Archbishop’s Christmas Appeal 2024

Below: Mount Hagen Orphanage care

Jesus’ birth is a gift of love seeking to embrace all needy people. 

It is a gift we celebrate and are called to share. 

Need within our world is great and crosses all borders. Many communities we seek to help have different means to meet their needs. 

We are again called to support the needs of our neighbours through the Archbishop’s Christmas Appeal during Christmas Masses across the Archdiocese.

Our assistance will continue supporting Bethlehem University and the National Council of Churches’ Christmas Bowl Appeal with its endeavours seeking to help displaced people or those facing displacement to survive, return, rebuild or prevent their need to leave due to war or climate change in Indonesia, Sri Lanka, Gaza, Jordan and Zimbabwe.

Further support will be given for projects within the Dioceses of Otukpo, Nigeria and Eldoret, Kenya in Africa, Thamarassery, India and Mount Hagen, PNG, as well as projects through the La Salette Martha Province, in India and the Blessed Sacrament Fathers’ Philippines Province.

A contribution towards assisting efforts for a silver jubilee house project within India is also envisaged.

Above: Otukpo Diocese Nigeria Photo supplied: Bishop Michael Apochi.

Within Mount Hagen, our contribution will support orphan care by providing food, clothing, shelter, medical care, education, and protection.

Locally, contributions to The Farm in Galong and HOME in Queanbeyan will also assist their efforts in caring for people with specific needs in a safe environment. 

Last year, the Archbishop’s Christmas Appeal raised over $53,600,  of which $5,500 was given through the Ukrainian Catholic Church in Australia to support the humanitarian efforts being undertaken by the Ukraine Catholic Church in Ukraine and the works of Mudra Sprava (Wise Action), $6,000 assisted the Diocese of Otukpo, Nigeria and $5,000 the Diocese of Eldoret, Kenya in Africa.

In India, $5,000 was given to each of the La Salette Matha Province and the Diocese of Thamarassery, and $5,000 was also given to the Blessed Sacrament Fathers for endeavours in the Philippines.

Bethlehem University in the Holy Land received $7,000 for student assistance and over $4,100 to help construct a staff house for the region’s clinic nurse in Sirovanga, within the Diocese of Gizo in the Solomon Islands. $3,000 went to the National Council of Churches in Australia’s (NCCA’s) Christmas Bowl Appeal to assist their Act for Peace projects.

$4,000 went to both The Farm in Galong and HOME in Queanbeyan.

• An opportunity to support the Archbishop’s Christmas Appeal will be available during Christmas Eve or Christmas Day Masses throughout the Archdiocese.