Maryknoll Fathers and Brothers

The Maryknoll Fathers and Brothers are sent by the Catholic Church in the United States to share the Gospel worldwide through service to the poor and powerless.

How do you help people in my community?

As an organization founded for overseas mission work, Maryknoll Fathers and Brothers offers Catholics in the U.S., the opportunity to participate in the missionary outreach of the U.S. Catholic Church as priests and Brothers who go abroad to serve the poor.  For those unable to serve in this way, we offer the opportunity to participate through prayer and material support, as well as through short-term volunteer work along side our missioners in foreign lands. 

Here at home, Maryknoll Affiliates offer people another way to participate in the works of Maryknoll as members of chapters in the United States.  Affiliates are people who identify with the Maryknoll vision and spirit, while remaining active in their work at home and in their own communities. To find a chapter in your area, please go to www.maryknollaffiliates.org.

Why do you need my support?

For nearly 100 years, Maryknoll Fathers and Brothers have been planting the seeds of Christ’s love in places where it was not known before.   In the name of Jesus, Maryknollers have been working at the cutting edge of justice and peace issues affecting the poor and powerless peoples of the world. Many small gifts from U.S. Catholics and other friends combine to carry out a multitude of pastoral and social programs in service to the poor. 

Your contribution of any size enables us to bring the love of God, in your name, to people around the world suffering from or affected by HIV/AIDS or warfare; to bring education, clean drinking water, modern agricultural methods and environmentally-sound practices; to engage in peace and reconciliation mediation, and to promote inter-religious dialogue.  All of these works are done within the cultural context of the people we serve.

Following the directives of our founders, for nearly a century, Maryknoll Fathers and Brothers have gone to places where they were needed but not wanted and stayed until they were wanted but not needed.  They have gone respecting the culture in which they found themselves—knowing that God was already there.

How can I be sure that you will use my money wisely and won't waste it?

Good stewardship of the resources entrusted to our care is a central priority in all that we do.  Maryknoll strictly adheres to any donor designation or restriction placed on a gift, using the Fund Accounting system, which is audited annually by an external Certified Public Accounting firm.  At 14%, administrative and fundraising expenses are well-below accepted not-for-profit guidelines, with nearly $.86 of every dollar raised allocated to support for our mission work in the field.  A copy of the complete financial statements is available at Maryknoll Fathers and Brothers’ headquarters in Ossining, N.Y.  Our annual report can be accessed online at www.maryknollsociety.org.

The Catholic Foreign Mission Society of America, Inc., is a proud founding member of the National Catholic Development Conference (NCDC). As such, we fully comply with the financial reporting, fundraising and accountability standards of the NCDC.

Can I Volunteer? How?

Maryknoll Fathers and Brothers offer a variety of volunteer, study and immersion opportunities, ranging in length from one week to one year.  You are invited to come and see Africa, Asia and Latin America—to learn about service in different cultures, about global realities and about peoples, especially the marginalized.  Give the gift of your faith, presence and compassion; receive the gift of insight into Christ’s presence everywhere. 

Programs are available in China, Namibia, Thailand, Tanzania and Bolivia, where you will serve with Maryknoll Missioners as they work with AIDs orphans, refugees and prisoners, teach or work on social development and social justice projects.  Study opportunities are available in Bolivia and Kenya,

For program descriptions and contact information download Maryknoll’s short-term volunteer brochure at: http://www.maryknoll.org/pdf/shortterm.pdf, call 973-219-1351 or write chinaserveusa@msn.com..