The Lenten Campaign for 2025 raised a total of $6 million, around $0.46 million less than in 2024, the chairperson of the Lenten Collection and Allocation Committee, Deacon Vincent Chan reported at the conclusion of the year.
The global and local economy has been suffering. However it is encouraging to note the continuing efforts made by parishes and schools. With the support of parish priests and school principals, $2.84 million was raised from parishes, $2.36 million from schools, $142,189 from Catholic institutions and $697,781 from individuals.
On behalf of the Allocation Committee, Deacon Chan expressed heartfelt gratitude to everyone whether the support was financial or spiritual. May the Lord bless and keep all the donors and receivers. Every positive and generous attitude is a treasure in the eyes of God.
The committee has taken into consideration of the size of the collections, and that, under the current social and economic conditions, there will be increasing calls from the community for assistance. It resolved to allocate all the collections of $6 million raised with an input of $0.66 million from the reserve to make a total of $6.7 million for the 2025 allocation.
Funds have been allocated to various charitable activities, with $503,400 going to 16 parishes for charity work, $123,500 to 50 secondary schools for service projects, $500,000 for overseas emergency relief as a sign of universal solidarity and $5,573,100 to seven welfare agencies.
The breakdown of the seven welfare agencies is as follows: $5,204,600 to Caritas-Hong Kong for diverse service programmes; $7,500 to the Faith and Light Community HK for the service to people with mental health problems; $13,000 to St. Camillus Benevolent Association for the service to the physical afflicted and people of advanced age; $48,000 to the Oblates of Mary Immaculate for counselling and growth support for the hearing impaired students; $100,000 to the St. Peter’s Revival Association for the assistance of discharged inmates in their rehabilitation and employment programmes; $100,000 to the Chain of Charity Movement for the caring of “live alone” elderly; $100,000 to Rehabilitation Light Up Education Fund of the Catholic Church for discharged youth inmates for their transitional period living expenses to normal life.
Details of the 2025 collections and allocations can be found on the Lenten Campaign website: http://Lenten.catholic.org.hk
