Gratitude Report: Becoming fishers of men

2023 GRATITUDE REPORT
COME AFTER ME,
AND I WILL MAKE YOU
FISHERS
OF MEN
Matthew 4:19
THE PONTIFICAL MISSION SOCIETIES 2023 GRATITUDE REPORT | 1

It should be remembered that breaking our
material bread with the hungry in the name
of Christ is already a work of
Christian mission.
How much more so is the breaking of the
Eucharistic bread, which is Christ himself,
a work of mission par excellence, since the
Eucharist is the source and summit of the
life and mission of the Church.
FROM POPE FRANCIS' MESSAGE
FOR WORLD MISSION DAY 2023

WE ARE ALL CALLED
TO BE MISSIONARIES
Dear Friends,
With immense joy, I present to you the inaugural Gratitude Report of The Pontifical Mission Societies USA.
Inspired by the Gospel’s call to be fishers of men and the universal call for all Catholics to be missionaries,
this Report showcases the profound impact this missionary family has.
Within these pages, you will encounter the faces that exemplify the transformative power of our collective
efforts. Each story paints a vivid picture of how The Pontifical Mission Societies have touched the lives of
countless individuals, fostering hope, healing, and a deepened sense of faith. From remote villages in Africa
to bustling urban centers in Asia, our missionary work has reached the far corners of the Earth, illuminating
lives with the light of Christ.
Furthermore, this Report celebrates the dedicated fishermen who make TPMS USA the vibrant organization
it is. These individuals have cast their nets to answer the call to spread the Good News, serving as beacons of
hope and instruments of God’s love. From our devoted diocesan directors to the esteemed Archbishop Peter
Wells, the papal nuncio to Thailand, Laos, and Cambodia, their unwavering commitment and selfless service
inspire us all.
We also extend our deepest gratitude to our generous donors, whose unwavering support has made this
possible. Your prayers and contributions have allowed us to build churches, empower local communities,
and extend a helping hand to those in need. Through your generosity, you have become true partners in our
mission, sharing in the joy and blessings of bringing God’s love to the world.t >
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As you peruse this Report, I invite you to
reflect on the immense impact we have
collectively made by answering Christ’s call
to become fishers of people. Together, as
one united body, we can continue to make a
difference in the lives of the most vulnerable
and marginalized.
May this Report serve as a reminder of the power of
missionary work and the extraordinary potential within
each of us. With gratitude in our hearts, let us press
forward, confident that our efforts will continue to bear
fruit for years to come.
As we continue the ongoing Eucharistic Revival in the Church in the United States, allow me to
close with Pope Francis’ message for World Mission Sunday 2023 (that was held in every parish in
the world this October 22nd): “In order to bear fruit we must remain united to Jesus (cf. Jn 15:4-
9). This union is achieved through daily prayer, particularly in Eucharistic adoration, as we
remain in silence in the presence of the Lord, who remains with us in the Blessed Sacrament.”
Your brother in mission,
Monsignor Kieran Harrington
National Director, The Pontifical Mission Societies USA

EVEN A CHILD…
The Missionary Childhood Association (MCA) honors a vision
that predates even the Propagation of the Faith — to give special care
for the world’s most vulnerable children. Through MCA, this most
important task is not entrusted to the most powerful, but rather to
other children — children helping children.
Working for the missions does not necessarily translate to working
abroad or even with people in need. In the case of Sister Marie
Jacqueline, who runs the Mission Club at St. Joseph’s School in
Lincoln, spreading the Gospel means “to work with our children, talk
to them about Christ, about just how many lives they can change,
they can impact, through their prayer, or by making little sacrifices,
like giving up that second cookie before bedtime.”
“There are poor who are poor financially, and also those who are
poor in faith,” Sister Marie Jacqueline said.
2 Million in Catechesis
600,000 in Schools
700,000
in Life-saving
Program
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...WITH JUST A PENNY…
All around the world, God’s people are answering the call to feed
the hungry and clothe the naked. But through the Society for the
Propagation of the Faith, we respond to Christ’s command that we
be fishers of men. Along with care for temporal needs, we must never
lose sight that of all the things we can bring to a suffering soul, the
greatest is Christ.
On a visit to the mission in India, our team encountered Ramaye.
Like many women of her age and in her culture, Ramaye was a
child bride. When she was 12, she was forced to marry her maternal
uncle, 30 years her senior. But Ramaye converted to Christianity and
through Christ, she came to a new understanding of human dignity.
Because of their mother’s faith, Ramaye’s own daughters were spared
from child marriage and allowed to marry for love. The priority in her
community is to build a church. As Ramaye explains,
“When you trust in God, and praise him with
everything that you do, everything else will be fine.”

