2021‑22 Annual Report
This image: Celebrating 200 years of mission. Cover image: Life-changing difference for the local community of Emdibir, Ethiopia.
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Published: August 2022 by Catholic Mission
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Catholic Mission acknowledges that we live and work on the land of Australia’s First Peoples. We pay our respect to the ever‑present spirituality of Elders past and present. Warning to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people – this publication may contain images or references to those that have passed.
Catholic Mission Annual Report 2021-22
CONTENTS We are Mission: People, Organisation, Culture
page 4
Fundraising Report
page 12
National Director’s Report
page 5
Socktober kicks new goals in disrupted year
page 13
Catholic Mission’s Work in Mission Formation and Education
page 6
Fresh approach to schools engagement
page 14
Immersions Report
page 8
Catholic Mission’s Work with Communities
page 16
Our work with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander People
page 9
Catholic Mission’s Work with Children
page 18
Programs Report
page 10
Catholic Mission’s Work with Church Leaders
page 20
Communications and Media Report
page 11
Financial Report
page 22
Catholic Mission Annual Report 2021-22
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WE ARE MISSION
People, Organisation, Culture
Our Vision
Our Mission
That all may have life in Christ.
As the Pope’s international mission agency, we respond to the call to love God and to love our neighbour by forming individuals and communities as missionary disciples of Jesus who share their faith in action and through prayer.
“I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.” (John 10:10)
We share in God’s mission to reach out and give life by sharing our personal and financial resources to: • proclaim the Gospel • serve people in need • act for peace, justice and creation
“Love one another. Just as I have loved you, you also should love one another.” (John 13:34)
in partnership with local churches so that all may have life in Christ.
Our people
Francis Leong
Perth Diocesan Director 30 years at Catholic Mission “As a Diocesan Director, I have shared stories at parishes and schools, tapped into the creativity of young people, visited donors, prayed with people of other spiritual traditions, and partnered with Aboriginal Catholic leaders. These roles have all enriched my evolving sense of Mission over the past 20 years. I have also given eight years of missionary service in sub-Saharan Africa, along with a 20-year engagement with Catholic communities in Perth. Each one of these experiences has offered me a unique insight into the mystery of God’s love quietly and powerfully at work in our world. Such is this gift that I will never tire of sharing, because it comes from God and is returned joyfully with interest.”
Dorothy Makasa
Sydney/Broken Bay/Parramatta Mission Education Officer 15 years at Catholic Mission “Over the years of working in my role with students in schools, I have shared in the realities of the majority of the world’s children who do not experience the fullness of life, due to poverty. I have never ceased to be inspired by these students’ empathy, prayer, resolve and generosity in their response to the needs of their brothers and sisters. It is what sustains my belief and hope in the goodness of humanity and in the possibility of fullness of life for all. I am truly grateful to play even a small role in God’s mission through the impactful work of Catholic Mission in many disadvantaged communities.”
Anniversaries Start year
Name
Years with Catholic Mission
Start year
Name
Years with Catholic Mission
1992
Francis Leong
30
2017
Marcello Marchensini
5
2002
Le Tran
20
2017
Catherine Towiro
5
2007
Siew Tan
15
2017
Danielle Carson
5
2007
Dorothy Makasa
15
2017
Conchita Amparo
5
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Catholic Mission Annual Report 2021-22
NATIONAL DIRECTOR’S
Report
As the National Director of Catholic Mission, I have the great pleasure to introduce the 2021-2022 Annual Report, a reflection of our ongoing work to promote mission in Australia and around the world. This past year has been significantly eventful. We have had the tragedy of the conflict in Ukraine forcing millions of people to flee their country, famine in the Horn of Africa, ongoing persecution of Christians and the kidnapping and murder of priests and religious sisters. Yet, on a positive note, we celebrated the 200th anniversary of the foundation of the Society for the Propagation of the Faith, one of the four Pontifical Mission Societies (PMS), known in Australia as Catholic Mission. While we are moving into the “new normal” after the pandemic, we are still facing challenges. The conflict in Ukraine has taken the world by surprise, forcing families to flee their homes and seek refuge in neighbouring countries. Thanks to the strength of the PMS network, we were able to liaise with our counterparts, particularly in Poland and Romania, to provide material support and pastoral care for some of these families. We are grateful to our friends and supporters for their overwhelming generosity. It will be an ongoing effort to keep providing material support and pastoral care for what seems to be a very prolonged need. Pauline Jaricot, founder of the Society for the Propagation of the Faith, was beatified on 22 May 2022 in a moving ceremony in Lyon, France. I was privileged to attend the ceremony as Catholic Mission Annual Report 2021-22
part of the Annual General Assembly of PMS National Directors. This is a unique opportunity to develop first-hand our partnerships with the mission churches.
