Bishop' Christmas Appeal.htm - 2007
Dear Parishioners and Donors
I write you a midyear letter to bring you up-to-date with some good news about Income and
Expenditure from our Christmas Communio Appeal.
The last Christmas was the best ever with a total of $26,300, $6,000 more than the previous year. I want to thank you most sincerely for your great and growing generosity in this area.
We have given more to various needs. Apart from printing and sundry expenses we expended
$28,500. This consisted of $13,500 to Centacare, $11,500 for drought relief and $3,500 towards
Nazareth House. The drought relief was a good news story in the very difficult recent years of
drought for farmers. Together with our Priests, we planned and distributed $250 to each Catholic family with young children in our farming towns.
The idea germinated when the Parish of Subiaco, Perth, sent $2,000 for drought relief and a Parish
in Bruce Rock sent $1,200. While Bruce Rock didn’t have much of a year in 2007 they wrote
saying how they knew it was much worse here. Then one of our Parish Priests suggested that we
contribute $250 to each young family. When it was totalled up the amount given from our
Communio Fund, as mentioned, was $11,500.
People were most grateful. Even more, they were really touched to know that others in the Diocese
were thinking of them and were concerned for them in their plight.
Your generous contributions made it possible to do something which we could not have done
before, namely to give some practical help, but even more so to give heart to so many young
families in drought times. You also continue to enable our Diocese to make a substantial
contribution to the great work being done for needy people by our Catholic Caring Agencies.
Though we have various Appeals throughout the year, the Communio Appeal is the only one we
have for the needs of local people in the Diocese. Your wonderful generosity and support gives me
great heart.
My kindest regards and continuing prayers for you in your needs.
Yours sincerely
JUSTIN JOSEPH BIANCHINI DD
BISHOP OF GERALDTON
Bishop Justin’s Christmas Appeal 2007
Today we hear the command “stay awake”. To be awake is to live a life of faithful service to the Lord, following the Lord’s commands and abiding in his grace. There is no better way for us to ready ourselves for the unexpected coming of the Lord at the end of time than faithfully carrying out his commands in our daily lives by living a life of faith, loving service and generous giving from ourselves. Please support Bishop Justin’s Communio Appeal so that he can support those in need. “Together we can make a difference”. All donations are tax deductible.
Pew envelopes are available today.
Sincere thanks for your on-going and much needed support of our
Diocesan charitable appeal.
“Together we can make a difference”
CATHOLIC DIOCESE OF GERALDTON
“Communio”
Newsletter 2007
JUSTIN JOESPH BIANCHINI DD
BISHOP OF GERALDTON
Dear Parishioners and Donors
I write to bring you up-to-date with donations to the last Christmas Appeal, 2006. It has exceeded expectations with donations topping the $20,000.00 mark. This is truly amazing; and I express my deep gratitude to one and all. This money enables us, the Diocese, to make some substantial contributions to the huge work being done for the needy people by our Catholic Caring Agencies. I list here where most of the money has been allocated this current year.
On the reverse side of this letter is a report of the opening and operation of the new Centacare premises in Maitland Street, Geraldton.
For the annual Appeal in Schools this year, the theme—“Together we make a difference” - took on full meaning. Some schools invited families to come along
and join in celebrations. Special liturgies and many great activities overall, made the week memorable and rewarding.My sincere thanks to the Principals, students and school communities for the great effort of spreading the good news of Communio, as well as the practical fundraising.
Communio has grown from strength to strength, mainly, due to the generosity of the people of our diocese and beyond. Over the past five years, the overall donations tally, is approximately $100,000. I hope this provides insight into how worthwhile your donations become to the people in need in our diocese.
My kindest regards and continuing prayers.
ALLOCATION OF DONATIONS
$10,000 —
Centacare(to help with loan repayments for the new building).
We continue to assist with loan repayments which amounts to $20,000
per annum.
$3,500 —
Young mothers group(This is for mothers who have young children, and who are new to
town, or on their own, with little extended family. This service offers
information on parenting, self care, child development and the various
needs of women with young children).
