Individual Religious Houses and parishes of the whole Congregation should organise spiritual and material help towards missions. The pastors should nurture the sensitivity of the faithful, especially the youth, to the problems of evangelization of nations and by homilies, explanations, correspondence and meetings with the visiting missionaries. We should use mass media to inform the public about work of our missionaries. [From the Directorium of the Congregation of St Michel the Archangel].
The Saint Michael Mission Society is a society run by an Order of Catholic Priests known as the Congregation of Saint Michael the Archangel (Michaelites). The Order was established in Poland in 1912 and has been active in Australia since 1995. The Michaelites provide pastoral care to three parishes. Holy Spirit Parish North Ryde, in the Catholic Archdiocese of Sydney, as well as St Anthony Pauda Parish in Clovelly and Our Lady Star of the Sea Parish Terrigal in the Catholic Diocese of Broken Bay.
The Michaelites are a Missionary Order with established missions in many countries. The Order in Australia is associated with missionary work in Papua New Guinea. Sydney is the base for priests traveling to and from Papua New Guinea to Poland or other countries.
At present, four priests work in these parishes in Australia, all of whom have worked, or will be working, in the mission in Papua New Guinea. The focus of the missionary work is mainly education, training and building works for these communities.
To sustain this apostolate, in 1996 a group of lay people formed the Saint Michael Mission Society which is affiliated with and approved by the Catholic Archdiocese of Sydney. The Department of Gaming and Racing has exempted the Society from the requirement of seeking an authority to fundraise. In 1998 it was incorporated and granted the status of an Association by the NSW Department of Fair Trading. Since May 2000, the Society has been registered with the Australian Taxation Office and has been allocated with an ABN (Australian Business Number).
The main aim of the Society as stated by its Constitution is: “To alleviate illiteracy and promote education in the spirit of Christian ideals”. In view of this, funds are raised to be used for a variety of purposes.
1. Students are brought to Australia for higher education
2. Buildings are constructed in Papua New Guinea
3. Students are educated in Papua New Guinea
4. Communities are assisted in health, education and job skills in Papua New Guinea.
A fundraising committee of volunteers has been established to increase awareness of the work and increase the amount of donations received. All workers assisting the fund are voluntary.
Funds are raised from Australian sources both private donations and corporate sponsorship to assist these works. All proceeds are distributed directly to the activities of the Society.
If you would like to become a member of the St Michael Mission Society or help in our missionary work and educate seminarians you r contributions would be most appreciated.
Send donations to:
St Michael Mission Society
P O Box 6094
2113 NSW North Ryde