Pauline devoted her life to the great work of mission. Catholic Mission continues Pauline’s vision to share God’s love by supporting mission development projects around the world where communities are in need. The young churches, and those that are fragile, suffering persecution and fighting entrenched poverty, are grateful for your support as they grow towards greater self-sufficiency. I am proud of the ongoing resilience and commitment of the Catholic Mission team in finding new ways to engage and carry the work of mission in our world. Our Workplace Giving program, launched earlier this year, aims to provide a more effective way for generous supporters to make a difference using their pre-tax income. Last year, we saw increased involvement from students, parents and teachers through our schools engagement program, Socktober. Students grew in learning about the importance of mission by participating in this holistic
formation and fundraising program, where they discover how they can turn their desire to help into concrete action. We continue our work of mission formation and advocacy, especially for those who are displaced or seeking asylum. Our Immersions Program is resuming after the COVID-19 setbacks, giving young people a direct experience of mission in action. This annual report provides a summary and overview of the great work accomplished through the commitment of our supporters during the year, and shows our dedication to developing new pathways for putting mission into action and proclaiming the Gospel. We are grateful for the support you have provided. Thanks to you, Catholic Mission is able to reach out and give life. Yours in Mission,
Fr Brian Lucas National Director Part of the international Pontifical Mission Societies/Missio network • Propagation of the Faith • Children’s Mission • St Peter Apostle
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CATHOLIC MISSION’S
Work in Mission Formation and Education Jenny Collins‑White Mission Formation Manager
The Mission Formation team seeks to transform hearts and minds in the joy of the Gospel and to raise up leaders in mission, in keeping with the vision of the Pontifical Missionary Union (PMU). We invite people to engage with God in the world through an immersive, experiential pedagogy of dialogue and encounter. In short, we engage the whole person.
Our Mission Formation programs and resources have local and global perspectives. They include: • International and Indigenous immersions for students and adults • Workshops and international guest speakers on mission for school students • World Mission Month resources for students, teachers and catechists • Advocacy in support of children and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples • Professional development programs of contextual mission for leaders working in Catholic organisations and agencies across sectors of health, social services, education and in dioceses. This includes a biennial mission leadership conference.
Adult Formation and Professional Development Our strong partnership with Catholic Education Diocese of Wollongong (CEDOW) continued throughout the year with the headlining program Educating with a Mission Lens, now in its sixth year. Steps towards similar partnerships with other dioceses continue to progress.
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Catholic Mission has an ongoing and critical facilitation role with the Plenary Council via Deputy National Director, Peter Gates and Sr Marion Gambin RSJ, a member of the Mission Formation team. This work represents a vital partnership with the Australian Catholic Bishops Conference. Transitions to online platforms, due to the disruption of COVID-19, went smoothly for both the First Assembly of the Plenary Council held in October 2021 and the biennial conference of Catholic Mission and Catholic Religious Australia, Mission: One Heart Many Voices, in September 2021. Participant evaluations rated both events as outstanding successes.
Interculturality Program Our Interculturality Program is designed to build cultural awareness and cross cultural skills for participants living and working in multi-cultural communities. It is delivered by Patrick Fox, a certified trainer on the Berlitz/TMC cultural orientations model. Using a hybrid mode of delivery, Patrick held a training in Toowoomba Diocese in April 2022. This concluded the training begun in October 2020 which had been interrupted due to COVID. This time they were able to carry out a second full day’s session on Cultural and Interpersonal Competency for Mission for pastoral associates, a mix of clergy, religious and lay leaders from across the diocese.
Learn more about our work with mission formation and education
Patrick also presented a keynote, titled Intercultural Clergy – Gift and Challenge for the Presbyterate, for the Archdiocese of Sydney Clergy Formation Day in March 2022. In August 2021, a one-day Cultural Orientations Model was presented to the interdiocesan Committee for Ongoing Formation of Broken Bay, Parramatta, Sydney and Wollongong Dioceses. In Broken Bay Diocese, a six-session program, Cross-cultural Competency for Mission, commenced in February 2022 with priests from Poland, India and Pakistan, as well as lay pastoral workers from the Pacific. Meanwhile, in the Archdiocese of Perth, long-planned formation courses, adapted to Zoom, commenced with two groups: pastoral associates and safeguarding officers. Each received six sessions designed to improve communications skills informed by a deeper cultural awareness, especially around pastorally sensitive issues. The pastoral associates are leading the diocesan-wide initiative Creating Welcoming Parish Communities and assisting parishes to be more culturally competent. The Safeguarding Officers received the training as part of their ongoing formation provided by the Archdiocesan Safeguarding Office.
Catholic Mission Annual Report 2021-22
Schools Formation Programs and World Mission Month July 2021 saw the launch of web-based interactive educational resources for World Mission Month, celebrated in October. This was the first year that Catholic Mission successfully integrated its schools-based education and fundraising programs into the one initiative, known as Socktober. The schools focus for 2021 was the work of the Good Shepherd Sisters in Thailand. These sisters work with children from disadvantaged backgrounds, providing education, nutritious food and socialisation activities.
