pregnancies, leading to dangerous delays in accessing care.  PIME Missionary Fr. Ranjith Kumar Penta Reddy serves the people of São Domingos through Mothers’ Home, a local clinic dedicated to reducing maternal and infant mortality. The Home’s program provides comprehensive, preventive care for pregnant women, new mothers, and newborns by offering medical staff, screenings, nutritious meals, hygiene supplies, medicines, and health education. This project needs $25,677 to continue supporting the health and wellbeing of the mothers and infants in São Domingos in 2026. Your support for this project will help reduce the mortality rate of the most vulnerable in Guinea Bissau.

In 1934, Fr. Soichi Iwashita established the Shinsei-kaikan (“Truth” and “Light”) Center in Tokyo originally as a dormitory for young people rooted in Christian spirit and values. In January 2022, the Shinsei-kaikan Center became a Foundation for promoting well-being in Japanese society and is open to all seeking meaning or struggling with various burdens in Japan’s complex society. The competitive nature of the Japanese economy and dependence on lengthy education have led to a hollowing out of the human spirit and to suffering, especially among the youth. Problems include a rise in depression, suicide attempts, a weakening of family ties, school dropouts, family violence, hikikomori (a form of severe social withdrawal), and bullying. The Shinsei-kaikan Center offers a place for formation, learning, friendship, and relaxation to help young people rediscover the beauty of their hearts and develop a balanced mind and body. The Gospel plays a key role in the Center’s activities and features programs that include lectures on modern society, the way people live, living the light of Christianity, Christian culture and education, and the origin and the legacy of Christianity, as well as educational student programs. The Shinsei-kaikan Center provides both enrichment through the Gospel and a place for nurturing people who can contribute to Japanese society's true development and richness.  Your support for this project will help the Japanese youth find the “Truth” and “Light” in their lives through the Gospel at the Shinsei-kaikan Center.

The Diocese of Acapulco, Mexico, is divided into three regions: Costa Chica, Costa Grande, and Acapulco. PIME's mission in this diocese is located in Costa Chica at La Concordia.  The mission is in the highlands 155 miles from the city of Acapulco with a total population of about 8,000.  Here PIME Missionary Fr. Mauro Pazzi works with the local and indigenous people bringing them the Gospel and assistance. La Concordia is the parish center from which he and the other PIME missionaries visit the other 34 villages that belong to their parish. Apart from a few small stretches, the roads to reach these villages are not paved and many of them cannot be reached in the rainy season, which hinders pastoral outreach.  Fr. Mauro requested $6,500 in assistance from the PIME Mission Center to purchase a new motorcycle to help them keep in touch and accompany those in these remote areas of the diocese.  Your help can bring Christ’s mercy to most in need in the remote villages of Acapulco’s highlands.