The diaconate community of the Diocese of Altoona-Johnstown has embraced the Jubilee Year of Hope by embarking on a special mission of hope and reaching out to provide hope for those less fortunate, oppressed, living in abject poverty, and being persecuted for their faith.
Through the diaconate’s Foreign Missions Program, the deacons invite other individuals, organizations, and parishes to join them on their journey in reaching out across the world to spread the Good News of Jesus Christ with love and support. They invite people to embrace a five-year odyssey to support people and communities in Pakistan, India, and Africa where need is dire.
Since the Pandemic, the diaconate community has been providing funds for medicine, medical supplies, and treatments, including eye surgery for children suffering from Strabismus (turning of one’s eye either inward or outwardly), schoolbooks and desks, rosaries, clothes, and other necessities needed to help them with their basic living needs.
Currently, diaconate community is looking for sponsors willing to commit for five years to help with a number of projects the group is eager to undertake. The first being the “Brick Yard Children.”
Today, there are 20,000 brick kilns across Pakistan. An estimated 3.5-4 million people work in the kilns as bonded slaves — many of them are Christians. Driven by poverty and need, these people take out loans or cash advances to pay hospital fees or get a sibling married, for example. In return, they are told to work on brick kilns until they can repay the amount borrowed. Children as young as four years old work in the brickyards to help their families pay down debt. The family is given a quota of 1,000 to 1,500 bricks and is paid the equivalent of $1.50-$1.75 US dollars per day. The children do not attend school. It is the diaconate community’s desire to bring education to these children, and the goal is to create a school.
Recently, the deacons began this venture with the help of Father Kahlil Maqsood. Father Kahlil provided the children with books on prayer, the Catechism, and other basic subjects that are otherwise denied to the children. The response was tremendous. The children walked from as far away as two miles to attend school.
Earlier this month, Deacon Michael Russo, Director of the Permanent Diaconate in the Diocese of Altoona-Johnstown, received the following message from Father Kahlil:
Greetings from Pakistan!
I want to extend my heartfelt thanks for your generous financial support which enabled us to provide essential ration packages to the brick-kiln workers and their families. Your kindness brought immense joy and relief to these hardworking families, many of whom struggle daily to make ends meet.
On behalf of all the recipients, I would like to express our deepest appreciation to you and to the Diocese of Altoona, for your compassion and solidarity. Your support is not just material aid. It is a powerful message of hope, reminding these families that they are not forgotten.
May God abundantly bless you and all the donors who continue to stand with the less privileged in this part of the world. Your generosity truly makes a difference in their lives.
With gratitude and prayers,
St. Mary Parish Issanagri Sammundri Faisalabad Pakistan.
Fr. Khalil Maqsood
Additionally, the deacons would like to continue to commit to providing the surgery for children with Strabismus. Lastly, they hope to continue to provide essential medicine and food as the need arises.