Christian Workers and other youth networks. The Conference allocated a day for addressing issues faced by post-school young people. The feedback of the five young people who planned the day was unanimous: the way to reach disengaged young Catholics is through engagement with current social challenges, viewed through a Gospel lens and informed by Catholic Social Teaching and recent ecclesial documents such as Laudato Si’ and Fratelli Tutti. Catholic Mission is working with this advice in its preparations for the 2023 MOHMV conference.
Advocacy
The Socktober program has become a gold standard resource. It successfully integrates formation and fundraising components and has seen significant uptake by schools Australia-wide. Its development was supported by personnel from across our organisation who form the Schools Strategy Working Group. Interactive classroom workshops and activities are also an important feature of Catholic Mission’s education programs, increasingly used alongside Socktober.
Throughout the year, we continued our advocacy work for ending the immigration detention of children and for supporting families seeking asylum. Catholic Mission provides in-kind support to the End Child Detention Coalition Australia (ECDC) as a founding member of ECDC and as a representative on its board. The Community Refugee Sponsorship Australia program has become an important part of ECDC strategy and Catholic Mission is a critical partner in this work.
Youth Partnerships
We also have launched Catholic Mission’s Ecological Action Plan (EAP) to provide a framework to ensure that Catholic Mission plays a positive role in God’s mission by caring for our common home.
The Mission: One Heart Many Voices (MOHMV) Conference provided Catholic Mission and Catholic Religious Australia with an important opportunity to collaborate with Australian Young
Catholic Mission Annual Report 2021-22
Interfaith Encounters Program Our Interfaith Encounters program is engaging seven schools in Greater Sydney, bringing together senior secondary students from Catholic and Muslim colleges for a series of modules. This work includes two new inter-school partnerships – a total of four new colleges – that are rolling out the program after a fruitful 2020 pilot. With the success of a virtual day in 2021, Catholic Mission is confident that the program will proceed in full this year, accommodating an online/offline modality as required. We expect to engage between 100 and 140 Studies of Religion (SOR) senior students in the program, as well as teaching staff, faith leaders and school leaders. Catholic Mission has received a grant from Multicultural NSW (COMPACT Social Cohesion and Community Resilience Grants) to run the Interfaith Encounters program with the seven schools in Greater Sydney from February through to August 2022. The COMPACT grant funding covers staff costs for the program coordinator and for the Mission Formation Officer (one day per week) to support program delivery. It also provides funding for schools to cover expenses of catering and tours of places of worship. As grantee, Catholic Mission is now a partner within the COMPACT Alliance, an alliance that has grown to 80 organisations working towards social cohesion and community resilience in NSW.
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IMMERSIONS
Report
John Kerrigan Immersions Business Manager
Another year of disruptions did not stop our Immersions team from pursuing our goals. With the Immersions Program in a holding pattern, we used the time well, developing new Indigenous immersion opportunities and maintaining existing host relationships. The setbacks to the Immersions Program due to COVID-19 are real; however, there is light at the end of the tunnel. As travel restrictions have eased, groups have already started to move their 2023 immersion plans forward. Not surprisingly, the interest in Indigenous immersions grew strongly over the past 2 years. The opportunity to expand our local program options and to build new relationships has clearly paid off. Of particular note is Catholic Mission’s new partnership with Tiwi Islands and with the local school and community that brings opportunities for cultural learnings through cooperative relationships. Newly designed programs that were ready for launch in 2022 will now be launched in 2023. While restrictions on travel and concerns about new COVID-19 strains continue to feed uncertainty, the interest of schools remains high and the excitement of students palpable. For the second year in a row, staffing levels in the Immersions Program have been kept to a minimum. This has required all Immersions staff to be redeployed to different parts of the
organisation at various times of the year. One full-time and three part-time staff members currently work in the team. This level of staffing has been identified as appropriate for the present situation, while containing enough flexibility to be able to increase the hours of part-time staff once international travel commences in earnest and the demand for international immersions returns. The current staffing arrangement is expected to remain throughout the new financial year.
The strategy for the year ahead is to expand the Immersions Program to include Cambodia, Timor-Leste, Thailand and the Philippines. A strategy for marketing, as well as contacting existing clients, will commence in June 2022. Also in our sights is the El Camino de Santiago (Camino) pilgrimage. Our hope is that they will commence as early as 2023.
