Saint Mary’s Primary School

St. Mary’s Primary School – A Beacon of Hope in 291 G.B, Toba Tek Singh

Greetings in Christ,

I am serving as the Assistant Priest at Immaculate Conception Catholic Church, Toba Tek Singh. Our parish covers a vast geographical area, with Catholic families living in scattered and often remote pockets throughout the region.

In one of these villages—291 G.B—we are blessed to have St. Mary’s Primary School, established in 2001. The founding purpose of this school was to provide education and catechism specifically to the children of Christian brick kiln workers, who face severe social and economic disadvantages. Over time, the school has opened its doors to all poor children in the area, including those from the Muslim community, and now plays a vital role in promoting interfaith harmony and pluralism.

Many of the families in this region live without basic necessities such as proper sanitation, clean drinking water, and food security. Their livelihoods are typically based on menial and physically demanding jobs such as animal rearing, brick kiln labor, agriculture, daily wage work, and driving donkey carts. Within this context, the Christian community, in particular, faces systemic discrimination and remains at the lowest rung of the socio-economic ladder, with few opportunities for growth.

Currently, the school has 75 students, both Christian and Muslim, most of whom come from families that are unable to pay school fees due to the worsening economic conditions in the country. Despite their poverty, these families have a deep desire to educate their children and provide them with a better future.

However, we face significant challenges in running the school due to the lack of financial resources. Specifically:

1. ⁠ ⁠Children lack basic educational materials such as textbooks, notebooks, stationery, uniforms, and even shoes.
2. ⁠ ⁠We struggle to pay the monthly salaries of our dedicated teachers, who continue to serve with great commitment despite irregular payments.
3. ⁠ ⁠The school building is in need of urgent renovation, especially the exterior, to provide a safe and welcoming environment for our children.

We humbly appeal for your prayers, support, and generosity in helping us sustain this mission. Your support will allow us to continue offering quality education rooted in faith, dignity, and respect for all—while building bridges between communities.

May God bless you abundantly for your kindness and concern for His little ones.

In Christ,

Fr Riaz Haroon

Assistant Priest

Immaculate Conception Catholic Church, Pakistan.