Our identity as Pallottines is Missionary. To train missionaries to find resources for their many development projects a Seminar on Mission Animation and Fundraising was organised by the General Secretariat for the Missions of the Society, in collaboration with the two Congregations of the Pallottine Sisters. It was held at the Pallottine Fathers’ House in Via Ferari, Rome, from July 2nd to 6th 2018.
Training on Proposal Writing and Fundraising for Projects was the title of the Seminar which was officially opened by Fr. Jacob Nampudakam SAC, the Father General who welcomed the participants and the Resource Person: Fr. Lord Winner CMF/ Claretian.
The Seminar was a learning experience, enriched by the witness of many missionaries who generously shared about their various projects in mission countries, especially in India, Brazil, Peru, as well as Mozambique, Rwanda, Congo, Cameroon, Tanzania and Kenya.
Among the participants were fifteen Pallottine priests, four Sisters – three from the Roman Pallottine Sisters, one Pallottine Missionary Sister and a young American girl who works on the Pallottine Missionary Magazine – Faith and Charity which was inaugurated by Fr. Jean Betrand, the former Mission Secretary who died unexpectedly in April.
The teaching was in English with some sharing in Portuguese and Polish, translated by fellow missionaries. Among the many important points stressed at the Seminar are the following:
- Mission Procurators have an important apostolate in our Congregations.
- Fundraising is a serious business and needs to be done in a professional way. Funds can only be used for the specific project applied for and all funds have to be accurately accounted for.
- A Project is a set of Planned Activities within a given Time-frame which aims at bringing a Desired Change through the use of allotted resources, personnel and money.
- If we hope to get money from Funding Organisations, especially from Governments and many NGOs, we need to base our Projects on the Fundamental Rights of individuals and groups.
- Reports should be SMART – Specific, Measurable, Achievable Realistic and Timely.
- On the last day Fr. Winner introduced a Resource Book called
MISSION PROJECT SERVICE – MPS FUNDING GUIDE – and gave us the names of some Organisations which support Religious/ Pastoral Projects and others which fund Social Projects. In the afternoon Fr. Jacob Nampudakam joined us for the Evaluation Exercise and to close the Seminar.
He stressed that we are serving the Church and are called to go forward with hope and courage, trusting in God’s Providence. As Pallottines – Priests and Sisters and UAC – we have to work more together – and look at Projects and for Resources in collaboration. We can learn from each other.
Sr. Mary Mc Nulty SAC
