Mission Cooperative Appeal Plan

Mission Cooperative Appeal Plan 2027

2026 MCP Appeal Mission Groups  |  Resources  |  Mission Profile  |  Past Groups

The Mission Cooperative Appeal Plan is an archdiocesan program that plays a vital role in sharing with the faithful of The Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Washington about the worldwide evangelistic mission of the Church and how they can support the missions.

In 2026, 15 mission groups were selected to make appeals in 43 archdiocesan parishes.

The Mission Cooperative Appeal Plan Application has now closed. Please contact Maeve Gilheney-Gallagher at [email protected] for further information.

Mission Groups

(Arch)Diocesan | Lay Organizations | Men’s Religious Orders | Women’s Religious Orders

(Arch)Diocesan

Archdiocese of Abuja, Nigeria: Located in the center of the country, the Archdiocese of Aubja serves 550,115 Catholics, as well as many non-Catholics. In the past several years, they have experienced a large increase in population partly due to the many resettlements of Internally Displaced Persons. These communities are fleeing violence and conflict from northern Nigeria. As a result, over 1.5 million Internally Displaced Persons now reside in the jurisdiction of the Archdiocese. Donations from the mission appeal will go toward building chapels and churches for the increased number of faithful Catholics, as well as the purchase of motorcycles for priests and catechists to use to minister to those living in remote areas, and for the construction of rectories for priests working in rural communities

Rev. Lawrence Tajah from The Archdiocese of Aubja, Nigeria will visit parishes in the archdiocese this summer.

Archdiocese of Manaus, Brazil: The Archdiocese of Manaus covers a large geographic area and includes eight suffragan dioceses. In an aim to strengthen missionary action in rural areas and increase solidarity with the marginalized, the Archdiocese will use mission appeal donations for several projects. To strengthen and sustain pastoral and missionary work in remote areas in the Amazon region, the suffragan dioceses collaborate to reach everyone, including those on the peripheries. Mission appeal donations will help fund the formation of missionary councils, training of lay catechists, materials needed for evangelization and catechesis, boats and boat engines used to reach distant riverside communities, and priestly formation.

Rev. Arockiam Arockiam, SVD from The Archdiocese of Manaus, Brazil will visit parishes in the archdiocese this summer.

Catholic Eparchy of Keren, Eritrea: The Eparchy of Keren is a diocese in a poor and minority Christian area and serves a diverse population of people who speak a variety of languages like Blin, Tigre, Tigrigna, and Arabic. Funds from the mission appeal will be used to support pastoral activities of the Eparchy like ongoing formation of clergy and seminarians, support of priests, providing medical care, and catechetical programs.

Dr. Amine Kidane from the Eparchy of Keren, Eritrea will visit parishes in the archdiocese this summer.

Diocese of Bagamoyo, Tanzania: The Diocese of Bagamoyo is a new diocese created on May 4th, 2025. Many of their parishes are in poor areas so they need support. To help local priests promote the faith, they will use mission appeal donations to train lay catechists who are integral in evangelization efforts. They will also use funds for their catechetical center and for planning future seminarian formation.

Rev. Erasto Renatus Nyoni from the Diocese of Bagamoyo, Tanzania will visit parishes in the archdiocese this summer.

Diocese of Kitui, Kenya: This diocese, located in an arid part of Kenya, has several goals from their Diocesan Pastoral Strategic Plan that will be supported by mission appeals. These include: supporting seminarians, deacons and priests in their ongoing formation, increasing evangelization efforts through the creation of new parishes, providing humanitarian support to vulnerable children and families, training more lay catechists, supporting the St. John Eudes Rehabilitation Centre for formerly homeless children, and providing ongoing formation for Pontifical Missionary Childhood Animators and the Child Protection and Safeguard Policy.

Rev. Nicodemus Muithi from the Diocese of Kitui, Kenya will visit parishes in the archdiocese this summer.

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Lay Organizations

Dalit Solidarity: Dalit Solidarity works for the empowerment of Dalits, an Indian community that are victims of the caste system. Historically, Dalits have been socially discriminated against and neglected for centuries. Today, members of this community are kept far from the benefits of equal education, career advancement, and political opportunity. These inequalities lead many children into child labor, becoming victims of human trafficking, and forced migration. Dalit Solidarity runs St. Patrick’s Academy, an affordable school for more than 750 children who are from 30 villages. They also support vocational training through St. Patrick’s Community College and the Open University of Madras for 30 students who are studying nursing and lab-tech. Donations from mission appeals will benefit their various ministries like supporting widows, tuition for children traditionally forced to take up the family job of washing the dirty clothes in villages known as “dhobies,” providing basic health care to rural communities, and support for people suffering from leprosy.

Rev. Ben Chinnappan, from Dalit Solidarity will visit parishes in the archdiocese this summer.

