AMERICA/BRAZIL - Since its foundation three years ago, the “Mercy Fund” has provided support to over 40 cities, for evangelization efforts

Sao Paulo (Agenzia Fides) – The Mercy Fund has recently celebrated its 3rd anniversary of working in providing material aid to Church communities in their evangelization efforts. Over the course of its existence, the project has offered assistance to countless numbers of Brazilians in building and restoring seminaries, churches, and convents, in maintaining hospitals, rest homes, and day care centers, as well as in purchasing cars and boats for missionary use, as well as distribution of food to the most needy communities. Since it began three years ago, the Mercy Fund has provided support for over 40 cities throughout Brazil. In 2008 alone, they were able to assist: 10 Archdioceses, 18 dioceses, 2 Prelatures, 49 parishes, 23 convents, 3 congregations for consecrated life, 5 charitable foundations, a hospital, 8 day cares, and a cultural association.
The Mercy Fund, founded and run by the Heralds of the Gospel, counts on the generosity of its collaborators and affiliates, informing them of the most urgent needs of the religious institutions, parishes, and entities considered of social interest. Every project is carried out upon the approval of the local religious authority.
“The most recent proposal was for the rest home “Hogar Nuestra Señora de las Mercedes,” run by the Congregation of the Little Sisters of the Poor, in the city of San Cayetano del Sur. This institution takes in a large number of elderly people who have nowhere to turn and in many cases, are without family,” said Fr. Lorezo Ferronatto, EP, one of the Directors of the Mercy Fund. (RG) (Agenzia Fides 22/4/2009)