Mission Projects

Project Milk

Optical Mission

Our Lady of Fatima Orphanage

Supporting
Project Milk

Project Milk is supported through the generosity of donors, parishes, schools, youth groups and local organizations around Wisconsin. Donations go directly to the purchase, preparation and shipment of the milk.

While living on the outskirts of Lima, Father Joe saw thousands of people suffering from malnutrition. He often told the story of meeting a young boy by his house. It was lunchtime and the little boy was outside playing soccer by himself. Father Joe asked him why he didn’t go home to eat lunch. He responded, “It’s not my day to eat.”

This sad fact motivated Father Joe to consider ways to further assist the people in his community and later at Casa Hogar Juan Pablo II. With the assistance of the Diocese of La Crosse Social Justice office and the encouragement of Bishop Fredrick William Freking, the first shipment of powdered milk was sent to Peru in 1984.

Excited with the idea of sending a staple in Wisconsin to the kids at Casa, Bishop Freking gave Father Joe the first $10—the price of 100 pounds of milk at that time. Fast-forward 40 years, and Project Milk has sent close to 500 tons of powdered milk to Peru, providing the essential nutrients of milk to thousands of growing children and families.

No longer $10 for 100 pounds of milk, the costs have risen to approximately $115 for 50 pounds. With the joint effort of the Catholic Rural Life Committee, the Diocese of La Crosse Social Justice, parishes throughout the Diocese of La Crosse, individual benefactors, and with the help of Casa Hogar Juan Pablo II, the shipments continue today.

The milk sent to Casa Hogar is not just used at the orphanage. In fact the orphanage only needs 200 bags of milk each year, leaving approximately 600 bags of milk available to share with other orphanages, the Diocese of Lurin Catholic Charities, soup kitchens, poor communities and those that have suffered natural disasters throughout the Lima area and beyond. And in 2022, a new area was served when 250 bags were sent to communities in the jungle that can only be reached by a 16-hour boat ride.

Project Milk is not financially supported by the Father Joseph Walijewski Legacy Guild; rather, its support comes through the generosity of donors, parishes, schools, youth groups, and local organizations around Wisconsin. 100% of the donations go to the purchase, preparation, and shipment of the milk; there are no administration costs.

It was Father Walijewski’s simple idea to bring milk from the Midwest to the people of Peru. Today, the difference it has made is immeasurable, and it can only continue with the financial support of those who financially support the Project Milk program.

Casa Hogar Optical Mission

Father Joseph Walijewski spent 14 years in Peru before opening the doors of Casa Hogar Juan Pablo II orphanage. During that time, he saw first-hand how the people around his parishes in Villa El Salvador suffered. They struggled to keep a roof over the heads of their family and provide food for 1 or 2 meals a day. Many needed medical, optical and dental services, but these were things that were simply a luxury the people could not afford.

In 1999, after gaining permission from the Diocese of La Crosse, Father Walijewski was able to begin the process of finding a team for the first medical mission which would include all three services. Helping Father Walijewski get started were Mary Dowling of Madison and Mary Dudley and Dr. Steve La Liberte of La Crosse. Together they created the plan for the for the medical, dental and optical missions.  In 2001, the first group of volunteers traveled to Lima to share their gifts with those in need.

Though the medical and dental missions have since dissolved, the Optical Mission continues strong. Having helped upwards of 20,000 people within 12 missions. The mission, now led by Cindy Sjolander, is in it’s 24th year and looking forward to many more to come.

The program serves the poor community in and around Lurin and Villa El Salvador, adults and children who otherwise would be unable to obtain eye exams and glasses. The far-reaching impact we have is that with eyewear these indigent people are able to obtain work, do better in school, they are able to do their craft work and read newspapers, books, bibles or for work.  Having glasses that enable a person to see clearly gives them the opportunity to obtain work, provide income to support their family, purchase food, clothing and send their children to school. We are creatively different as we have optometrists and ophthalmologists who travel with us, so we provide a complete exam and not just a vision screening for eyeglasses.

The Casa Hogar Optical Mission is not financially supported by the Father Joseph Walijewski Legqacy Guild, but is supported with personnel and assistance in many ways. It takes many people to carry-on Father Joe’s good work, the volunteers from the Optical Mission are part of that group.

The optical mission is truly an eye-opening experience for those involved, creating an environment to joyfully help others in need. Volunteers are always needed for upcoming missions. For more information about the mission or to volunteer please contact Cindy Sjolander or visit the Contact Us page.

Contact Us

Interested in volunteering or helping with the next Optical Mission? 

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Our Lady of Fatima Orphange

Helping the Sisters of the Immaculate Heart of Mary Reparitrix has been dear to the heart of Father Woodrow Pace for more than 30 years. He first met them during a year of discernment as seminarian seeing their good work, and later, as a pastor at St. Mary’s Neillsville and Saints Peter and Paul in Independence and now as the Director of the Diocese of La Crosse Mission Office. He has continued the relationship with the Sisters of the Immaculate Heart of Mary Reparatrix from Uganda, if not directly than by sharing their story and prayerfully asking for their success through the intercession of Servant of God, Father Walijewski.

It is because of this relationship that the latest venture of the sisters, Our Lady of Fatima orphanage, has become associated with the Father Joseph Walijewski Legacy Guild. Though not financially supported by the Legacy Guild, the work being done at the orphanage is inspired by the good work started by Padre Jose at Casa Hogar Juan Pablo II in Peru.

In 2023, Sister Salome joined a group to Casa Hogar to see first-hand the good work that is being done for the children in Peru. The style of the orphanage in Peru is much different than other orphanages, especially those in Uganda. Sister Salome saw the difference that is made in the lives of the Casa Hogar children through the mission and program that is provided. This inspired her to return to Uganda, and as the first brick was laid, she prayed to have the ability to provide similar services to the children under her care.

It is by the grace of God that Our Lady of Fatima opened its doors to 27 children in May 2024. Life at the orphanage began with a Mass, celebrated by Father Woody and concelebrated by local priests. Following the Mass, the orphanage was blessed. Going through the buildings room by room, all spaces that were to become the home to these children were blessed. It was indeed a day of joy and love with a group of priests, sisters, benefactors and the children all celebrating the new life that is now available for the children.

The orphanage family consists of siblings, children with disabilities, various with medical issues, and with severe trauma. Living together as spiritual brothers and sisters you find children that want and deserve to be loved. You also find adolescent girls that bring with them their own children, a young man that was literally left on the side of the road because his father was discarding him, another that is handicapped beyond any expectation of living on his own as an adult and of course, there are children that have suffered physical and sexual abuse.  Through love, they are all taught life skills, provided trauma counseling and given the opportunity to get an education. As is the case for Casa Hogar, the goal is for all of these children at the orphanage to go out into the world as productive adults to provide a better life for themselves and their families.

With Father Woody’s assistance and promotion, people in Wisconsin and Minnesota have helped the Sisters of the Immaculate Heart of Mary Repartrix build Our Lady of Guadalupe secondary school, make repairs to the St. Therese primary school, and improve the care provided to the village community through medical services. And now, because of their financial assistance, Our Lady of Fatima orphanage has been built.

Though this orphanage is not financially supported by the Father Joseph Walijewski Legacy Guild, it is viewed to be a worthwhile cause. As is the case with all missionary work, nothing is possible with out donations. Continuing to make a difference in the lives of the children in Uganda is the mission of Sister Salome and her entire order. Together they do the hard work, from the United States we can make donations to lighten their load.