Change the Lives of Children in Need
- Jun 24, 2024
- 3 min read
Updated: 3 days ago
MANO AMIGA BRAZIL
Colégio Mão Amiga is a Catholic school with a pastoral department and evangelization is a fundamental pillar of the children's development.Students receive religious education classes and participate in activities integrated across the curriculum, aimingto develop human, ethical and solidarity values, grounded in the teachings of the Gospel, as well as appreciation for transcendence and faith.
For Catholic students, the school offers opportunities to participate in extracurricular pastoral activities, including catechesis, preparation for confirmation, confessions, Eucharistic celebrations, retreats, and other faith-based initiatives. The school is supported by a chaplain, Fr. Dana Lundburg LC, who oversees pastoral work, administers the sacraments, and provides spiritual guidance and assistance.
Pastoral activities are also integrated with the local parish through collaboration with the parish priest and other priests serving in the area. Colégio Mão Amiga is committed to the integral formation of its students, going beyond academic instruction to form conscious, mature citizens, both in their intellectual, emotional, and affective dimensions, as well as in their spirituality. Through this holistic approach, the school seeks to provide every student with a concrete of faith, inspired by hope and full of true charity.
“Train the young in the way they should go; even when old they will not swerve from it.” – Proverbs 22:6
Your gift today will change everything for children surrounded by poverty, unemployment, violence, and drug abuse.
You will provide scholarships so children can attend Mano Amiga Brazil, where students receive not only a Catholic private-school education, but their families can access health services, job assistance, and more.
You’ll also help provide the school’s 700-plus students with textbooks that teach the principles of citizenship, solidarity, and self-knowledge and reinforce the Catholic values that are central to a Mano Amiga education.
PROJECT UPDATES
Forming Hearts, Minds, and Souls in Brazil-Mano Amiga
March 2026
Our partnership with Mano Amiga Brazil began in 2002 to support vulnerable families in Itapecerica da Serra. In 2025, ten students received full scholarships through Catholic World Mission.
These sscholarship recipients, along withmore than 700 additional students, participated in imajor schoolwide events, including theLiterary Fair (“Voices from the Periphery”), the Science Fair (“Living Well: Paths to a Healthy Life”), and environmental initiatives such as a community garden and composting system.
In addition, weekly activities within the Evangelization and Pastoral Ministry were aligned with the 2025 Jubilee theme, “Pilgrims of Hope.” Key pastoral events included a Lenten retreat, baptisms, First Communion, catechesis, a vocational luau, Bible Café, Confirmation, a senior retreat, and a staff retreat.
TESTIMONY
Hello, my name is Henry, and I am a student at Mão Amiga. I feel truly blessed to be part of this school, which receives the support of Catholic World Mission. Being here has been a very special journey for me — not only in my education, but also in my faith. One of the most memorable moments in my life was when I received my First Communion. I had my catechesis at school, and the whole preparation helped me understand the importance of the Eucharist in a deep and personal way. When the day of my First Communion came, I was able to celebrate it at school, surrounded by my family, my classmates, and my teachers. It was such a joyful and emotional moment. I felt very close to God, and I knew I was part of something greater. Every day at school, I learn more — not just in class, but also through prayer, reflection, and community. I feel safe and welcomed, and my values have grown stronger. Thank you, Catholic World Mission, for helping make this experience possible for me and for so many other students. Your support has truly made a difference in my life.
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