MISSIONARIES OF PRAYER & MERCY
Called by God to carry the merciful love of Jesus to all we encounter
About Us
The Holy Spirit was revealing to Sr. Mary Justin His plan for the Missionaries of Prayer and Mercy (MOPAM) for almost 20 years. She discerned that she was called to form a new Catholic Women's Religious order based on Franciscan and Charismatic Spirituality in the Diocese of Moshi, Tanzania, Africa. The new community that is being formed will also includes lay members both in the United States and in Tanzania.
God calls us to be conduits of His love and mercy to the isolated, afflicted, and neglected; bringing peace, joy, hope, and a sense of dignity and identity as children of the Father as a response to Christ's call in Matthew 25:31-45.
In July 2021, Sr. Mary Justin met Patricia Welther when they were both serving with Renewal Ministries for two weeks Tanzania, Africa. The team conducted evangelization events, retreats, and prayer ministry. Over the next few years, Sr. Mary Justin shared what the Lord was putting on her heart to form this new religious order in Tanzania. As the vision began to mature, the Lord revealed to Patricia Welther, how the Lord wanted to use her lifetime of skills and experiences to support the founding of MOPAM.
After much prayer and discernment, Sr. Mary Justin responded in faith to begin a new religious community. By the end of 2024, MOPAM was given encouragement from the Bishop in Moshi, Tanzania to begin the process of meeting with with young women who are discerning a call to live a radical live of poverty, chastity and obedience.
Family members have given the ministry a plot of land only a 10 minute walk from the local parish. With the local Pastor's guidance and support, we have made great progress on the construction of a convent and formation house. Our prayer is that by the end of 2026, we will have raised the money required to complete the construction and we will be able to begin formation of the young adult women who we discerning joining us.
Both in Tanzania and in Tennessee, we are active in lead others to become missionary disciples through a personal encounter with God's love and mercy. Some of the ways we partner with the Holy Spirit are encounter retreats, Spirit filled conferences, adult and youth evangelization, healing and deliverance ministry, ministry to women in prison, as well as prayer and support for the dying and their families. With deep roots in Catholic Franciscan tradition and Charismatic Renewal, we witness the grace given to individuals to embrace their faith, break free from spiritual bondage, and live transformed lives through the power of Jesus Christ.
MOPAM was officially founded in September 2024 as a charitable corporation in the state of Tennessee and registered as a 501c3 Non-Profit with the IRS.
Greetings from Sr. Mary Justin in Tanzania
Children in Tanzania are Praying for Sr Mary Justin
Last Day Fire Rally in Tanzania
Prolife Teaching in School in Tanzania
PRAYER AND MERCY MINISTRY
SPIRITUAL, EMOTIONAL AND MORAL FORMATION
We conduct retreats, conferences, and teaching for children, youth and adults that lead to an encounter with Christ's love and mercy.
SICK, HOMEBOUND, ELDERLY, AND DYING
We cultivate a compassionate community dedicated to uplifting the marginalized, instilling values of mercy, inner healing, hope, joy and peace. We follow God's call to help them build their self-esteem and thrive as children of God, living a peaceful, hopeful and joyful life.
HEALING AND DELIVERANCE
We provide individual and group inner healing and physical healing prayer. We believer that inner healing and interior freedom is on-going. The freer and more healed we are, the more we can love God and neighbor in truth.
PRAYER
We pray for and with all God's people especially those who are spiritually and socially forgotten or marginalized, like the poor and marginized children, the sick, homebound, and prisoners.
A New Religious Community in Tanzania, Africa
With the support of MOPAM and the Bishop of Moshi, Tanzania, we have begun construction of the formation of Missionaries of Prayer and Mercy's new religious order in Tanzania. This new Catholic religious community will be rooted in Franciscan spiritualty and empowered by the Gifts of the Holy Spirit for mission.
With the Bishop's encouragement, we rented a home near the parish and are using it as a temporary convent while building the permanent convent on the property that was donated. This will be a place for the founding members to live and a place for young women to visit as they begin a period of intense discernment. These women will have an opportunity to attend Come and See Retreats and spend a few days living in community and participating in the ministry in preparation before they are invited to enter into the Postulancy period as soon as the formation house is complete.
In 2024, we received donations of $17,200 which was used to purchase the 0.5 acre plot of land with the small house which needs renovation and indoor plumbing. After the Convent is completed, we will renovate the original house to as a classroom, meeting room, bathroom, and office.
In 2025, we raised over $30,000 to begin construction of the Convent. The Bishop of Moshi challenged us to begin construction with the money we already have while raising the additional $75,000 that we ned to finish (of which we have raised almost 1/3 of that!)
In early 2027, we hope to enter into the next step of the process in forming a new community which is Postulancy. The women will live and study together for the three years of their formation beginning as Postulants and then becoming Novices until they take temporary vows in 2029.
Vocation Inquiries Contact:
Sr. Mary Justin Swai-Lemunga - srmaryjustin@gmail.com
+255.785.823.914
Convent Construction Progress
To support the community, we are raising chickens and planting crops. Working the land is also a way to experience God's presence.
New Religious Community in Tanzania, Africa
Donations to support the growth of this ministry in Tanzania can be made by check to:
Missionaries of Prayer and Mercy
619 Prominence Road
Columbia, TN 38410
OR
Online through the form below:
THANK YOU FOR PARTNERING WITH US IN THE MISSION.
YOUR PRAYERS AND FINANCIAL SUPPORT ARE GREATLY APPRECIATED.
Design for the Convent which includes the Formation Area that was developed by the Diocese of Moshi's Engineer. As we raise money we continue to build out more of the Convent. We pray that we will be able to finish in 2026 so we can begin the formation of the women who are discerning joining the Missionaries of Prayer and Mercy.