Learn more about Immersions
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Catholic Mission Annual Report 2021-22
OUR WORK
with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander People Jenny Collins‑White Mission Formation Manager
Our advocacy work with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples is largely focused on the Community Catechist Leadership Program which held several stakeholder meetings throughout the year. A pilot program is underway in Alice Springs, engaging the local elders, Divine Word Missionaries, the National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Catholic Council, and Catholic Mission. The program was launched at the stakeholder meeting in Alice Springs on 20 March 2021. Representatives have been nominated and commissioned for the role of Catechist and the first
formation session for these leaders was held in November 2021. Voices from the Plenary Council have spoken often of the importance of leadership roles for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, and this program enables a concrete expression of that vision for the Australian Church. Meanwhile in 2022, as the Uluru Statement from the Heart and Voice to Parliament emerge as critical
issues, Catholic Mission has developed a strategy to support this work. Additionally, Catholic Mission has launched its Reconciliation Action Plan (RAP). The RAP has been endorsed by Catholic Mission’s National Council, and has also been accepted and formally endorsed by Reconciliation Australia.
Learn more about the Reconciliation Action Plan
Catholic Mission Annual Report 2021-22
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PROGRAMS
Report
Lawrence Gigliotti Programs Manager
Prayer. Compassion. Action. Catholic Mission is the bearer of all three in its role as the Pope’s Mission Agency.
Mission has always been integral to the Catholic Church and the international Pontifical Mission Societies network, Catholic Mission ably supports missionaries, communities and children around the world, creating positive change. Pope Francis reminds us that mission is not something of the past, a romantic leftover from earlier times. Mission is something that is living. Wherever civil unrest, war, drought or famine are to be found in the world, the Church is there, standing side-by-side with the people. Through our connectedness within the universal Church, we are uniquely placed to stand in solidarity with those in need. Catholic Mission uses a Mission Development approach, based in Catholic Social Teaching and missionary theology, together with best practice in the international development space. This year, all staff members were given the opportunity for professional learning in the form of Mission Development modules. The modules highlight the importance of combining faith and action to create holistic solutions in an ever-challenging world. They have helped to broaden staff perspectives on international and community development, through a mission lens. The ongoing pandemic has crippled many communities, with progress paused in some countries and reversed in others. Cycles of poverty and stark
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inequalities have been reinforced. Catholic Mission’s establishment of a COVID-19 relief fund has helped to support countless families across Cambodia, Bangladesh, Ethiopia, India, Myanmar and Thailand.
standing face-to-face with our partners, and it is unfortunate that these in-person interactions have been limited over the past two years. We are grateful to our team and our supporters for their patience and perseverance.
Due to the pontifical structure of Catholic Mission’s work, we can respond to issues at grassroots level. Decision-making is placed as close as possible to the people impacted by decisions made. Catholic Mission staff have provided technical support and advice, as well as a listening ear, to our partners globally through a range of online platforms. While virtual support is not the ideal, travel restrictions and global lockdowns have required us to pivot, suddenly and often, from in-person plans to online settings. Nothing can replace the magic of
Projects forge ahead around the globe, from the construction of Sister Stan’s Vocational Training Centre in Ghana to the completion of the building of the Marist Champagnat Institute in Fiji. We are indebted to our generous supporters whose help and prayers allow Catholic Mission to continue its work as part of the universal Church, reaching the margins and creating lasting change.
Learn more about Programs
Catholic Mission Annual Report 2021-22
COMMUNICATIONS AND MEDIA
Report
Astrid Delayre Communications Officer Simone Medri Communications & Digital Manager
The demand for high quality communication in a growing digital space drove the Communications team during 2021-22.
This year, in collaboration with our PMS network, our team produced a digital campaign for global mission awareness. It featured a tapestry of video messages from religious and lay missionaries from over 50 countries, their faces and voices beckoning from every corner of the world with a statement of hope and joy about the call to mission. The campaign was translated into more than 30 languages (including Arabic and Mandarin) and was launched internationally, in Rome, to mark the start of World Mission Month in October 2021. Catholic Mission also led the way in international collaboration in the creation of a special documentary to celebrate the beatification of Pauline Jaricot, founder of the Society of the Propagation of the Faith and the inspiring figure behind the work of Catholic Mission. Our Communications team was part of an international pre-production working group, actively involved in scripting and story development. Several successful strategies from the previous year continued, using video and multimedia tools to tell our story. The past 12 months saw the production of 180 video ads and micro-clips, a rise in our social media reach. Last October’s World Mission Month campaign video became the most watched video on Catholic Mission’s YouTube channel and
Catholic Mission Annual Report 2021-22
its biggest engagement on Facebook, with over half a million views to date. New innovations were introduced, including the launch of Mission Today Digital, a monthly email that shares news and takes supporters ‘behind the scenes’ at Catholic Mission. Our Communications team completed a major review and redesign of the Catholic Mission website, with careful attention to user feedback and maintaining high quality content. Our organisation’s search engine results remain strong, coming up in the number one position when searching ‘pontifical mission societies’, ‘catholic donation’ and a combination of other keywords, not only in Australia but in many other countries worldwide.
