Friendships and food security in Timor-Leste

Parishioners were off to their sister parish of Railaco, Timor-Leste. They did not understand what he meant at the time. They soon experienced the generosity of the Timorese – who had much to give – hospitality, wisdom, faith, and a sense of shared humanity

“I have so many memorable experiences of visiting the programs in my six visits over the years. The most memorable was when I accompanied 18 others from St Canice’s in 2019 to come and witness first-hand what our parish was making possible,” said Michael Musgrave, parishioner and champion fundraiser at
St Canice’s Parish.

This year on the Feast Day of Saint Ignatius, St Canice’s Parish raised a record-breaking $16,000 to support the nutrition and educational works in their Jesuit sister parish Railaco.

“Over these years I have formed friendships with the many Jesuits connected with Railaco. My better understanding of what drives their dedication inspires my own faith.”

Developing food security

In Timor-Leste, the vast majority of people are affected by food insecurity. Worse yet, 46% of children under five suffer from malnutrition.

To create lasting change, in 2022 our local partner Jesuit Social Service Timor-Leste established the Food Security Project.

Since its inception, the project has provided almost 1,200 farming families with training to boost agricultural production, along with education on nutrition and healthy eating.

In 2024, this innovative project was supported by Pilgrims 100, an inspiring collective-giving group. Launched by St Ignatius Norwood (SA) parishioners in conjunction with Jesuit Mission, the group now has 98 members each giving $1,000 to a project of their choosing each year.

Members of Pilgrims 100 had the pleasure of visiting the farms of our friends in Timor-Leste. They witnessed the ways the project is not only improving harvests, but is allowing families to build a sustainable income so they can save money to send their children to school, invest in their health, and begin to pursue opportunities that were once out of reach.

This story featured in our Gratitude Report - 2024. Download the report

Typhoon Yagi, one of the strongest storms to hit Southeast Asia in decades, brought severe flooding and landslides to Myanmar, Vietnam and Laos.

Widespread damage to homes, infrastructure and agriculture displaced hundreds of thousands of people and affected every aspect of life, including food supply.

Thanks to the generosity of our Jesuit Mission family, our local partners delivered essential food supplies and drinking water to communities in Vietnam, assisted families and repaired schools in Laos, and provided 18,000 people in Myanmar with food, medicine, shelter, livelihood opportunities, and education programs.

"Amid the turmoil and uncertainty, a powerful light of courage has shone brightly through the darkness. 2024 has brought its own tests, with intensified conflict and devastating floods affecting countless lives in Myanmar. But even in the face of these hardships, the spirit of the people is hard to break." – A Jesuit in Myanmar.

Lebanon

Since September 2024, intensive bombing devastated Lebanon, displacing over 1.2 million people.

The humanitarian situation was dire, with 75% of hospitals under critical strain and 85% of shelters operating at or above capacity. Coupled with the country’s ongoing economic crisis, this escalating violence pushed vulnerable families to the brink, with women and children most severely affected.

Thanks to your vital contributions, Jesuit Refugee Service Middle East and North Africa (JRS MENA) were able to provide immediate emergency support to collective shelters – many of which are located in Jesuit schools and Jesuit-run centres.

Through our Emergency Action Fund, you helped deliver over 5,000 meals, 1,900 food baskets and 9,000 litres of clean drinking water, along with cleaning kits, blankets, heating fuel and ongoing psychosocial support for over 14,000 displaced people and many more in the years to come.

"This work isn’t just about providing aid; it’s about restoring hope," – Nada Al Myr, Project Director for JRS Baalbek, Lebanon.

We’re profoundly grateful for the dedication of all our volunteers, committees, schools, and parishes who worked on a wonderful array of fundraising events and projects in 2024.

Your efforts embody the values of justice, equality and solidarity, and every dollar you’ve raised will help empower marginalised members of our global family in more than 10 countries.

"The deeper meaning of your work is the fact that you have touched the lives of people far away, people you’ve never seen before, people whose results of your efforts you will not know.,” – Fr Tony Herbert SJ, Hazaribag Missionary of over 50 years speaking at the closing mass for the 2024 Jesuit Mission Bazaar.

The best part of our day

Making calls to express our heartfelt gratitude for your contributions is one of the most rewarding things we do.

Kate, our Supporter Relations Officer, loves hearing the stories of our donors and learning about their deep, ongoing connections with our global Jesuit Mission family.

