Can you introduce yourself and share a little bit about your role at Catholic Mission?
My name is Patrice, and I am one of the Philanthropy Officers for Victoria and Tasmania. I have been in this role for coming up to four years now, and I like to think of it as being the conduit between Catholic Mission’s programs and our supporters here in Australia.
In my role, I organise events that bring our project partners and supporters together, and I also work in the gifts in Wills and major gifts space, helping supporters make a lasting impact.
In May, Catholic Mission will be welcoming special guests from Myanmar. Can you share who is visiting and what this visit means for Catholic Mission and our supporters here in Australia?
Yes, we are very excited to have His Eminence Cardinal Charles Maung Bo SDB coming from Myanmar, the country’s first and only Cardinal. This will be his second visit to Australia, the first being in 2018 at the invitation of Catholic Mission.
During that time, he spoke about human rights in Myanmar and his advocacy in that space, and he also reached out to Catholic Mission to support the work of the Church there, particularly through education.
This year, we are excited to continue that work, not only in education but also in sustainable farming, and to look at providing support to displaced communities in the country.
Can you share about the second guest visiting later in May?
We will also be welcoming Fr Salai Michael MSP. He is a young priest who was a seminarian at the seminary founded by Cardinal Bo.
He is very active, including in the digital space, and is part of this new evangelisation that Pope Francis spoke about, bringing the faith into new contexts. He is also engaged in conflict transformation and how this can support Myanmar. Catholic Mission is supporting his studies as part of this work.
Why is it important for supporters to hear directly from people living the realities of mission?
I think it is important so that we do not have an insular view of who we are as Catholics and as Australians.
The conflicts and challenges faced by our program partners may not affect us directly, but in a way, they do. We are all brothers and sisters in Jesus Christ.
Having the privilege of hearing from our project partners and from colleagues who have been in the countries where Catholic Mission works is truly transformative. It changes how I see my faith and how I want to continue being part of the Church’s mission.
How does hearing these personal testimonies help deepen the spiritual connection between our donors and the communities they support?
I think there is great power in hearing even just one individual story. That single story can change someone’s life, and it creates a ripple effect.
Before you know it, not only is a community being transformed in a project area, but supporters here are also sharing the work with their own networks.
It becomes something that deepens their faith journey. As a Philanthropy Officer, I feel very blessed to witness that and to hear supporters share this with me.
It becomes more than just giving. It is something much deeper.
Have you seen moments where the witness of missionaries or Church leaders deeply moved supporters and strengthened their sense of solidarity and mission?
Yes, one example is a supporter who joined our first giving circle. Through that, he had the opportunities to meet with dignitaries and learn more about how we work with our project partners from around the world.
He was so drawn to Catholic Mission that he became a parish ambassador. He now speaks in his parish and to others about our work, and he has also increased the ways he supports Catholic Mission.
It is one of those natural ripple effects that happens when someone truly comes to know the mission.
Do you have a specific example from a past visit of delegates that moved someone to take action?
I had a supporter who attended Bishop Edwin Mulandu’s Thanksgiving Mass, who was our international delegate from Zambia during World Mission Month in October last year, here in Melbourne, which coincided with Zambia’s Independence Day. It was a special celebration, highlighting Zambian culture and stories.
She was deeply moved by what she experienced, including hearing from Bishop Edwin and others who had served in Zambia.
As a result, she ended up funding the full purchase of medical equipment we were raising funds for. It was the largest gift she had given.
It is a testament to the connection created through these encounters, linking our project partners with supporters who may never have visited these communities but feel deeply connected to them.
In the Gospel, we are called to be witnesses of hope. How can we inspire supporters to see themselves as part of the missionary Church?
I think it begins with being open and following the example of Jesus, who never shied away from sharing the Good News.
I encourage our supporters to say yes to opportunities, such as the upcoming event on 5 May 2026 at Xavier College. It will be a powerful moment to hear from Cardinal Bo from Myanmar and Cardinal Mykola Bychok from Ukraine, both coming from conflict-affected regions.
They are strong faith leaders, and it is a unique opportunity to hear how they sustain hope in difficult circumstances.
Hopefully, this will inspire people to share these stories with others and to be part of the mission.
