Tools for a better life
The sound of gunshots in the distance shatters the silence of early dawn, echoing in the remote Colombian village of El Pozon. Sister Kathleen, a Missionary Sister of the Society of Mary, knows people will soon start knocking at her door.
They come to chat, to share their struggles, and to be consoled when family members are killed or disappear. Many are living in desperate situations without decent housing or health care.
The sisters choose to live in this community, offering tools for a better life through faith formation, self-help training, and a food program for labourers. One man asked if he could put the food in a plastic bag, so he could take it home to his four children. Sister Kathleen quickly obliged.
Finding solace in prayer
In the afternoons, the sisters share the Word of God with young mothers and run First Communion and Confirmation classes for youth. In the evenings, they lead Bible studies and prayer meetings. They also train women to make dresses and shoes, among other skills, which ensures they don’t need to turn to prostitution.
The Pastoral Mission Fund supports the sisters’ mission of evangelization. This initiative allocates funding to small-scale projects that advance parish-level religious programs. A grant from the Pastoral Mission Fund is helping the Sisters of the Society of Mary conduct their pastoral and mission work.