HONG KONG (SE): The Lenten Campaign for 2020 raised a total of $3.25 million, some 40 per cent of the amount raised last year, the chairperson of the Lenten Collection and Allocation Committee, Bernard Chan reported at the conclusion of the year.
Chan attributed the significant decrease to the Covid-19 coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2) pandemic resulting in the suspension of church services and school classes which are the main sources of collections.
Despite the unfavourable situation in Hong Kong, there was an encouraging response to the campaign and, with the support of parish priests and school principals, and renewed promotion when church services and classes resumed in June, $1.118 million was raised from parishes, $836,000 from schools, $285,000 from Catholic institutions and $1.014 million from individuals.
On behalf of the Allocation Committee, Chan expressed gratitude to all the donors who responded positively and generously to the appeal.
Chan revealed that the Allocation Committee was aware of the reduced collections and that, given current social and financial conditions, there would be an increasing need to address the suffering and deprived a widening in the scope of services.
The committee therefore resolved to allocate all $3.25 million raised this year, together with a top up grant of $1.65 million from reserve funds to make a total allocation of $4.90 million for 2020.
Funds have been allocated to various charitable activities, with $278,000 going to 17 parishes for charitable work, $80,500 to 33 Catholic secondary schools for service projects, $200,000 for overseas emergency relief as a sign of universal solidarity, and $4,341,500 to seven welfare agencies—$4,221,900 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, $20,000 to St. Camillus Benevolent Association for service to the physical afflicted and people of advanced age.
In addition, $50,000 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.
St. Peter’s Revival Association received $14,100 for rehabilitation and employment programmes for people who have been discharged from prison andand home-seekers; $16,000 was allocated to the Oblates of Mary Immaculate for counselling and growth support for hearing impaired students, while $12,000 was disbursed to Chain of Charity to fund their service caring for the “live alone” community.
Details of the collections and allocations can be found on the Lenten Campaign website: Lenten Campaign 2019 Report
