HONG KONG (SE): Running under the theme, Do not let people disregard you because you are young, the Lenten Campaign for 2019 raised a total of $7.796 million, the chairperson of the Lenten Collection and Allocation Committee, Bernard Chan reported at the conclusion of the year.
Chan pointed out that the financial result of the 2019 campaign represents a 3.18 per cent increase over the previous year.
He expressed his gratitude to all the donors and volunteers, parish priests and school principals who put in joint effort to promote in the spirit of Lent to help those in need by responding positively to them.
Of the total donations received, parishes accounted for $3.384 million (43 per cent), schools $3.551 million (46 per cent).
Funds have been allocated to various charitable activities, with $811,950 going to 21 parishes for charitable work, $94,000 to 38 Catholic secondary schools for service projects, $500,000 for overseas emergency relief as a sign of universal solidarity, and $6,094,050 to eight welfare agencies—$5,749,770 to Caritas-Hong Kong for diverse service programmes; $7,500 to the Faith and Light Community HK for service to people with mental health problems, $23,000 to St. Camillus Benevolent Association for service to the physical afflicted and people of advanced age.
In addition, $200,000 was allocated to the Diocesan Reception Group, which subsidises the living and travelling expenses of religious from the poor mainland dioceses to undertake short-term pastoral and liturgy programmes in Hong Kong.
The Catholic Secondary Schools North-East New Territories Deanery Council received $8,500 to subsidise their services to people of advanced age and $35,280 went to St. Peter’s Revival Association for rehabilitation and employment programmes for people who have been discharged from prison and $40,000 was allocated to the Oblates of Mary Immaculate to undertake a counselling programme for hearing impaired students, while $30,000 was disbursed to Chain of Charity to fund their service programmes to help the disadvantaged aged and disabled to participate in outdoor activities.
Details of the collections and allocations can be found on the Lenten Campaign website: Lenten Campaign 2019 Report
