It is with joy and gratitude that we reflect on the “An Empty Place at the Table 2025” campaign. This initiative has become a permanent fixture in the calendar of the Dehonian Missionary Family, reminding us that Christmas is not only a time of closeness with our loved ones, but also a call to openness toward those who are deprived of that closeness.
The symbolic empty place at the Christmas Eve table has for years represented a readiness to welcome another person. In our campaign, it takes on a very concrete meaning – it becomes a space of solidarity with those in mission countries who struggle with poverty and daily shortages that they are unable to overcome on their own.
As part of our Advent fundraising effort, we set three ambitious missionary goals:
1. Replacement of windows in the orphanage in Cochabamba (Bolivia)
At the St. Francis Home for Girls, children had struggled with the cold for years – temperatures dropping to 0°C, lack of heating, and old, leaky windows made nighttime rest a real challenge. Thanks to the funds raised, the windows have been replaced with modern, airtight ones. Today, the house is warmer and safer, and the children can sleep peacefully. As Sister Anna Kurysz SSCJ, director of the orphanage in Cochabamba, emphasizes, this is not only an improvement in living conditions but also a tangible expression of care for the health of the children.
The total amount of aid reached 148,865 PLN, which also includes funds for repainting the children’s rooms. The remaining funds will be allocated to the ongoing operation of the orphanage as part of the “Adoption of Love” project.
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2. Construction of a convent in Lai (Chad)
Support was also extended to the developing mission in Lai, where Father Jakub Szałek serves. Thanks to the amount of 268,100 PLN that was donated, it has been possible to begin and significantly advance the construction of a convent for the sisters who assist in the evangelization of this mission, which was established from scratch just a few years ago.
The foundations have already been completed, the installations have been put in place, and further stages – such as raising the walls and preparing the ceiling – are currently underway. In the future, this place will become a center of spiritual life and support for the local community.
“My parishioners, the sisters, and above all I myself are very happy that the construction work is progressing smoothly. This would not have been possible without your financial support coming from Poland. Thank you very, very much. We repay you with our prayers. May the Good Lord bless you all,” wrote the missionary, Father Jakub Szałek, in a letter to the Dehonian Missionary Family.
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3. New mattresses for children in Mikalayi (DR Congo)
The third goal was to improve the living conditions of children in the orphanage in Mikalayi. Until recently, they had been sleeping on worn-out, thin foam pads that could hardly be called mattresses.
Thanks to our Donors, it was possible to fund the purchase of new mattresses (14,250 PLN), as well as provide additional resources for new beds. This is a change that directly improves the children’s daily comfort, health, and sense of dignity.
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“An Empty Place at the Table” is more than just a fundraising campaign. It is a community of people who choose to see another human being – even if they are separated by thousands of kilometers. Behind each of these stories are real individuals – children who have experienced violence, rejection, or extreme poverty. Thanks to this project, they received not only material support, but also a sign that they are not alone.
We thank you for your generosity and open hearts. We thank you for your trust, sensitivity, and willingness to share goodness.
