Mission Madera strives to put faith into action by serving the needs of the schools, families, and Sisters of St. Francis to improve the living conditions and encounter the human dignity of each person within the Madera community in Uganda. Through well-planned summer mission trips, Mission Madera connects volunteers with three Catholic schools in Madera. Volunteers work to fulfill unmet needs, rehab school facilities, and inspire community members with fellowship and cultural exchange. Mission Madera embodies the idea that service to God can come through the form of loving thy neighbor.
Gerard Duphiney co-founded Mission Madera with his son Ben. After his initial trip to Uganda in the summer of 2017 with Ben, Gerard has been back annually and invites others to share in the organization’s mission of love through direct contribution of time, talent, and treasure. Gerard’s contributions to Mission Madera are many. He is an active Board President, fundraiser and hands-on volunteer. Gerard regularly oversees construction projects and manages logistics. Thanks to his leadership with Mission Madera, the organization has funded new computer labs, painted classrooms and installed new flooring, created revenue-producing turkey pig and chicken farms, and supplied schools with malaria kits.