The Mission Fund… The name may not ring a bell to you, but it evokes a happy smile of recognition on the face of over 200 Maltese and Gozitan lay and religious missionaries living and working in third world countries. Last year, through the generosity of the Maltese people, they received a total of Lm67,000 for their various projects.
The Mission Fund was officially recognised by the Ecclesiast-ical Authorities in 1994 and operates from 72/2, Triq il-Farinal, Mosta MST 07. Its humble origin was a bag of used stamps sold 21 years ago. Gradually, activities spread to include bazaars, tea tombolas, a grand lottery, sale of telecards and used stamps, car washes and, for the past 14 years, voluntary work experience in African and Latin American countries.
In August, a group of 27 lay missionaries, accompanied by their spiritual director, will be going to Peru for another such experience. This year the project in hand will be the extension of the San Tarcisio school in Aplao ,run by Fr George Scerri, together with the building of two houses for homeless families.
The school is attended by 500 boys and girls, ranging in age from kindergarten to primary and secondary levels. Most of the students come from poor families and are helped by the parish who pays for their textbooks, uniforms and travel costs. Many people in Peru suffer greatly because of their poverty. However their biggest poverty is the lack of knowledge. Providing their children with an education is therefore a basic aid so that they and their families may have a better way of life. An agricultural project has also been added to help their subsistence.
More than half of these lay missionaries have previous experience with the Mission Fund in third world countries and their ages range from 20 to 70. They come from all walks of life and include electricians, teachers, care-workers, pensioners, managers, ship yard workers, clerks, a judge, a lawyer, a pharmacy student, a store-keeper, a property developer, a Franciscan friar and a computer programmer.
They pay their travel expenses and undergo an intensive course of vaccinations, apart from taking part in various fund-raising activities to finance the Aplao project. A container with all the donated tools and equipment, together with food, medicines for the parish clinic, sewing machines and typewriters for the school and other donated material will soon be on its way to Aplao.
The main Mission Fund fund-raising activity this year will be held today at the Catholic Institute in Floriana between 1.30pm and 11pm. This event, broadcast live on cable Channel 30 with feeds to other TV stations under the direction of Robert Cefai, will offer entertainment to the whole family. Leading artists and clubs will participate and features showing life in third world countries will be screened, together with interviews with Maltese missionaries. Sponsors’ gifts will be drawn during the programme.
You can support the Mission Fund by attending this event at the Catholic Institute and by offering your donation in person, or else by phoning from your home or workplace or by sending a blank sms. Part of the funds raised during the activity will be used to finance the Peru 2005 – Qalb Wahda project, while the remainder will be distributed to the over 200 Maltese and Gozitan Missionaries working in third world countries.
Telephone 5004-9623 to donate Lm3, 5004-9625 to donate Lm5 or 5004-9620 to donate Lm10.
Send a blank SMS on 5061-8065 to donate Lm2 (already active).
Bank donations: HSBC Bank Account No. 061-197448052
Donate on line at: http://shop.di-ve.com/ (click on “Others”).
The Mission Fund thanks you for your generosity.
“Your drop together with a multitude of other drops forms an ocean”, Mother Theresa.