By Kerry Stone
As has been said many times, 2020 is a year like no other! Sadly, Project Compassion was cut short and, as expected, donations are well down. Nationally, Project Compassion has raised just under $8 million which is a loss of $3 million, a decrease of 27%.
Sandhurst Diocese can be extremely proud of its contribution to that total, $393,000 compared to $496,000 last year which is a decrease of 21%.
The theme of Project Compassion this year was GO FURTHER TOGETHER and we certainly were called to GO FURTHER TOGETHER as the pandemic struck and PROJECT COMPASSION morphed into the COVID 19 APPEAL.
Thanks to the Diocese and Parishes who continued to show the PC Films following live-streamed Masses and thanks to all, including schools, who continued publicising the Project Compassion/COVID 19 Appeal via Parish Bulletins, School Newsletters and Facebook pages, right up to June. The success of this was shown in our increased online donations.
Overall it was an amazing result given event cancellations, school closures and the economic effects of COVID, as well as the impact of bushfires.
Your generous support and solidarity are helping protect, educate and save lives among the world’s most vulnerable people, as not only COVID-19 but critical food shortages are affecting communities. You can learn more about this lifesaving assistance across Asia, the Pacific, Africa and the Middle East at the Caritas Australia website.
Below is a thank-you letter to the diocese from our Caritas Director, Fr Rom Hayes but first a thank you from the field.
In the words of Immanuel from Caritas Bangladesh who is working with Rohinga refugees in the Cox’s Bazaar camp, "COVID-19 response is surely one of the toughest assignments for us, but the love and closeness we receive during our fieldwork from the community people has removed all our fear and limitations. We cannot pay back the life they had in Myanmar, but we try to give them comfort amid the pandemic during the less presence of the humanitarian workers on the ground. The sense of trust and love that Caritas has established among the community is because of your distant love, care, and prayer for the community people. I trust that you have been feeling their love and blessings in your everyday life. This is the way, we believe that you all are distantly connected with us and visiting the camp people through us. Our sincere thanks and gratitude for recognising our work … May God bless you abundantly and protect you and all your near and dear ones from this deadly virus …”
