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Gift at Work

2023 Bishop’s Annual Appeal Parish Progress as of 10/11/23

Christ Our Hope Progress

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Vermont Catholic Charities
Rising costs, end of Covid-era programs, and other factors have heightened the needs of the population we serve and have brought new families to us for help.
 
Emergency Aid
George is a single father of two teenage children. He had fallen behind on rent. One of his children uses support services in the community. Therefore, George was committed to remaining in their home and community. Vermont Catholic Charities assisted with some back rent and helped him apply for additional assistance to ensure all his back rent was covered. George stated, “I am grateful for your support and relieved that my family can remain in our home.”
 
Communications Update ‘Coffee with Archbishop Coyne’
Coffee with Archbishop Coyne launched in November 2021. During this weekly video series, Bishop Coyne and Denise Watson discuss current diocesan events as well as topics pertaining to the Catholic Church. As part of our effort to increase communication throughout the Diocese, almost every parish has converted to the new eCatholic site which provides online giving and is easy for parishioners to navigate. In addition, the Vermont Catholic News site launched a new notifications application that allows Catholics to get the latest news automatically delivered to the device of their choice.
 
Support of our facilities in need
All of our diocesan schools and several parishes received a total of $1 million in grants from the Diocese to address immediate capital needs. Many of these were immediate needs that had to be addressed to avoid additional damage and expense.
 
Lay Formation
In May 2023, 14 students graduated from the Diocesan Lay Formation Leadership Program. Totus Tuus, bible camp for youth, was held at 12 parishes last summer and we anticipate more this year.
 
Men’s and women’s retreats
Successful, well-attended spiritual retreats took place recently in the Diocese of Burlington, one for men and one for women. The Annual Men’s Retreat took place this spring and 80 men attended the day of fellowship. Commented one: “This is my first Men’s Retreat as a Catholic after converting a few years ago. Now I know what I have been missing all those years!” Sixty women attended the Diocesan Women’s Retreat, “Power of Little: How to show great love in the little things” in the spring and the fall. “The whole retreat was simply amazing!” said one participant. “It was a joy to be with so many women devoted to God.”
 
World Marriage Day Celebration
Archbishop Coyne celebrated the Mass for World Marriage Day at St. Joseph Cathedral on Feb. 5 with 90 couples commemorating milestone anniversaries.