We are the Australian arm of the Catholic Church’s global mission aid agency in a worldwide network known as the Pontifical Mission Societies. For more than 185 years we have been working to achieve ‘Life for all’ in more than 160 countries. Join us today.

Click here to find out more about Catholic Mission’s projects around the world

Click here for Catholic Mission’s Gift Registry.

Click here to become a Children’s Mission partner.

Download the Children’s Mission Partners brochure

Catholic Mission National Office
Level 5 - Tower Building
Chatswood Village
47 Neridah St
Chatswood NSW 2067

Tel (02) 9411 4611
Fax (02) 9411 4622
Freecall 1800 257 296
(within Australia)

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‘It was like the tsunami only it was worse than the tsunami. It was a tsunami, a tornado and a cyclone together, all happening at the same time. The wind passed through, circling the whole town, first of all coming from north to south, then changing from east to west. After half an hour, it changed again from south to north. It circled the whole town for about twelve hours... like a tornado. The tide rose more than 4 metres above its usual level. People could not run away. There was no place to go.’

Myanmar/Burma has been struck this week by Clyclone Nargis, ‘the worst storm to hit Asia for twenty years’. Frs. Louis and Callistus Saw Eh Mwee, the Assistant and the National Director of Catholic Mission in Myanmar/Burma in Myanmar spoke as one person of the tragic horror experienced by their country.... more

A letter from Catholic Mission’s National Director, Father Callistus Saw Eh Mwee, in Myanmar/Burma:
“Thanks for your love and concern for us.

It was about 11 pm of 2nd May, I could hear the voices of the storm and I could not sleep anymore. The people were preparing the meal for the Wedding on the 3rd May too. They were cooking chicken and mutton & they were struggling to finish in time. I was watching them and the weather all the time. Around midnight I could hear the sounds of the breaking of trees and noises of the Zinc sheeting on the roof.

By 5am on the 3rd May some of the branches had fallen to the ground and by 6:30 the strong wind attacked the compound. Almost all the trees were uprooted or broken. About fifty zinc sheets were blown off the roof and my house was also deep in the flooded water too.... more

The Yangon Cathedral

Early Catholic evangelisation was carried out by missionaries from the Pontifical Institute for Foreign Missions (PIME) from Italy and French religious orders. Pope Pius XII appointed the first Bishop in 1954. Although Christianity was first introduced to Myanmar in the 16th century, it only began to flourish from the late 19th century.

In 1966 all foreign missionaries who had entered the country for the first time after independence in 1948 were forced to leave when the government refused to renew their work permits.

While Catholics still remain a minority of about 1% in the country, Catholic Mission supports them with subsidies to aid them as a young Catholic Community. In the Archdiocese of Yangon (Rangoon) there are just 85,000 Catholics out of a total population of 15 million. The archdiocese is made up of 47 parishes covering 400 villages and served by 90 priests. There are 41 students in St Joseph’s major seminary and 80 in earlier stages of formation. There are nineteen active religious congregations, mainly women. ... more

Children at an orphanage in Myanmar/Burma

Myanmar’s population of 50 million is made up of a number of different tribes, including Karen, Chin and Shan but the largest by far is Burman. Because the name Burma is associated with one particular group the country was renamed Myanmar, and the capital city, formerly Rangoon, is now known as Yangon.

Myanmar looks out on the Bay of Bengal and the Andaman Sea, with dense forests and mountains being the main features of the landscape. It is bordered by India, Bangladesh, Thailand, Laos and China. ... more

For the sixth year in a row Catholic Mission has raised more money than ever before, in turn, helping more people than ever before. Even with rising interest rates and household costs Australians continue to show genuine generosity and compassion for communities in real need.

Total gross donations from all dioceses around Australia were up 13.5 per cent to a record $14,126,912.

Catholic Mission is the Church’s global mission aid agency, with three major works - Catholic Mission’s work with Communities, Church Leaders and Children.

Catholic Mission’s work in Partnering Local Churches and Communities raised over $8.3 million (up 19.2 per cent). Catholic Mission’s work in Fostering Local Church Leadership raised over $1.2 million (up 7.7 per cent), and Catholic Mission’s work for Children raised over $4.4 million up 3.7 per cent. ... more

Ruth in a camp for Internally Displaced People, Kitgum Uganda

In Uganda, whole generations have died from AIDS. The problems are so severe they need urgent and long-term help. War is a constant threat, but the church is holding strong and bringing people hope.

This year’s Catholic Mission church appeal focuses on Ruth Townley, a young Australian who chose to sacrifice two years of her life in Uganda, where many years of civil war have certainly tested the human spirit.

With World Youth Day being held in Sydney this year, Catholic Mission is bringing to light the work of young missionaries like Ruth around the world. Jesus himself was a youth who made the ultimate sacrifice of love to help us all.

For two years, Ruth lived and worked as a volunteer in Kitgum. She saw the impact of many years of civil war on people’s lives, the human spirit of many all but crushed, having to flee their homes in their own country. More than 50 per cent of them are children.

Working in a Community Outreach program for young people, Ruth regularly met homeless youth, girls who had been forcibly impregnated by rebels, child heads-of-households and former child soldiers.... more

With Mother’s Day fast approaching on Sunday May 11, why not give your mum a gift that will give twice? Catholic Mission’s Gift Registry is the perfect place to shop for your mum online and help people in the developing world at the same time.

Your mother will receive a Certificate acknowledging your donation on her behalf either by email or post. You will both feel good in the knowledge that you have helped people that are unable to help themselves.

Gifts range from $20 up to $665, with most gifts under $100. There are three categories you can choose your gift from, Children, Communities and Church.

Gifts for children vary from contributing to building a medical centre for babies in Ghana ($100), to funding a meals program for malnourished children in Haiti ($35), to providing education for girls in remote parts of India ($20). ... more