Farm of the Child/Finca del Niño:

Farm of the Child’s mission brings the love of God to vulnerable communities in rural Honduras in several ways: providing a home for children who have experienced neglect and abuse, running a Catholic elementary and middle school for local students, providing healthcare through their medical clinic which cares for over 1,500 patients annually, and a young adult transition program that prepares older youth for independent living. As the only Catholic children’s home in Trujillo, Honduras, Farm of the Child stands as a visible sign of the Church’s heart for those most in need. This appeal will directly support the many ministries of Farm of the Child, including six family-style homes that provide safety, love, and stability for children, St. Peter’s Catholic School and Vincent Pescatore Catholic School, where students receive religious instruction alongside academic education; and the Sacred Heart Medical Clinic, which serves the surrounding community who don’t have access to medical resources.

Representatives from Farm of the Child will visit parishes in the archdiocese this summer.

The St. Francis Xavier Lay Missionary Society: Founded in 2012, the St. Francis Xavier Lay Missionary Society is dedicated to the formation, sending, and support of Catholic lay people to bring the light and love of Jesus Christ in Asia through a diverse ministry of evangelization, faith formation, and social justice. The Society is devoted to bringing the love of Christ by providing faith formation to form loving faith communities of intentional disciples. The St. Francis Xavier Lay Missionary Society further seeks to spread awareness within the Catholic Church of the universal call of all Christians to evangelization, to aid individuals in their vocational discernment to serve God, and to form lay missionaries for foreign ministry of a high standard, grounded in faith and love in the service of our Lord. Appeal donations will support missionaries in their accompaniment and evangelization in Japan, India, and Hong Kong.

Ms. Tricia Bolle and Ms. Sally Brien Holper from The St. Francis Xavier Lay Missionary Society will visit parishes in the archdiocese this summer.

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Men’s Religious Orders

Divine Word Missionaries: Divine Word Missionaries preach the Gospel and share the Word of God by living, working, teaching, and sharing with others in many areas of global ministry. They are the largest international missionary congregation in the Catholic Church. They serve the poor around the world through pastoral care and material aid. In an Ecuadorian parish, Maria Madre de la Iglesia, a program serving food to migrants crossing the nearby border with Peru was established by parishioners and the Divine Word Missionaries. Fleeing political unrest and dire economic conditions in countries such as Venezuela, Brazil, and Chile, these people are tired and hungry by the time they reach Ecuador. The welcoming parishioners at Maria Madre de la Iglesia offer them a hot meal, as well as limited medical care, and a place to rest. This ministry helps the migrants as they continue on their journeys to a better life. Mission appeal funds will go to support this migrant feeding program in Ecuador.

Rev. George Kintiba from the Divine Word Missionaries will visit parishes in the archdiocese this summer.

Missionary Society of St. Thomas the Apostle (MST): The Missionary Society of St. Thomas the Apostle embodies the Church’s mission of mercy in action by touching lives across all faiths and backgrounds. On the outskirts of Delhi lies a vast waste dumping site—a mountain of garbage covering nearly 70 acres and rising more than 236 feet high. Around this enormous heap, thousands of families have built their homes. MST missionaries, In partnership with the Deepti Foundation, take care of the children who live amidst in this site who are suffering from hunger and neglect. Many of these children survive as “rag pickers” who depend on money they get by collecting rags throughout the day to buy food. MST provides educational opportunities, financial literacy sessions, a nutrition program, and medical assistance, especially to those who suffer from chronic diseases. They run a home for children living with HIV and a home for those living with mental health challenges, as well as women and youth empowerment programs. Funds collected from their appeals will benefit these ministries.

Rev. Saji James from the Missionary Society of St. Thomas the Apostle will visit parishes in the archdiocese this summer.

Piarist Fathers, Province of the United States and Puerto Rico: The mission of this province “is to follow Christ and to serve the Church in the modern world by promoting our unique way of life and by ministering effectively to the educational needs of children and youth, especially the poor.” These men’s congregation has six mission sites in Guatemala, Puerto Rico, Mexico, and Cuba. Each mission site focuses on evangelization, food insecurity programs, youth education, occupational skills training, construction of schools, churches, and latrines, teacher training, providing toiletries and medicine to those in need, youth ministry, providing scholarships and tuition assistance, promotion of vocations, and sacramental ministry. Funds from appeal visits will support the work of the Piarists in their mission sites.

Rev. John Callan from the Piarist Fathers will visit parishes in the archdiocese this summer.

The Passionist Congregation-Vice Province of Mary Mother of Africa: Passionists see their vocation as a call to be alive to Christ in the embrace of love that is his Passion, and to draw others into that embrace. The Vice Province of Mary Mother of Africa is an entity of the Passionist congregation working in Southern Africa. This Vice Province facilitates many ministries including vocational and artisan training for women to financially support their families, youth programs, elderly homes, and funding children’s school tuition fees to help students remain in school, which helps break the cycle of children dropping out of school and marrying early. Mission appeal donations will go toward these ministries as well as funding seminarian education and supporting mission work in war-torn areas of Mozambique.

Rev. Deusdedit Patrick Kumbani from The Passionist Congregation-Vice Province of Mary Mother of Africa will visit parishes in the archdiocese this summer.