$3,000 —
Aged Care at Nazareth House.$1,500 —
Communio stationery/ printing, postage and miscellaneousexpenses.
Centacare started in 1986 in the little office at the side of the Catholic Centre, and was actually called “Familycare” for a number of years, before changing
to Centacare. Centacare Family Services New Offi ces project was to construct a new purpose built facility to cater for the expanding services and needs of this non-profi organisation, which now has 19 paid staff and over 30 volunteers.
We look back to its humble beginnings from where Centacare fi rst operated.The story of this building starts in December 2003, when all the staff and Board spent a Saturday developing a strategic plan. The ideas were also formed from the service evaluation that we carry out each year in August, when everyone coming to Centacare is asked to provide some feedback. The main responses were – more counsellors; larger reception area, and generally, keep on doing what you’re doing. All of which we have achieved and have implemented including an increase from two counsellors to four.We came up with six objectives. The six objectives have all been accomplished with this building being the fi nal part of the plan – and the longest! It has been three years in the planning and building, guided by architect, Greg Eastman’s creative genius and patient listening as we developed our ‘dream place’ and then faced reality!
Of course none of this would have happened without fi nance, sad to say! Thanks must go to Lotterywest for their grant of $500,000 which was a substantial assistance for the project. DOTARS under RP have us a grant of $246,000. Centacare’s funds contributed $200,000 and we secured a loan of $300 000 from the Catholic Development Fund. Finally the Diocese of Geraldton – the Church – gave the land without which we couldn’t have built anything. So this has truly been a partnership.
Welfare and Emergency Relief
Victim Support Services Child Witness Service
Natural Family Planning
Carnarvon Victim Support, CommunityDevelopment and Family Relationship Counselling
Community Volunteer and VoluntaryWork Initiative Services
Marriage and Personal Counselling
Personal Support Programme
Exmouth Family and Financial ServicesExcerpt of an article written by
Sr Mary Ryan OP, Director, Centacare Geraldton.
Centacare Family Services:
3 Maitland Street, Geraldton, W.A. 6530 Ph: 08 9921 1433
Bishop Justin’s Christmas Appeal 2006
My Dear People of the Geraldton Diocese
The approaching feast of Christmas is a time of joy; joy at the coming of our Savour, Lord Jesus Christ.
It is also a time of giving and sharing, and to think again of the work of Communio which is carried out within the boundaries of our Diocese.
Our Centacare, with its agencies, is a big outreach of the Church to the needy, locally. Because Centacare is well established in Geraldton, it can offer services to other parts of the Diocese. A sample or two are the following.
People Beyond Geraldton
During 2006, Centacare has continued to provide quality services to families which include the Centacare offices in the towns of Exmouth and Carnarvon. Families in Exmouth have been assisted in resolving family conflicts. Children find it very difficult when their parents separate, and parents sometimes find it difficult to work out how they can both still be involved in their children’s lives in a way that is loving and supportive for the children. The counselling service assists the different family members during stressful times. One person from Exmouth reported: “The service to me is A1”.
During the year Centacare staff also visited groups in Meekatharra, Mt Magnet and Gascoyne Junction to provide workshops on some stress management strategies. One Meekatharra person reported: “I found it easy to understand and very enjoyable. I really need some help in coping with my stress levels”. From Gascoyne Junction another person said: “It’s wonderful to see that these services can be made available to those who often feel forgotten”. More funding would enable these services to be provided more frequently to these remote communities.
Your support is much needed and greatly appreciated
Please make your decision again this Christmas by supporting my Christmas Appeal 2006 for Catholic Caring Services in our Diocese.
Donations can be made by contacting the staff at Bishop’s House office in Geraldton. All donations over $2 are tax deductible and a receipt will be issued if your name and address are supplied. I assure you of strict confidentiality of your gift and personal details.
My sincere thanks for your generous support of Communio for over six years now.
My prayers for you and your loved ones for a very safe, happy and holy Christmas.
Yours sincerely in His work
JUSTIN JOSEPH BIANCHINI DD
BISHOP OF GERALDTON