In the midst of the challenges and realities faced by families and the broader community, the Church has always had a vital role to play in society, Archbishop Peter A Comensoli says, ‘to reach out in compassion, offer support and proclaim a message of hope to those who are struggling’.
It’s why he believes strongly in the theme of this year’s Archbishop’s Campaign: ‘Go out to the whole world; proclaim the Good News to all creation’ (Mark 16:15).
‘Before Jesus ascended back to his Father, he entrusted his disciples with a particular mission,’ says the Archbishop. ‘He said, “Go out to all the world and proclaim the Good News.” We’re now being called to respond to that same missionary invitation today, in our own time and place.
‘We’re the ones now who can proclaim the Good News of Jesus, not only through our words, but also through the witness of our lives. We also share in this mission when we support the many life-giving works, the works of mercy, out to our people in the Archdiocese and beyond.’
The Archbishop’s Campaign offers a streamlined approach to giving in the Archdiocese of Melbourne, combining several special collections into the one unified effort. Rather than being asked to give multiple times throughout the year, the faithful can now make a significant impact through a single pledge to make a recurring monthly gift online for the purposes of the Archdiocese.
In 2024, the community raised $1 million, which was distributed to key Catholic agencies, many of whom achieved their greatest yearly result in more than a decade.
A key focus of this year’s Archbishop’s Campaign is the ongoing care and support of the nearly 100 retired priests of the Archdiocese, ‘who have, over so many years, faithfully served God’s people in our parishes and communities,’ explains Archbishop Comensoli. ‘The campaign also ensures the ongoing formation of seminarians—your future priests—at Corpus Christi College, the regional seminary.’
The Campaign also supports the work of Melbourne Overseas Mission, ‘that great institution of our Archdiocese that reaches out into other parts of the world such as Papua New Guinea, Timor Leste and Peru’.
Other beneficiaries include the John Pierce Centre, which cares for the Deaf and the hard of hearing; the ministries of Pregnancy Assistance Frankston and the Caroline Chisholm Society, which help women through their pregnancies; and the Opening the Doors Foundation, which supports the education of our young Indigenous peoples.
This year, Archbishop Comensoli has also committed to strengthening chaplaincy services available in the prisons, ‘because it is precisely into such difficult spaces that Jesus called us to be present’.
The Archbishop’s Campaign will take place throughout the month of August, with campaign posters and envelopes with pledge cards available in churches across the Archdiocese, and QR codes on posters and pledge envelopes for easy online giving.
On 23 and 24 August, at Masses across the Archdiocese, parishioners will be asked to commit to a recurring monthly gift and, on the final weekend, 30 and 31 August, asked to finalise their support.
Through the Archbishop’s Campaign, the Good News of Jesus is made visible in the local Church, says Archbishop Comensoli.
‘Your generosity of prayer, time, resources and support allows these vital works to flourish, so that the love of Christ may continue to be proclaimed here and now.’
Donate today and support the Archbishop’s Campaign. Donations of $2 or more are tax-deductible.
