Mission
Partners with La Victoria (PWLV) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that grew out of more than 50 years of faithful partnership between Nativity Catholic Church and the people of La Victoria, Dominican Republic. Today, PWLV unites volunteers, donors, and mission teams from Catholic parishes throughout the Diocese of St. Petersburg, serving alongside our Dominican partners—including the Schoenstatt Sisters of Mary—to empower the community through education, health, faith, housing, and economic development. Inspired by Christ's call to serve others, we are committed to strengthening families and building a thriving, sustainable community.
History
Our partnership with the people of La Victoria, Dominican Republic, began in 1974, when parishioners from Nativity Catholic Church began supporting the community.
In 1987, under the leadership of Msgr. Lara and several Brandon-area physicians and dentist, Nativity organized its first mission trip. What began as a medical mission has grown into a long-term ministry focused on nutrition, education, healthcare, housing, faith, and sustainable community development.
A cornerstone of this mission is our partnership with the Schoenstatt Sisters of Mary, who have faithfully lived and ministered in La Victoria for decades. Through their daily presence in the community, they help identify the families with the greatest needs, guide our outreach efforts, and ensure our support reaches those who need it most. They also graciously host our mission teams, making it possible for us to serve alongside them.
Over the years, the ministry has expanded to include the Nutrition Center, schools, clinics, youth and adult mission trips, and home construction for families in need. Throughout every project, our mission has remained the same: to build lasting relationships and create sustainable change by working alongside the people of La Victoria.
As this ministry grew Partners with La Victoria (PWLV) was established as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit in 2015. Today, volunteers and mission teams from multiple Catholic parishes join Nativity to support this extraordinary community.
More than 50 years after Nativity's first commitment, PWLV continues to walk with the people of La Victoria through faith, partnership, and a shared commitment to helping families thrive for generations to come.
Projects
Every PWLV mission trip offers the opportunity to serve the people of La Victoria through meaningful, hands-on projects that address both immediate needs and long-term community development.
Our projects include rebuilding homes, installing concrete floors, septic systems, and latrines to improve health and sanitation, assembling and distributing food baskets, visiting schools and the Nutrition Center, and supporting local healthcare initiatives. In addition to these projects, many of our volunteers share their professional skills by mentoring local contractors, business owners, and community members in construction techniques, project management, and business practices—helping build local knowledge and strengthen the community for years to come.
Above all, our mission is about more than the work we accomplish. We seek to build relationships, share our faith through prayer and fellowship, and walk alongside the people of La Victoria with compassion, hope, and a commitment to lasting, sustainable change.
Trips
PWLV organizes several one-week mission trips each year, inviting participants to encounter Christ by serving alongside the people of La Victoria.
Our trips are rooted in immersion, relationship, and mutual learning as we experience the rich faith, culture, and hospitality of the Dominican people.
Mission work may include painting, home construction, community improvement projects, visits to the Nutrition Center and local schools, and other opportunities to serve where the need is greatest. We also intentionally support the local economy by partnering with local businesses, contractors, and vendors whenever possible.
Each trip is also a pilgrimage of faith. Participants share in daily Mass, prayer, and evangelization while visiting local churches and sacred sites. More than completing projects, our mission is to build lasting friendships, grow in faith, and walk in solidarity with the people of La Victoria.