Pilot program for vulnerable families in Bolivia reports dramatic results

Pilot program for vulnerable families in Bolivia reports dramatic results

In the Cochabamba suburb of Tiquipaya, a new program is offering families a path out of poverty, instability, and domestic violence. Led by Maryknoll lay missioner Louise Locke and a local psychologist, the center has already shown remarkable impact: children gaining confidence and skills, parents strengthening relationships, and one family in particular breaking a long-entrenched cycle of violence. With a growing waiting list, the program now hopes to expand so more families can find safety, support, and a dignified future.

She stole my heart!

She stole my heart!

Pentecost calls us to carry the Spirit into the world—and your support helps missioners to be witnesses of light, love, and healing where it’s needed most.

She stole my heart!

She stole my heart!

When missioner Louise Locke joined Maryknoll Lay Missioners, she was certain that her vocation was to accompany the elderly through aging and death. But God had other plans. A chance encounter with a woman dedicated to uplifting vulnerable mothers and children challenged her assumptions. And then came Jenifer—a 5-year-old whose unconditional love completely disarmed her.

Joy in the moment

Joy in the moment

Vastly more important than “results” is the inherent sacredness of the present moment with the frail, abandoned, and traumatized people God has brought into the life of missioner Louise Locke through her ministries in Bolivia.