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, 35 parishes 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 live streaming 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 stay home-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