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...CAN CAST THE NETS…
Vocations are among the most precious fruits of the missions. The
Society of St. Peter the Apostle ensures that when God calls a man
or woman to the priesthood or religious life, the Church will be there
to provide.
As a young girl in the mission Diocese of Loikaw, Myanmar, Sister
Genevieve felt a profound desire to become a religious sister. From
Rome, where she is studying thanks to a scholarship from the
Society of St. Peter the Apostle, Sr. Genevieve speaks lovingly of her
homeland's small yet vibrant Catholic community. The faithful are
nurtured through catechesis, the sacraments, and outreach programs
for young people and married couples.
Sister Genevieve reminds us,
“We need to pray for peace in the world, in the
Church, in the family, and in every heart … to build
peace, we need to start with our own hearts.”
120 Countries 38K Seminarians 258K Religious

…TO BUILD THE
KINGDOM OF GOD…
The youngest of the societies, since 1916 the Missionary Union of
Priests and Religious is the heart and soul of the Mission Societies.
This spiritual apostolate supports those engaged in catechesis and
religious education to help Catholics better understand our baptismal
responsibility for the Church’s missionary work.
Last year, our director Monsignor Harrington traveled to war-torn
Ukraine. At the border crossing from Poland, his group encountered a
long line of men trying to enter Ukraine. A soldier asked his group if
they were also there to join the military. On the other side, a Basilian
monk brought the group to his bucolic, sprawling seminary monastery.
“...SOLDIERS OF A DIFFERENT SORT.”
844K Cathechists
Joining the student monks in the refectory were well over one
hundred refugees — women, children, and the elderly. The monks'
responsibilities now included chopping wood from the forest for fuel
and working to establish a sense of normalcy for those displaced by
the war. The students no longer studied in silence, but they found
peace in serving their countrymen.
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… AND BECOME FISHERS OF MEN.
Missio.org is the online crowdfunding platform of The Pontifical Mission Societies in the United States. It allows us to quickly
respond to extraordinary projects that are close to Pope Francis’ heart. For instance, helping Turkey and Syria following the
February 6, 2023, devastating 7.8-magnitude earthquake.
Months after the 45-second natural disaster, Monsignor Mounir Seccal, National Director of The Pontifical Mission Societies
in Syria, described the situation in Aleppo as "catastrophic, with chaos and desolation."
“The first thing we did to shelter the population was to open the churches and monastery gardens.
And then we scratched the bottoms of our already empty coffers to buy blankets and warm meals.
Syria is living through a real tragedy. Pray that we servants of the Church may have the strength
to give comfort to our people so that they may rediscover faith and hope for better days.”

