MissionTree, Incorporated

Description

Pope John Paul II, in his 1990 encyclical titled Redemptoris Missio, recalled that all are missionaries by Baptism and so are united in a "permanent mission of bringing the Gospel to the multitudes - the millions and millions of men and women - who as yet do not know Christ, the Redeemer of humanity".

In an effort to facilitate the fulfillment of this mission, MissionTree was founded. MissionTree is a non-profit organization that provides an online community through which anyone, anywhere can participate in Catholic missionary efforts throughout the world. MissionTree is leveraging the power of the Internet to offer a website through which individuals can select from a list of potential seminarians or postulants who have been accepted into formation for their respective diocese but lack the means to fund the cost of formation. Individual donors are free to donate as much or as little as they want, and all donations are then forwarded to the seminary or formation institution in the name of the intended recipient to fund a single year of his/her formation. Students can apply to receive funds in subsequent years, as necessary, and donors are provided regular updates about the beneficiary student as he or she progresses through formation.

MissionTree believes as its foundation that the nature of missionary activity is not only for those immersed in the local community where the needs are, but also in the many partners throughout the world who give of their prayers and financial blessings to enable the work of this missionary activity. MissionTree provides an online system that connects people everywhere to a specific, individual need in the Catholic missionary Church. By providing a forum that facilitates and strengthens these connections, the Gospel message can reach every corner of the globe.