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Gift at Work

 
Christ Our Hope Progress

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Vermont Catholic Charities
The continuing Covid-19 pandemic along with rising costs, isolation 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 Bishop Coyne’
Coffee with Bishop Coyne launched in November 2021. During this weekly video series, Bishop Coyne and Alayna Masker, digital media manager for the Diocese, 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.
 
Rite of Election
The Rite of Election and Call to Continuing Conversion was celebrated at Easter with a total of 58 candidates throughout the Diocese. This is the most in the seven years since the bishop has led the statewide Diocese. Bishop Coyne welcomed another four men and three women cadets at Norwich University on Easter Sunday evening. “It is reminder to me of the enduring call of the faith of the Church to people who are seeking meaning and hope in their lives and the offer of eternal salvation in Jesus Christ,” said Bishop Coyne. “Times and circumstance may change, but the Church endures through the ages.”
 
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.
 
Confirmations
Bishop Christopher Coyne confirmed nearly 600 students throughout the Diocese in April and May. “The help of the Holy Spirit, given in confirmation, is sorely needed as our young people face an ever-increasing range of social issues and pressures,” said Josh Perry, director of the Office of Worship.
 
Ordination of 2 priests
Bishop Coyne ordained two transitional deacons, Deacon Gregory Caldwell and Deacon Brandon Schneider, to the priesthood at a special Mass in May. Seven deacons will be ordained this Fall which is the largest number in many years.
 
Lay Formation
In May 2021, 13 students graduated from the Diocesan Lay Formation Leadership Program and another 15 students are preparing to graduate in May, 2023. In addition, six men and women completed the Diocesan Leader of Prayer Program and two men and women completed the Diocesan Pastoral Associate for Parish Life 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, “The Heart of Prayer” 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
Bishop Coyne celebrated the Mass for World Marriage Day at St. Joseph Cathedral on Feb. 6 with 26 couples commemorating milestone anniversaries.