Every time I see the bright smile of an impoverished child opening a Box of Joy my heart rejoices — and I’m not alone. Bishop Martin Anwel Mtumbuka said our gift distributions are one of his favorite events as a faith leader of the Diocese of Karonga in Malawi. “The impact on the kids, particularly the excitement and the joy it brings, is a most special thing. I’ve never seen anything like it,” he told us.
While children all over the world love surprises, Bishop Martin points out that most of the children in his diocese have never received gifts like this before. When they receive a gift box bulging with surprises packed by U.S. Catholics, they have no idea what could be inside.
“For the majority of children, life is very hard. Kids go to school on an empty stomach, and they walk long distances. They don’t have what they need to go to school, and they eat once a day,” Bishop Martin said.
As a leader who loves to walk with his flock, this Catholic bishop in Malawi knows the plight of these children well. Each year, he dedicates a day to meeting with children in rural areas to learn about their struggles firsthand. But instead of making him sad, their stories of perseverance strengthen him in his ministerial duties.
“They are very resilient,” he said, noting that they are eager to do whatever it takes to complete their education. “They are full of life. They want to move on.”
When they receive Box of Joy gifts, they know they are not alone as they move ahead. The good Lord — and your prayers — are always with them.
I’m thankful so many U.S. Catholics lovingly fill their Box of Joy with wonderful surprises, but the most special gift of all comes after all the toys, clothes, school supplies and other items have been opened and thoroughly enjoyed. At that point, the children — all of whom face extreme daily hardships — feel loved by God and blessed by the assurance that acceptance brings.
“The children feel valued,” Bishop Martin said. “And the parents feel assisted because the Box of Joy has items they cannot afford.”
He added that these affirmations are critical as the Catholic Church in Malawi focuses on transforming lives and communities with holistic blessings. Just as villagers need clean water, agricultural support, nutritious food, health care and education provided through Cross Catholic Outreach, the people also need spiritual blessings and encouragement. Each community outreach is focused on the Church’s long-standing commitment to integral human development — an effort to uplift and strengthen the whole person, materially and spiritually.
That’s why Bishop Martin was overjoyed when the Box of Joy distributions began in 2023 and returned in 2024. Box of Joy blends perfectly with the diocese’s spiritual outreaches, which have provided Bibles and faith formation for lay leaders and a new church for a rural village. The Box of Joy outreach draws children into parish life, where they find hope and fulfillment.
“They take a very active role in religious education,” Bishop Martin said.
When I saw how Box of Joy moved the hearts of children in Malawi, tears came to my eyes. They were tears of joy.
Those boys and girls were blessed with gifts that U.S. Catholics so generously packed, and they loved the toys, school supplies and other items inside, but their reaction to the spiritual gifts each box included was truly remarkable. We ensure every Box of Joy includes The Story of Jesus and a rosary to help the children on their faith journey, and it was their reaction to those gifts that moved me most.
Our team arrived on Sunday morning at St. Anne’s Parish in the village of Chilumba two days after the children had received their Box of Joy gifts. What happened next was amazing. Children joyfully prayed and sang during Mass and immediately gathered outside the church after Mass. In unison, they held up the rosaries they had received in their Box of Joy gifts. With rosaries dangling high above their heads for all to see, a group of children offered thanks in their native language: “We thank you for the gift you have given us in the rosary. God bless you all.”
Next, many children rushed up to Father Steven Balambo and asked for a blessing on their rosaries.
Just imagine all the prayers being lifted up because U.S. Catholics cared enough to share a Box of Joy gift. I look forward to hearing many more heartwarming stories about the impact of Box of Joy as this wonderful ministry continues.
Box of Joy is a ministry of Cross Catholic Outreach.
Donations from this campaign will be used to cover any expenditures for this project incurred through June 30, 2027, the close of our ministry’s fiscal year. In the event that more funds are raised than needed to fully fund the project, the excess funds, if any, will be used to meet the most urgent needs of the ministry.
