This year's Maytime Fair was a vibrant celebration of the Jesuit family and our wider community coming together in joy, generosity, and shared purpose. The day was filled with fun, connection, and heartfelt support for the vulnerable communities we walk alongside.
Thank you to everyone who joined us on the day or supported Jesuit Mission through online purchases—your generosity helped make this year’s Fair a tremendous success! With beautiful weather drawing in large crowds, many stalls sold out, creating a buzzing atmosphere of energy and goodwill.
We’re already looking forward to seeing you all again next year!
If you had walked in the way of God, you would be living in peace forever. Learn where there is wisdom, where there is strength, where there is understanding so that you may at the same time discern where there is length of days, and life, where there is light for the eyes, and peace.
Baruch 3:14
In this moment of deep need, we seek the healing breath of the Spirit to renew peace, justice, and hope for Ukraine. Come, Lord, with your compassion and strength—breathe new life where there is pain, and light where there is despair.
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1. Thanks...
I give thanks for my sacred desires.
I come before before the God of encouragement and compassion, feeling God’s arms around gather me up in welcome. I sift the day or month, with gratitude, for times I have received or given forgiveness.
I ask the Spirit to intercede for me with sighs too deep for words.
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2. Review...
Today I seek the power of one Desire.
In my present urgent situation, what do I desire healing for?
Is there a particular relationship, with a history, I would like to heal now?
Is there an illness of body, mind or spirit I would like healing for?
I humbly ask Jesus for what I desire. He breathes the Spirit into me.
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3. Answered...
I breathe in the Spirit of Special Desire.
Then I imagine and feel the Spirit breathing healing and new life into me.
I breathe it in deep, wait, then breathe it out into my need. I repeat as desired –
breathing, healed, renewed.
I conclude giving thanks, moving from need and desire to gift and grace.
PRAYER TIME: 10 minutes.
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Click here to download the Prayer of Seeking Special Need.
Remembering Pope Francis – champion for the marginalised
We join the global Church community in mourning the passing of Pope Francis — now at peace and, we pray, rejoicing in heaven.
“A wonderful shepherd of the people and an unwavering strong advocate for the marginalised. His humility, courage and compassion inspired so many. Rest in peace Pope Francis,” said Helen Forde, CEO of Jesuit Mission.
A tireless voice for climate justice and the dignity of refugees and migrants, Pope Francis reminded us that care for our common home and for the most vulnerable is central to the Gospel message.
He believed deeply in the voice and vocation of young people, encouraging their active role in the life of the Church.
As we grieve, we also give thanks for his courageous witness, his compassion, and his unwavering call to walk with the excluded. May we honour his legacy by continuing his mission.
“It’s about more than meals. It’s about showing these children that they matter.”
In the remote mountain villages of Railaco, Timor-Leste, many children grow up without access to the nutritious food they need to thrive. Malnutrition remains a hidden crisis—one that Christina is determined to change.
Christina moved to Railaco from Indonesia after marrying her husband, bringing with her a deep desire to serve.
In 2005, she joined the Jesuit Mission and St Canice’s Parish supported Nutrition Program as Project Manager—offering meals rich in protein and vital nutrients to vulnerable children, many of whom had never tasted eggs or meat.
“If I can see smiles on children’s faces, it brings me joy in what I am doing. Every food we prepare and share gives them strength to grow physically and mentally.” - Christina
Three times a week, Christina helps provide meals rich in protein and essential nutrients to children aged 9 months to 14 years—or until they graduate from primary school—across three remote locations in Railaco and Aileu.
Today, the program serves approximately 200 children daily - serving chicken, eggs, tofu, tempeh, vegetables and rice to children who would otherwise go without. For many, it may be the only nutritious meal they receive all week.
Christina and her small team cook and deliver meals across remote villages. But the impact goes far beyond nutrition—it builds connection, hope, and a sense of care that transforms communities.
“When I see a malnourished child grow to be healthy, it brings peace and joy in me,” Christina shares. “I want to motivate parents to prepare better food at home, and help this next generation grow strong.”
Thanks to your generous support, Christina’s 20 years of work continues to reach children most in need.
With your help, this vital program is changing lives—one meal at a time.
Alone in a new country, Iwan had to grow up overnight.
Before the war, he was just like any other teenager in Ukraine—his life filled with school, friends, and routine. “I had no major duties apart from learning,” he says.
But when the conflict broke out, everything changed in an instant.
Iwan fled Ukraine on an overcrowded train bound for Poland. “There were so many people, it’s hard to imagine,” he recalls. “Children, mothers with babies, elderly women—sitting on the floor in the corridors. There was barely space for our bags, let alone ourselves.”
Crossing the border brought safety, but also fear and uncertainty. “When I arrived, I was met by people holding signs saying ‘We are with you’—they gave us food and necessities. I felt cared for. But I didn’t speak Polish or English.”
That’s when Iwan found JRS Poland—a trusted project partner of Jesuit Mission Australia.