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Women’s Religious Orders

Daughters of Mary (St. Joseph’s Province): A missionary Congregation in the Syro-Malankara Catholic Church, the Daughters of Mary serve in India, Germany, Tanzania, and the United States. They are deeply dedicated to respond to the crisis unfolding in India where neglected and abandoned women, many of whom suffer from mental health challenges, wander the streets of Kanyakumari District, India. These women experience malnutrition and other health issues and are vulnerable to abuse and exploitation. The Daughters of Mary created and serve at shelters for these women where they are shown compassion and care and their material needs are met. Currently, over 275 women reside in three shelters the sisters run. Additionally, the sisters visit and provide medical care for people affected by leprosy who have been exiled from their homes. Through these ministries, the sisters bring hope and dignity to the marginalized. Appeal funds will go toward these ministries.

Sister Anila Christy from Daughters of Mary will visit parishes in the archdiocese this summer.

Franciscan Missionary Sisters for Africa (FMSA): The Franciscan Missionary Sisters for Africa is a Roman Catholic international missionary congregation founded in 1923 by Teresa Kearney, more commonly known as Mother Kevin or Mama Kevina. These sisters minister to the most poor and marginalized, serving an average 120,000 people a year. Located in Uganda, Kenya, Zambia, Zimbabwe, South Sudan, USA, and Ireland, FMSA will use appeal donations for the formation of future sisters, care of their elderly sisters, and a myriad of ministries. These ministries can be divided into several categories: pastoral work, education, climate action and sustainability, healthcare, prison ministry, advocating for justice, and disaster and emergency relief. In their pastoral work, the sisters provide spiritual direction, counseling, retreats, and catechesis classes. Their prison ministry program includes facilitating rehabilitation, teaching trade and life skills, and visiting the formerly incarcerated. As advocates for justice, the sisters focus on empowering girls and women, particularly those who have been marginalized by unfair systems like widows, victims of child marriage, and former child soldiers.

Sister Felicia Matola and Sister Josephine Mutyembu from Franciscan Missionary Sisters for Africa will visit parishes in the archdiocese this summer.

Missionary Sisters Servants of the Holy Spirit (Holy Spirit Missionary Sisters): Through the loving heart of a Triune God, the charism of the Missionary Sisters Servants of the Holy Spirit, or Holy Spirit Missionary Sisters, calls them to serve those who most need to receive the good news of God’s all-inclusive love. They are seeking prayers and financial support to continue their missionary outreach with the poor and marginalized, especially women and children in St. Kitts, Jamaica, Antigua and Barbuda, and urban areas of the United States. In Chicago, IL, their Holy Spirit Life Learning Center provides educational and skill-building programs to low-income individuals, especially immigrant women and children. In St. Kitts, the sisters provide support through pastoral visits, liturgical planning, catechesis, youth ministry, religious education, tutoring students in a public school, and oversee a pre-school they established. In Jamaica, sisters serve as catechists, help with pastoral and social ministries, and run Our Lady of the Assumption Preparatory School. In St. John’s, Antigua, this congregation provides pastoral ministry and outreach, prison ministry, Hispanic ministry for immigrants from the Dominican Republic, Cuba, and Venezuela, and religious education.

Mission appeals will be used to benefit the many people they serve in through their ministries in the Caribbean and Chicago, IL.

Sister Ann Ita Walsh from Missionary Sisters Servants of the Holy Spirit will visit parishes in the archdiocese this summer.

Sisters of Charity of Seton Hill: Created in 1870 in Pennsylvania, the Sisters of Charity of Seton Hill now serve in missions in Ecuador, China, and South Korea. In Pedro Carbo, Ecuador, the sisters minister to others by staffing a clinic and a school for children living with disabilities: INESEM (Instituto de Educación Especial Nuestra Senõra de las Mercedes). The sisters also assist at a local parish and create outreach programs for the children in the area.The funds they receive this year will go toward various projects at INESEM including constructing classrooms, providing equipment for an after-school program, providing books and school supplies, and funding a lunch and food security program for students and families in the area.

Sister Kwangshim Oh from Sisters of Charity of Seton Hill will visit parishes in the archdiocese this summer.

Sisters of St. Francis Xavier: The Sisters of St. Francis Xavier is a 126 year old congregation founded in Myanmar with more than 400 sisters in 112 communities. Myanmar has been ravaged by a civil war, spanning 70 years of conflict, insecurity, and displacement. Appeal funds will be used to support a range of crucial initiatives aimed at providing relief and assistance to the children and communities affected by political turmoil and humanitarian crises. The funds will go toward supporting children who have lost their parents in civil wars and natural disasters by providing them with shelter, care, and educational opportunities. Other ministries benefiting from appeal funds include a home for elderly women in Manila, Philippines, the sisters’ care for elderly priests, and formational opportunities.

Sister Leonie Marie from the Sisters of St. Francis Xavier will visit parishes in the archdiocese this summer.

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