As Director of the Office of Pontifical Missions (Propagation of the Faith) for the Diocese of Metuchen, I often receive wonderful notes of gratitude from missionaries worldwide. Allow me to share the following article from the Apostles of Jesus Religious Missionary Institute, Father Andrew Amaruma, AJ.
“My name is Father Andrew Amaruma, AJ, and I wish to express our gratitude and thanks to the Pontifical Mission Office of the Diocese of Metuchen. Your overwhelming and unreserved generosity and solidarity to the Apostles of Jesus Missionaries - Uganda Region - provides hope and livelihood in our Religious and Priestly Ministry.
“The Apostles of Jesus Religious Missionary Institute was founded in 1968 in Uganda-Moroto by two Italian Comboni Missionaries. Our missionaries do ministry in Uganda, Kenya, Tanzania, South Sudan, South Africa and Ethiopia. Our Priests also work in the USA, Europe, Australia, Papua Guinea, Cuba and Puerto Rico. Seventy-three of our Missionaries work in Uganda.
“Bishop Checchio and the Reverend Director, Father John G. Hillier, and the Pontifical Mission of the Diocese Metuchen, have been a beacon of hope and livelihood for our missionary Priests in Uganda. Thanks to the assistance given by the Pontifical Mission of the Diocese of Metuchen, various needs are accommodated for the14 resident Priests at the Regional Center including the personal and pastoral needs of our priests. Refugees and citizens who seek spiritual services as well as others needy families are likewise served.
“During the Covid lock down the donations/grants donated by the people from the Diocese of Metuchen helped pay the medical bills for three of our priests who were affected by Covid-19. We also repaired and replaced the tiles of the rooms at our Mazzoldi house, purchased and installed a water tank of 10,000 liters and a water pump to harvest rain water for domestic use and irrigation of our kitchen vegetable garden. You also helped us construct a perimeter wall for the security and safety of our Regional House and our Kathleen Parker Refugee Multipurpose Hall.
“You supported a single mother named Sunday and her seven children to establish a ‘vegetable selling’ business so she could provide for the livelihood and educational needs of her children. The Pontifical Office is currently paying tuition for needy students in grade/primary, high school and college. The College students are studying nursing, information technology, psychology, community rehabilitation, engineering, nutrition and agriculture. These young people see hope through their studies and seek to become faith-filled agents of positive change.
“Our outreach and priestly ministry continues for the people of Uganda thanks to the wonderful benefactors from the Diocese of Metuchen who contribute to the Office of Pontifical Mission in the Diocese of Metuchen. Thank you Bishop Checchio. Thank you Reverend Director, Father John G. Hillier.”
Father Hillier serves as diocesan director, Office of Pontifical Mission Societies, the Office for Persons with Disabilities and Censor Luborum.