MEET THE PONTIFICAL MISSION
SOCIETIES’ FISHERS OF MEN
ALIXANDRA HOLDEN
Ali Holden joined the National Office as Director of
the Missionary Childhood Association after being the
director of MCA in the Archdiocese of Philadelphia
for over five years. She has worked with thousands of
schoolchildren, reminding them that they are included in the call to
tell the story of Jesus and spread His Word to the world. By helping
them to understand the needs of the missions, particularly the need for
prayers, MCA helps children fulfill their unique role in the Church.
ARCHBISHOP PETER WELLS, APOSTOLIC NUNCIO
TO THAILAND, CAMBODIA, AND LAOS
Archbishop Wells has come a long way from his home
in Tulsa, Oklahoma to the missions of Southern
Africa and Southeast Asia. But he was prepared for his
work by the missionary priests and sisters who served the parishes and
schools of his youth. He has dedicated himself to Catholic communities
where the Pontifical Mission Societies makes the difference between a
functioning local church and a seriously impeded one. In these parts
of the world where the need is greatest, a 28-cent donation can feed a
child for a day. But these are also parts of the world where the seeds of
vocation for new missionaries are being sown.
KAREN HARDING, ARCHDIOCESE OF HARRISBURG
Karen has been a member of the mission office in
Harrisburg for over a decade, and her daily tasks
include administering the programs and activities
at the diocesan level under the oversight of the local
Missions Director, Father Robert F. Sharman. “Like most of us,
following the example of St. Therese of Lisieux, patron saint of the
missions, I am a missionary at home, supporting the work of the
Pontifical Mission Societies so that our prayers and sacrifices reach the
missionaries who are at the end of the earth. No faraway traveling for
me, but it is the foundation on which we act as good stewards of the
generosity shown by the people in our diocese.”
THE LEGACY OF FR. JAMES JEANFREAU,
ARCHDIOCESE OF NEW ORLEANS
The Pontifical Mission Societies family lost a faithful
and devoted leader this year: Fr. James Jeanfreau,
“Fr. Jimmy,” leaves a legacy of joyful service. His
commitment to the missions, whether serving in Latin America or
close to home, was apparent to the many friends left to carry on his
work. Fr. Jimmy was insistent that the Pontifical Mission Societies
remain faithful to the charism of our foundress, Blessed Pauline
Jaricot, in that every single one of us has a role to play in helping
spread the Gospel.
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FEATURED DONOR
DIPLOMACY AND MISSIONARY DISCIPLESHIP
Ambassador Jim Nicholson’s journey to supporting The Pontifical Mission
Societies USA began with a conversation, one that underscores the power of
personal connections and the significance of the mission at hand. It was during
a dinner with his friend, Monsignor Kieran E. Harrington, in the bustling
heart of New York City that Ambassador Nicholson’s path intertwined with
the Church in mission territories.
“I think supporting the missions has always been important, and it certainly
is so in our time, as the Church continues to improve its evangelizing efforts
throughout the world,” Ambassador Nicholson said. “The Societies enable and
empower the saintly people, both clergy and laity, who are out there, not only
sustaining the Church but making it grow.”
He passionately reminds us that we are all called to this mission of love and
faith, echoing the invitation to become fishers of men in a world that thirsts
for the Good News:
“I believe we can have an impact, not only through leading
by example but by stepping up, getting involved. We are
called to spread the Gospel, like the disciples did. And
we are called to help, educate, and evangelize, leading others
to get to know, and love, the Church.”
(Picture: Ambassador Jim Nicholson, former US ambassador to the Holy See, with
his wife Suzanne Ferrell Nicholson.)

BECOME A FISHER OF MEN
Your gift builds churches. Guarantees the formation of
priests and religious men and women during the various
stages of their religious life. Sustains dioceses in places
where the Church is too young or too poor to be selfsufficient.
Finances schools and other facilities aimed at
the catechesis of children.
The Pontifical Mission Societies work with the Holy Father
to ensure those who need our support and Christian
witness throughout the world are reached, serving not one
particular mission but the whole Church to guarantee that
“Christian charity truly extends to all.”
You can help cast the net through
a one-time gift, a monthly
donation, or planned giving.
Give now by visiting
www.onefamilyinmission.org
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2023 FINANCIALS
In the United States, the Society for the Propagation
of the Faith, raised and allocated $20,216,399 to enact
catechetical projects, build new churches and convents,
and support diocesan structures in mission territories.
The Society of St. Peter Apostle has allocated $2,274,686
in support of diocesan seminarians and religious men and
women — forming the formators.
And the $911,865 collected for the Missionary Childhood
Association represents gifts from our youngest donors —
schoolchildren across the United States to build schools,
orphanages, and other live-saving programs.
YEAR ASSETS GIFTS
TOTAL
OPERATING
EXPENSE
2020 142,557 26,443 31,297
2021 119,015 28,064 35,834
2022 109,050 30,119 32,203
Total N/A 84,625 99,333