Online Donations
+40% Launch
Mission Today Digital
A new logo for 2022 was created to reflect the celebrations and milestones of Catholic Mission and its service to global mission. Other branding material was produced and a special landing page on the Catholic Mission website has increased digital traffic and awareness of the 200th Anniversary Year. Our digital channels continue to connect with the next generation of supporters. The largest demographic (over 55 percent) of our Facebook users is between the ages of 25 and 45 years.
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FUNDRAISING
Report
Adrienne Williams Fundraising Manager
We continue to be overwhelmed by the faithfulness of our supporters and the impact of their generosity in the communities we serve. Together, we were able to achieve the following milestones.
At a Glance: 2021-22 Catholic Mission is pleased to report:
$ 14.8 million raised
$3.1 million in appeals supporting projects in Thailand, Malawi, Cambodia, Myanmar, Ukraine and other regions
4% increase
in church-giving following a challenging 2020
363 schools participating in Socktober 2021
Launch
Workplace Giving Program
We are an organisational member of the Fundraising Institute of Australia.
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Once again, Catholic Mission’s supporters and partners continue to be there for missionaries, especially where the need is greatest. We are immensely grateful for this generous commitment, and we look forward to further partnerships that connect our supporters with missionaries around the world and with opportunities to touch the lives of those in need.
Workplace Giving Program In March 2022 Catholic Mission launched its Workplace Giving program, which allows supporters to contribute to their favourite mission programs with pre-tax donations. Workplace Giving is a simple, yet powerful way for employers and employees to grow lifegiving community projects through regular contributions from their pay. These contributions go a long way in empowering Catholic Mission’s support for children, communities and Church leaders, in Australia and globally. Workplace Giving also enables new and existing community endeavours, like the scholarship program for students at Lideta Catholic Cathedral School (LCCS) in Ethiopia. In one of the world’s poorest nations, this program supports the education of children who are orphaned, as well as children whose parents are single mothers, perhaps unemployed
or on low-income, or who have no access to a pension. The program’s ongoing success will see long term benefits for families who cannot afford to send their children to school. To date, over 600 graduates from LCCS have gone on to become doctors. A one-year scholarship for one student costs approximately $425, which can be covered by a gift of $16.35 per fortnight as part of the Workplace Giving program.
Learn more about Workplace Giving
Catholic Mission Annual Report 2021-22
SOCKTOBER
kicks new goals in disrupted year Matthew Poynting National Community Engagement Officer – Socktober
The challenge of a global pandemic in 2021-22 proved bitter-sweet for the staff of Socktober, Catholic Mission’s schools and community engagement program.
On the one hand, the Socktober team experienced the frustration of lengthy lockdowns and lack of face-to-face interaction with school communities. On the other hand, the Socktober campaign’s agility over two difficult years attracted a national award nomination. The irony was not lost on the staff who gathered for the Awards Ceremony of the Fundraising Institute of Australia: the announcement of winner of the Best Pivot Campaign or Initiative had been delayed for four months due to COVID concerns. By the time the announcement was made, there was enough evidence to suggest that Socktober, a finalist in the category, was much more than an also-ran. In 2021, despite harsher restrictions in many areas, Socktober nearly doubled the income generated by schools using the peer-to-peer platform for a second straight year. The fundraising reported through the Socktober online environment totaled $221,320, a 90 percent increase on 2020. The number of registered schools remained steady at 363, with two in every five of those schools converted to active fundraising—a credit to the persistence of Catholic Mission staff around the country to introduce what is
still a relatively new form of fundraising in schools. Most importantly, the program had impact. With the continued enhancement of themed Mission Packs and the development of a renowned suite of education and formation resources, students across Australia had their heads, hearts and hands deeply engaged in the story of Kusa and Samorn*, a family who benefits from the unwavering support of the Good Shepherd Sisters’ Kindergarten in Bangkok.
Campaign (that honour went to Wayside Chapel’s outstanding Long Walk Home event), our committed staff around Australia driving Socktober’s growth and success in Catholic schools can be justifiably proud of their efforts. Our focus for Socktober 2022 turns to Ethiopia. With a refined strategy for reaching teachers, students and parents, including the call to simply “Kick Goals for Good”, Catholic Mission is expecting its biggest year yet. *Names altered to protect identity
So, while Catholic Mission may not have celebrated a win for the Best Pivot
Learn more about Socktober
Catholic Mission Annual Report 2021-22
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FRESH APPROACH
to schools engagement Catholic Mission has a long-established reputation as an outstanding provider of formation services and fundraising opportunities for the Catholic Education sector. Our innovative and interactive schools program engages the heads, hearts and hands of students and their families, enabling them to contribute support to communities in need around the world. This year we unveiled a new and groundbreaking strategy to closely integrate our range of offerings in the Catholic Education sector.