"Our donors show such compassion and love through their contributions,” she says.“They are the foundation on which the project work of Jesuit Mission can happen, and the only and natural answer is gratitude.”

Fr Paul Horan SJ, companion of Jesuit Mission and Hazaribag missionary for over 40 years, says speaking with our wonderful supporters is a reminder of the value of community and the importance of faith in giving meaning to our lives.

“We get a lot out of speaking with donors,” he says.“We get a sense of people’s faith, their loyalty to the church and to Jesuit Mission – it’s very moving.”

A huge thank you to all of our supporters for participating, including Saint Ignatius’ College Riverview (NSW), Xavier College (VIC), Our Lady of the Way Parish North Sydney (NSW), The Cardoner Network (NSW), Saint Ignatius College Geelong (VIC), Sevenhill and Riverton Parishes (SA), and Jesuit and Ignatian Spirituality Australia.

In addition, Jesuit Mission supporters and Year 5 and 6 students from Saint Ignatius’ College Riverview wrote letters of love, hope and support for the people of Myanmar.

We continue to pray for peace and justice for all those affected by conflict.

Upon reading the letters, our project partner shared their thanks with you and our compassionate supporters.

Countless refugees and asylum-seekers from around the world arrive in Thailand’s bustling capital Bangkok each year.

But without legal access to jobs or education, many find themselves highly vulnerable – living on the margins, exposed to exploitation, with few opportunities to improve their situation.

Seeing this urgent need, our local partner JRS Asia Pacific, developed the ‘Urban Education Project for Refugees’ that supports at-risk asylum seekers and refugees.

“Never set limits. Learn no limit… It is the right thing to empower others to be stronger."

Gratitude Report - 2024

Jesuit Mission Australia invites you to discover the stories of hope, resilience, and transformation in the 2024 Gratitude Report.

Your support in 2024 contributed to 66 life-giving projects, reaching 530,022 people across 13 countries.

Through your compassion, our Jesuit partners delivered emergency relief and long-term, transformative support, empowering vulnerable communities through education, training, and accompaniment around the world.

Staffed by tutors from the same indigenous Bhuiyan community as the children, Ankur students learn English, Hindi and maths, as well as the skills they’ll need to continue their education and access new opportunities.

The project also embraces parents, nurturing their commitment to educating their children.

Staffed by tutors from the same indigenous Bhuiyan community as the children, Ankur students learn English, Hindi and maths, as well as the skills they’ll need to continue their education and access new opportunities.

For Anika’s mother, the benefits of the project are clear.

"I send her every day because I want her to study more,” said Anika's mum. “I only studied up to Grade 6, but I want her to go further and have a bright future."

“The situation is dire, and the suffering is unimaginable. The people of Myanmar have faced relentless challenges in recent years, and this disaster has only compounded their hardship," said a Jesuit on the ground.

“Yet, amid the darkness, your love shines through…With your continued solidarity—through prayers, awareness, and aid—we can bring light to these shadows."

Tragically, one of the young teachers from a Jesuit Mission-supported school in Yangon, the Campion Institute, lost her life as she was visiting Mandalay when the earthquake destroyed her accommodation.

“Let us hold the people of Myanmar in our hearts and prayers, that they may find strength, comfort, and hope in this darkest hour," said Helen Forde, CEO of Jesuit Mission.

Jesuit Mission Australia is committed to uplifting the people of Myanmar in the wake of this devastating crisis. Please donate today:  

“Thanks to our generous supporters in Australia, the Vietnam Water Project has already provided clean water to over 149,000 people. However, with hundreds of thousands still at risk, the need for support remains urgent," said Helen Forde, CEO of Jesuit Mission.

Without reliable access to clean water, entire generations of Central Vietnam families will remain trapped in a cycle of poverty.

In 2025, the Jesuits in Vietnam aim to construct 20 more water stations, reaching an additional 20,000 people across 20 villages.

The impact of these water stations extends beyond just health benefits. In Quang Binh province, 66-year-old Lanh no longer spends half her income on bottled water, allowing her to afford essential food and medicine.

While Lanh and her husband once earned a living as rice farmers, he is now unable to work due to illness. They had relied on whatever income their two adult children could send to support them until now.

For young mother Nga, the water station is more than just a source of clean water—it has become a place of connection and support.