2020
2021
2022
Society for the Propagation
of the Faith
20,108
Society for the Propagation
of the Faith
20,951
Society for the Propagation
of the Faith
20,216
Missionary Childhood
Association
1,900
Missionary Childhood
Association
1,118
Missionary Childhood
Association
912
Society of Peter Apostle 1,965
Program Related Initiatives 4,030
Management and General 1,726
Fundraising 1,568
Society of Peter Apostle 1,768
Program Related Initiatives 7,981
Management and General 2,557
Fundraising 1,459
Society of Peter Apostle 2,275
Program Related Initiatives 3,518
Management and General 2,375
Fundraising 2,907
YEAR
SOCIETY FOR PROPAGATION
OF THE FAITH
MISSIONARY CHILDHOOD
ASSOCIATION
SOCIETY OF
PETER APOSTLE
PROGRAM RELATED
INITIATIVES
MANAGEMENT
AND GENERAL
FUNDRAISING
2020 $20,108 $1,900 $1,965 $4,030 $1,726 $1,568
2021 $20,951 $1,118 $1,768 $7,981 $2,557 $1,459
2022 $20,216 $912 $2,275 $3,518 $2,375 $2,907
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THE POPE’S MISSIONS
AROUND THE WORLD
Our donors’ generosity has supported evangelizing
initiatives in over 50 countries this year.
NORTH AMERICA
Diocese of Fairbanks |
Costa Rica | Guatemala | Haiti |
Honduras | Mexico | Panama
Three of the Pontifical Mission Societies – the
Society for the Propagation of the Faith, Missionary
Childhood Association, and the Society of St. Peter
the Apostle – compose a universal solidarity fund
that unites the faithful and brings the Good News
of the Gospel to every corner of the world.
SOUTH AMERICA
Argentina | Bolivia | Brazil || Chile |
Colombia | Ecuador | Falkland Islands/
Malvinas and Superior of the mission
sui iuris of Saint Helena, Ascension
and Tristan da Cunha | Paraguay |
Peru | Uruguay

ASIA
Bangladesh | India | Indonesia |
Kazakhstan | Kuwait | Lebanon |
Pakistan | Philippines | Singapore |
Thailand | Turkey
AFRICA
Algeria | Angola | Kenya | Liberia |
Madagascar | Mozambique | Nigeria |
Rwanda | South Africa (Sud Africa) |
Tanzania | Uganda | Zambia
OCEANIA
Apostolic Prefecture in the Marshall Islands |
Archdiocese of Agana | Diocese of Caroline |
New Zealand | Papua New Guinea
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THE FULTON SHEEN LEGACY SOCIETY
Like many of our donors today, Venerable Fulton Sheen’s commitment to the missions sprung from a sincere passion for
helping the world’s poor.
As National Director of the Pontifical Mission Societies from 1950 to 1966, he raised more money for the poor than any
other American Catholic. This effort included the donation of more than $10 million of his personal earnings.
HIS LEGACY OF LOVE BEARS FRUIT IN THE MISSIONS EVEN TO THIS DAY.
The Venerable Fulton Sheen Legacy Society is a community of donors, clergy, women and men religious, and friends who
are preserving the missions for the future. Members of this prestigious group have included The Pontifical Mission Societies
USA in their estate plans through cash gifts, bequests, or other planned gifts.
We thank you sincerely — and someday, those whom you bless through your gift will also appreciate your generosity.
My greatest love has always been
the Missions of the Church.
VENERABLE FULTON SHEEN

Stephen Auth, CFA Executive V.P.
Chief Investment Officer, Federated Hermes
WHO WE ARE
NATIONAL DIRECTOR
Rev. Monsignor Keiran Harrington
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
His Eminence Seán Cardinal O'Malley, OFM Cap.
Archbishop of Boston
His Eminence Timothy Cardinal Dolan
Archbishop of New York
The Most Reverend Shelton J. Fabre
Archbishop of Louisville
Rev. Monsignor Kieran E. Harrington (Ex officio)
National Director
The Most Reverend Bernard A. Hebda
Archbishop of St. Paul and Minneapolis
Deacon Frank L. Kurre
Managing Director, Protivity Inc.
Melanie McManus
Chief Financial Officer
Josephine Everly
Vice-President for Advancement
Father Anthony Andreassis
Associate National Director of
Pontifical Mission Societies-National Secretary of
the Society for the Propagation of the Faith
STAFF
His Eminence Christophe Cardinal Pierre
Apostolic Nuncio to the United States
The Most Reverend Mitchell T. Rozanski
Archbishop of Saint Louis
The Most Reverend Kevin W. Vann
Bishop of Orange
The Most Reverend James S. Wall
Bishop of Gallup
The Most Thomas G. Wenski
Archbishop of Miami
Ines San Martin
Vice-President of Marketing
and Communications
Mark Poletunow
Vice-President of Regions
Keith Oltmans
Director of Information Technology
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70 West 36th St, 8th Floor
New York, NY 10018 | USA
AT ONCE THEY LEFT THEIR NETS AND
FOLLOWED HIM.
Matthew 4:20