A team of Catholic Mission staff from across the country, highly experienced in education and mission formation, led the development of the strategy, drawing out the core expressions at the heart of our work in schools: Form in Mission; Pray, Advocate, Act; and Fundraise. The team then identified the six key pillars of engagement with schools. These pillars are the areas where we offer Catholic schools the greatest value for their mission needs: Student Formation; Staff Formation; Immersions; Socktober; Community Partnerships; and Workplace Giving. The Catholic Mission Schools Strategy was adopted at the 2022 National Conference, coinciding with the delivery of the latest Strategic Plan (2022-2025), the Ecological Action Plan, and the
Reconciliation Action Plan. This was deliberately timed, not only to make use of the national gathering of staff to introduce the strategy, but also to acknowledge the influence of the other
three plans in the development of the schools strategy. The new strategy will guide Catholic Mission staff who are faced with the enormous and critically important responsibility of engaging the emerging generation of Catholic-educated Australians in the global work of mission. For decades, Catholic Mission has delivered a strong strategy for mission engagement among students and staff in Australian schools. The refining and formalising of this strategy is a significant step toward strengthening the relationships we have with schools across the country.
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Catholic Mission Annual Report 2021-22
Schools Community Engagement
The School Community Engagement wheel guides educators in looking for year-round opportunities to empower their students to respond to the call to mission. By following the simple conceptual flow of the strategy. Education professionals can visualise their mission engagement plan for the year or expand their visionary planning to a period of several years.
Catholic Mission Annual Report 2021-22
Learn more about our work in schools
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CATHOLIC MISSION’S
Work with Communities
$5.9M*
96
11,107
distributed to community programs
projects in 23 countries
catechists supported through Catholic Mission programs
As the humanitarian crisis unfolded in Ukraine, Catholic Mission responded to an urgent call for help from its mission partners in Poland and Romania. As an agency in the worldwide network of the Pontifical Mission Societies (PMS), we are grateful to play a part in the critical work of assisting refugees desperately fleeing the conflict.
Learn more about our work with communities
Fr Eugen Blaj, National Director of PMS Romania, describes scenes of desperation and compassion as Ukrainians seek shelter across the border. “In Romania, local parishioners provide emergency relief and pastoral support. The majority [of those fleeing] are women with children. The refugee centres are crowded, the services basic and local parishioners do what they can to provide mattresses, bedsheets, pillows and food, as well as nappies and basic sanitary items.” Fr Eugen speaks of the pressures faced families with children:
“Maybe you can stay one night in a room with 20 beds or more, but that is not a normal life. Families are desperately looking for a place where they can stay longer, at least for a few weeks.” In Poland, refugees are received into local parishes. At the PMS chapel, they pray for world peace. Fr Maciej Bedzinski, PMS National Director in Poland, expresses his gratitude for the support from Australia. “This shows that the Pontifical Mission Societies are one big family, a missionary family,” he says.
*For the exact amount, see page 22.
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Catholic Mission Annual Report 2021-22
“With tears in her eyes, she told me that the men from 18 years above are taken in the war, and maybe their house is destroyed. It is a lot of pain [for the Ukrainian refugees]. If you ask them something, they start to cry.” – Rev. Eugen Blaj, PMS Romania
Lisanjala Health Clinic, Malawi: an oasis of hope In rural Malawi, Sr Nilcéia* runs the Lisanjala Health Clinic, providing medical support for the local population, especially babies and children. Malawi is one of the poorest countries in the world, explains Peter, who works at the Clinic, illnesses such as malaria and malnourishment are common in Lisanjala, and many families are unable to think beyond their next meal. “Sometimes this next meal is just leaves, grass, bark or roots, which makes them very sick,” he says. “This year, four children under the age of five have died from preventable illnesses [in our facility].” “The need here in Malawi is great,” says Sister Nilcéia. “Our small clinic, a red brick building in the dusty landscape, is an oasis of hope.” With its generous supporters, Catholic Mission helps make possible the lifesaving work of the Lisanjala Health Clinic in Malawi. *Names altered to protect identities. This story was first shared by our colleagues from Missio UK.
Catholic Mission Annual Report 2021-22
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CATHOLIC MISSION’S
Work with Children
$1.8M*
147
118,781
distributed to children’s programs
projects supported in 16 countries
children supported through Catholic Mission programs
Catholic Mission partners with Sister Chalaad and the Good Shepherd Sisters in Bangkok who operate the Kindergarten Centre. The Centre offers children from disadvantaged backgrounds a chance to go to school, learn in the classroom, play with friends and receive nutritious meals.
Learn more about our work with children
The Kindergarten Centre has helped parents like Samorn**, a single mother who was desperate to find an option for early childhood education for her five-year-old son, Kusa**. On her single income it seemed unaffordable in a place like Bangkok. Yet, like a small miracle, and thanks to its supporters, the Kindergarten Centre has been able to offer her son the education and sustenance he needs, as his mother builds a brighter future for them both. With over 100 students currently enrolled at the Kindergarten, Sr Chalaad knows that there is still more work to be done to support these children.
