The Christ Our Hope: Building a Vibrant Church campaign Virtual Giving Challenge Nov. 21-22 was a big success! We received 79 gifts/pledges totaling $131,641 in two days. Thanks to matching gifts from Bishop Christopher Coyne and an anonymous donor, the 35 parishes listed in the sidebar will receive a $1,000 match towards their goal.

We already have been blessed with the generosity of many, and we share our gratitude on behalf of the parishes, who benefit the most from this campaign.

There are 83 churches engaged in this campaign with goals ranging from increasing parish ministries that serve the poor, to capital needs to make the parish more welcoming and accessible (such as a handicap ramp or paving the parking lot) to supporting evangelization and religious education. Every parish is stepping up to make the campaign a success. None of this would be possible without the efforts of the parish campaign volunteers and the leadership of our pastors. To view your parish’s progress visit: www. christourhopevt.org/parish.

As we approach the end of the year, we also ask that you prayerfully consider making a Bishop’s Annual Appeal gift. Due to the pandemic, we are only at 76 percent of our goal, and the annual appeal supports many of our essential ministries, including emergency aid to the poor, Catholic schools and religious education, vocations, Vermont Catholic magazine, lay and youth ministries and so much more.

When the pandemic closed our churches, the donations to the Bishop’s Appeal allowed us to keep our vital ministries going in new and creative ways. We increased our communication by livestreaming almost 200 faith-engagement activities including weekly and Sunday Mass, Eucharistic Adoration, daily rosary, daily scripture reflections and many other faith-engagement opportunities. We continued to provide emergency aid to families — many impacted by Covid-19 — moved our Catholic education online and guided our parishes to safely open for the public celebration of the Mass when the stayhome-order was lifted.

To make a gift to the Bishop’s Annual Appeal or Christ Our Hope campaign, visit: www.vermontcatholic.org/donate.

As we prepare ourselves for the birth of our savior, let us rejoice: Thanks be to God for His inexpressible gift! —2 Corinthians 9:15

With gratitude,

Ellen Kane

Parishes receiving $1,000 matching gift

Christ the King/St. Anthony Parish

St. Joseph Cathedral Parish

St. Mark Parish

Our Lady of Mount Carmel Parish

Our Lady of Grace Parish

St. Pius X Parish

Holy Cross Parish

St. Ann Parish

Our Lady of the Holy Rosary Parish

St. Catherine of Siena Parish

St. John Vianney Parish

Immaculate Heart of Mary Parish, Williston

St. Francis Xavier Parish

Our Lady of the Valley Parish

St. Francis of Assisi Parish, Windsor

Christ Our Savior Parish

Sacred Heart-St. Francis de Sales Parish

St. Monica Parish

Mary Queen of All Saints Parish

St. Augustine Parish

St. John the Evangelist Parish

Our Lady of the Angels Parish

Our Lady of the Snows/St. Patrick Mission

St. Andrew Parish

Mater Dei Parish

Corpus Christi Parish

Our Lady of Good Help Parish

Annunciation of the Blessed Virgin Mary Parish

Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary Parish

St. Stanislaus Kostka Parish

All Saints Parish

Ascension Mission

Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary/St. Louis Parish

St. Andre Bessette Parish

St. Patrick, Fairfield

Christ Our Hope Campaign Update

A portion of the funds raised through the Christ Our Hope: Building a Vibrant Church campaign supports these types of ministries through the faith formation fund established in the Vermont Catholic Community Foundation. This will ensure stable income for vital faith formation ministries, especially in times of crisis. To learn more about the campaign or make a gift online visit: www.christourhopevt.org.

31% as of Nov. 25: $3,090,228 Goal: $10,000,000

—Originally published in the Dec. 5-11, 2020, edition of The Inland See.