A second home and a second chance
More than just a place to learn the language, JRS became a second home. “Thanks to JRS, I learned Polish and I’m learning English too. I always feel welcome.”
Now 17, Iwan’s childhood may have been cut short, but his future is taking shape—thanks to the compassion of people like you.
“I would like to stay in Poland,” he says. “Here I have friends, family, study, even work. I don’t know what comes next—but I know I’m not alone.”
The war in Ukraine has caused Europe’s largest humanitarian crisis since World War II, with over 8.8 million people—nearly one in three Ukrainians—fleeing their homes, leaving behind their memories and hopes for the future.
Through The One Proposal, Jesuit Mission and partners like JRS Europe, including JRS Poland, have reached more than 127,000 people affected by the war in Ukraine.
Young Ukranian students enjoying learning.
JRS Poland provides education as well as emergency support.
The program provides not only essential emergency aid, such as food and shelter, but also psychosocial support, legal assistance, education, and employment opportunities to help refugees rebuild their lives.
Your support gave Iwan more than safety. You helped him find belonging—and the strength to dream again.
Xavier Learning Community (XLC) doesn’t just teach professional skills. It shapes young people into compassionate, ethical leaders who give back to their families and communities.
For Fa, a 19-year-old student from Laos, XLC is more than a school—it’s a life-changing opportunity made possible by the generosity of Jesuit Mission supporters.
“Before I came here, I was very shy,” says Fa. “My English wasn’t good. I had never lived far from my family before. Everything was new. But now, I can speak confidently, share my culture with my friends here, and grow. I feel very lucky.”
Filling a critical gap
Located in Chiang Rai near the Golden Triangle, XLC was established in 2016 by the Jesuits in response to the lack of tertiary education in Northern Thailand—particularly for young people from ethnic minority communities.
Many live in remote areas without proper documentation or financial means to access university. XLC fills this critical gap, offering a Bachelor degree in English and hands-on training in eco-tourism and hospitality. It partners with institutions like Sukhothai Thammathirat Open University and Sanata Dharma University to create a unique, inclusive academic experience.
“Thank you. You gave me this chance to change my life.” - Fa
An impact beyond the classroom
For Fa, the impact of this education extends far beyond the classroom.
“My family is poor. My mum and dad run a small store, and I have two younger brothers—one is only five. I try to help them. Before I worked in a café and sent all my money home for food and school fees,” she explains. “Now, I want to get a good job, maybe start my own small beauty business, and help other vulnerable children back home to receive an education.”
Her favourite subject is Intercultural Communication. “We learn about other cultures and share our own. It opens my mind,” she says. “In Laos a lot of people living in the countryside like me cannot afford an education, I want to inspire this to change.”
Because of your support, Fa has the chance to dream bigger—and help lift others along the way.
“Thank you,” she says to you. “You gave me this chance to change my life.”
Thanks to the compassionate bequests of Jesuit Mission supporters, the ‘Enhancing the Lives of People Living with a Disabilty Program’ has been creating lasting change since 2020.
This life-changing and inspiring program is breaking down barriers, fighting discrimination and empowering children and adults living with intellectual disabilities to go to school, learn essential life skills and realise their full potential.
Maly
For Maly, now 15, the program has been transformative.
At age seven, her intellectual disability meant she struggled to walk, talk, perform self-care or learn the fundamentals at school. Sadly, she was shunned by her classmates and excluded from the community.
Today, thanks to the specialist support she’s received through the ‘Enhancing Lives’ program, Maly is thriving.
She attends a mainstream high school, speaks with confidence, has many friends, and participates fully in family and community life.
“We are very proud of our daughter – she will go on to have a bright future,” - Maly’s parents.
The Enhancing Lives program
Supporting 2,800 people in 2024, this vital program is opening up new pathways for previously excluded people to pursue full, active lives as valued members of their communities.
Through this initiative, 91 school-aged children with intellectual disabilities have been successfully integrated into public schools, while 325 children now receive essential home-based care.
The program also addresses families’ basic needs, providing rice and food support during difficult times, as well as water filters, toilets, and even chickens to help generate income at home.
Beyond education and livelihood support, the program works closely with school directors to reduce discrimination and promote inclusion. Physiotherapy services and training have helped children like Maly gain mobility.
We are deeply grateful to every person who has made the compassionate decision to leave a gift in their Will to Jesuit Mission. You are helping more children like Maly overcome barriers and embrace a future filled with possibility.
Helen Forde, CEO of Jesuit Mission with Jesuit Father General Arturo Sosa SJ and accompanying Jesuits from the Curia, Fr Jose Magadia SJ and Fr MK George SJ.
On 24 January 2024, we welcomed Jesuit Father General Arturo Sosa SJ, his Jesuit companions from Rome, and Jesuit Major Superiors from across the Asia-Pacific to share an intimate evening of friendship and gratitude with a group of our loyal, Jesuit Mission supporters.
Our CEO, Helen Forde, led an inspiring panel discussion with the Jesuit Major Superiors from Cambodia, Myanmar, Thailand and Timor-Leste.