“We try to support them, and it’s not only for education,” she says. “Mind and body have to go together for the children to develop.”
The Kindergarten Centre provides all the necessary school supplies and uniforms so that each child has an equal opportunity. In addition, Sr Chalaad and the staff know that these children may not always have access to a healthy, filling meal. By providing a nutritious
lunch and snacks, they ensure that the children are given the energy and strength to make the most of each day. The Kindergarten Centre provides a safe and affirming environment where children can learn and socialise. They are
*For the exact amount, see page 22.
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Catholic Mission Annual Report 2021-22
The Kindergarten Centre allows children like Kusa to know the possibilities that can open up through education, as well as through the human kindness of people like Sr Chalaad and a nurturing, protective community. helped to prepare for primary school, laying a foundation on which they can build their young lives. For children like Kusa, and for parents like Samorn, it is a lifechanging gift of education made possible through Catholic Mission’s generous supporters who help purchase the school supplies, uniforms and healthy meals for the children. Most of all, it is a gift of hope. It allows children like Kusa to know the possibilities that can open up through the power of education, as well as through the human kindness of people like Sr Chalaad and a nurturing, protective community. **Name and images altered to protect identity.
Catholic Mission Annual Report 2021-22
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CATHOLIC MISSION’S
Work with Church Leaders
$863K*
70,320
35
distributed to programs for Church leaders
seminarians supported by the Society of St Peter the Apostle**
projects supported through Catholic Mission programs
There are tens of thousands of novices and seminarians around the world who are training to be Church leaders who care and advocate for some of the world’s most vulnerable people. The Salesian Sisters of Don Bosco novitiate in Cambodia is an example of that training and formation. Novices like Teresa and Cecilia receive life-forming education and training that will help them prepare for religious life – a life of supporting their communities and lifting up those in need.
Learn more about our work with Church leaders
Cecilia and Saren Teresa are both novices with the Salesian Sisters. Cecilia has felt the call to serve for many years, especially in her desire to educate disadvantaged children.
“I felt that by becoming a Sister I could give good education to the young, especially the poor ones just like me… I could be a sign of hope to the people.” Born into a Catholic family, Cecilia’s life has always been sustained by faith. “Every time I go back to my first call, and the Lord’s goodness, I gain the strength and courage to move on. When I meditate on the life of my Lord, I could not but give my ‘Yes’ generously.” Saren Teresa grew up in a Buddhist household in rural Cambodia. She first engaged with the Salesian Sisters when they provided her with the opportunity to continue her education at a high *For the exact amount, see page 22. **2,925 seminarians supported through Australian distributions
20
Catholic Mission Annual Report 2021-22
“Every time I go back to my first call, and the Lord’s goodness, I gain the strength and courage to move on. When I meditate on the life of my Lord, I could not but give my ‘Yes’ generously.” – Cecilia school in a larger town, as her village had no further education opportunities. After completing a teacher training course, Saren Teresa worked with the Salesian Sisters, teaching Maths and Physics to elementary and high school students. She continued to experience the love and care of the Salesian
Sisters. Over time, this led her to the Catholic faith and realising her call to religious life. Novices like Cecilia and Saren Teresa are the future generation of Church leaders. As professed sisters, they will be instrumental in their communities,
supporting mission programs that reach out to those in most need, providing spiritual and practical support for children and families. This is why their time as novices, completing their own spiritual formation and education, is so important. Sr Gertrudes Ditching FMA, Provincial of the Salesian Sisters in Cambodia and Myanmar, is very proud of the novices and how they have adapted to the challenges of COVID-19. “The demands of the mission in this pandemic are greater than before. And in order to manage the mission effectively and provide continuity, we have to invest in the formation of the young women in the various stages of religious formation.” By supporting novices like Teresa and Cecilia on their journey through the novitiate, Catholic Mission’s supporters and partners have an ongoing impact on the lives of children and families around the world.
Catholic Mission Annual Report 2021-22
21
FINANCIAL
Report
Distributed funds
All figures in AUD unless otherwise specified.
$1,813,146
$5,858,213
Catholic Mission’s Work with Children Country
$862,563
Catholic Mission’s Work with Communities
Catholic Mission’s Work with Church Leaders
$AUD
Country
$AUD
Country
Cambodia
39,797
Ethiopia
66,448
Australia
402,000
Australia
2,728
Cambodia
1,081,263
Cambodia
4,360
Ghana
397,295
Democratic Republic of the Congo
Haiti
54,766
Ethiopia
746,650
Ghana
53,934
India
243,252
Ghana
31,107
India
167,526
Kenya
124,485
Haiti
Malawi
66,575
Malawi
127,581
Holy See
18,700
414
$AUD
Democratic Republic of the Congo
518,941
Mozambique
266,639
5,586
Myanmar
97,554
India
469,918
Myanmar
46,710
Nepal
24,586
Malawi
224,819
Papua New Guinea
25,554
Papua New Guinea
94,520
Mongolia
55,556
Solomon Islands
66,777
Myanmar
272,679
Sri Lanka
71,270
Nepal
51,389
Sri Lanka
35,841
Tanzania
132,530
Papua New Guinea
40,933
Tanzania
62,794
Thailand
203,814
Peru
Philippines
9,925
Solomon Islands
7,311
6,899
Thailand
64,758
Tonga
7,471
Philippines
49,625
Zambia
42,322
Zambia
61,000
Sierra Leone
148,750
Total
Sri Lanka
291,079
Thailand
267,714
Timor Leste
779,043
Total
1,813,146
Tonga
68,750
Uganda
225,039
Ukraine
50,000
Zambia
56,945
Total
5,858,213
Managed Funds Country Cambodia Madagascar Malawi Philippines
$AUD 5,118 50,931 1,535 105,477
Palestinian Territory
37,927
Tanzania
30,994
Uganda
2,201
Zambia
5,000
Total
Total Distributions (AUD)
22
862,563
239,183
8,773,105
Catholic Mission Annual Report 2021-22
Distribution of 2021‑22 Income
Gross Income by Diocese 2021‑22 Diocese
$AUD
$AUD
Adelaide
283,605
Distributable Funds
7,813,801
Armidale
87,212
Community Education
1,003,140
Ballarat
88,584
Program Support
943,070
Bathurst
70,050
Diocesan Support
1,826,720
Brisbane
1,573,184
Broken Bay
582,144
Broome
2,190
Bunbury
88,082
Cairns
110,797
Canberra & Goulburn
548,380
Darwin
81,657
Geraldton
36,695
Hobart
102,436
Lismore
199,890
Maitland-Newcastle
321,362
Melbourne
3,398,270
National Office
1,582,572
Parramatta Perth Port Pirie Rockhampton
602,735 1,569,181 93,558 156,875
Sale
77,993
Sandhurst
83,395
Sydney
109,282
Townsville
123,474
Wilcannia-Forbes Wollongong
Total
Net Operating expenses
Total
7,272 4,591,349 16,185,352
Global Distribution by Pontifical Mission Societies Work with Children
USD 15,531,285
Work with Communities
USD 68,489,026
Work with Church Leaders
USD 15,560,144
We would especially like to thank those who have supported Catholic Mission through a gift in their Will in 2021‑2022, ensuring their legacy in mission continues. For more information about leaving a gift in your Will, please contact your local Catholic Mission Diocesan Director for a confidential discussion.
2,083,683
Toowoomba Wagga Wagga
Transferred to (from) reserves
1,642,771 12,270 473,025
16,185,352
To view our full 2021‑22 Financial Report, or past Publications, please visit our website at cm.org.au/annualreport.
Catholic Mission Annual Report 2021-22
23
@catholicmission
@catholicmission
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Diocesan Directors Adelaide Mr Tony Johnston 0407 168 002
Cairns Mrs Anna Jimenez 0450 213 042
Parramatta Mr Alan Wedesweiler 0400 327 315
Armidale Mrs Jacqueline Toakley 0459 981 927
Canberra & Goulburn Mr Peter Hade 0407 413 124
Perth Mr Francis Leong 0419 958 140
Ballarat Mr Kevin Meese 0411 256 112
Darwin Br Bill Tynan 0409 115 876
Port Pirie Mr Michael Preece 0428 881 423
Bathurst Mr David McGovern 0431 481 731
Geraldton Mr Francis Leong 0419 958 140
Rockhampton Mr Greg Clair 0419 029 839
Brisbane Brisbane Office 07 3155 6982
Hobart Rev Deacon Michael Hangan 0438 243 533
Sale Mr Kevin Meese 0411 256 112
Broken Bay Mr Alan Wedesweiler 0400 327 315
Lismore Mrs Michelle Sullivan 0402 234 456
Sandhurst Mr Kevin Meese 0411 256 112
Broome Mr Francis Leong 0419 958 140
Maitland-Newcastle Mr David McGovern 0432 481 731
Sydney Mr Alan Wedesweiler 0400 327 315
Bunbury Mr Francis Leong 0419 958 140
Melbourne Mr Kevin Meese 0411 256 112
Toowoomba Brisbane Office 07 3155 6982
National Office PO Box 1668 North Sydney NSW 2059
T: 02 9919 7800 E: info@catholicmission.org.au
Townsville Mr Thomas Tarttelin & Mrs Helen Tarttelin OAM 0484 784 919 Wagga Wagga Ms Jane Plum 0400 445 605 Wilcannia-Forbes Mr David McGovern 0431 481 731 Wollongong Mr Alan Wedesweiler 0400 327 315 National Office Fr Brian Lucas National Director 1800 257 296
Freecall: 1800 257 296 catholicmission.org.au ABN: 52 945 927 066