Together they shared stories of how the projects you support are uplifting communities and empowering young people to become future leaders.
Holistic formation
Speaking about Jesuit-run schools in Timor-Leste that educate thousands of students and trainee teachers, Fr Erik John Gerilla SJ, Regional Superior of Timor-Leste noted:
“We are providing not only education but holistic formation to youth where their values, culture and spirituality are grounded.”
Hope for Myanmar
Fr. Girish Santiago SJ, Regional Superior of Myanmar, told the gathering:
“Despite the challenges of the country, the youth of Myanmar have hope… the fighting will one day cease and with the education they receive, they will breathe in something new.”
The panel recounted heartfelt stories gave an insight into the incredible impact of our wider Jesuit network and the vital projects uplifting vulnerable people living with the burden of poverty and injustice.
Giving your own life, your own heart
As only the third Father General to visit Australia, we were deeply moved by Fr Sosa's special blessing and acknowledgement of the unique contribution of the Jesuit Mission Australia family.
“You are part of the family of the Society of Jesus. Not because of what you give, but because of who you are. Because what you are giving is your own life, your own heart.”
Jesuit Father General Arturo Sosa SJ, accompanying Jesuits, Australian Jesuit Provincial Fr Quyen, Jesuit Mission Board and staff.
During a globally tumultuous year, compassionate gifts from our supporters helped deliver lifesaving immediate assistance and vital ongoing support to our sisters and brothers enduring the darkest of times.
In art therapy class a Ukrainian child shows a drawing of his school. Photo by Sergi Cámara.
Ukraine
"Let us continue to keep hope alive for refugees in Europe.” – Fr Alberto Ares SJ, Director of Jesuit Refugee Service (JRS) Europe.
Since the humanitarian crisis in Ukraine began more than three years ago, our Jesuit Mission family has helped JRS Europe offer a lifeline to over 127,000 people.
Lyudmila and her family were driven from their home by constant shelling, and after a long, difficult journey found relief:
“Eventually, we went to Lviv, where we met with JRS. Now, it’s two years that this shelter has been our home. I’m happy and grateful for all that I have,” Lyudmila says.
With vital infrastructure destroyed and millions of people seeking refuge in Ukraine and in neighbouring countries, your kind support is bringing practical help and the light of hope, including vital ongoing psychological support and education for children.
A health clinic in Aleppo provides vulnerable children with the care they need.
Syria
Following the Syrian earthquake in February 2023, which killed nearly 9,000 people and left many more homeless, our local partner Jesuit Refugee Service Syria continues to provide direct support to over 10,000 vulnerable children.
Your generous contributions have helped deliver food, warm clothing and medicine to people in the immediate aftermath of the earthquake, and provided psychological support for those living with the ongoing impacts of trauma and loss.
Coming after 12 years of civil war, which displaced over 13 million people internally and externally, the earthquake compounded an already severe humanitarian crisis.
Education, protection and community-building programs are helping to foster resilience and empower Syrian people to begin rebuilding their shattered society.
Through our Emergency Action Fund, since 2021 we have helped over 850,000 women, men and children in 14 countries to survive devastation, crisis and turmoil.
Jesuit Mission’s Maytime Fair returns on Saturday 3 May to Xavier College Kew for a joyful day of fundraising and empowerment!
This beloved grassroots event attracts over 5,000 participants each year, uniting families, friends, and supporters to create a more inclusive and just world.
The Maytime Fair promises a packed day of delicious food, live music, rides, games, face painting, raffles, showbags, a wine auction, and much more. There’s truly something for everyone—young and young at heart!
“The Maytime Fair brings us together in faith, hope, and action—supporting communities to break free from poverty and build brighter futures," says Helen Forde, CEO of Jesuit Mission.
Since 1952, the Maytime Fair has brought together the community in support of Jesuit Mission’s work in over 10 countries across Asia and Africa, including Cambodia, Timor-Leste, India, Myanmar, Thailand, Malawi, and more. Proceeds empower vulnerable communities through education, sustainable livelihoods, providing clean water and emergency relief.
“Every raffle entry, ride ticket and donation at the Maytime Fair helps us stand in solidarity with those in need, fostering hope and opportunity," says Ms Forde.
“The day would not be possible without the unwavering dedication of our volunteers who prepare tirelessly year-round, giving their time and talents to create such a joyous occasion. Their commitment brings our mission of solidarity and justice to life."
Join the Fun! Bring your friends and family to experience a day packed with excitement, community spirit, and meaningful impact.
When: 9:00am – 4:00pm Saturday 3 May 2025 Where: Xavier College Kew, 135 Barkers Rd, Kew VIC 3101
For more information on the Maytime Fair including purchasing rides passes, raffle tickets, donating wine for our popular wine auction and more, please click the link below.
If you would like an opportunity to profile your business at the Maytime Fair, please get in touch with Katrina Tucker at Jesuit Mission to discuss sponsorship opportunities. katrina.tucker@jesuitmission.org.au
