Dear Parishioners and friends of St Benedict’s,

The end of a financial or calendar year is always a good opportunity to reflect on the impact our mission as a parish – the various ways that our efforts and our financial generosity has made a difference in the lives of people in our community and beyond.

There is much to celebrate and be grateful for this past year. St Benedict's has continued to be a beacon of hope in Melbourne, serving as a hub of spiritual nourishment, prayer, and mission. Here are some highlights from the past year:

• Stronger outreach: we continue to invest in creating spaces that welcome people who are not engaged in a community of faith, providing a non-threatening opportunity for them to explore the Christian faith. The Alpha Course has been one important way we have facilitated this.

• Supporting the needy: our parish has piloted a new program that provides meals within a context of community and friendship. We are excited about the developing impact of this ministry.

• Impacting the broader church: Some of our staff have invested more time in mentoring other parishes, helping them implement programs and systems that have been fruitful at St Benedict's. Our Awaken Pentecost gathering was another example of how our parish is energising the broader church (60 parishes were represented at that event)

• Children, youth and young adults: Our environments that nurture young people continue to be a great blessing to a growing number of young families, from near and far.

• Online outreach: We have noted a sharp increase in our online audience, and positive feedback, as we have invested more in this area. We trust that many lives around the world are being touched and enriched as a result.

These ministries are just a sample of the many ways our collective efforts and generosity make a meaningful difference in people's lives. None of this would be possible without your ongoing financial support, which sustains our current programs and enables us to envision new ways to serve and uplift our community.

Whether you are a regular parishioner or benefit from our Parish from afar, I appeal to you to consider making a special donation to support this all-important work. Every gift, no matter the size, makes a significant difference.

Attached to this email is a document that provides three ways you can contribute to this end-of-financial-year appeal. Alternatively, you can donate right away by clicking on the buttons below:

Give a one-time gift

Set up a recurring gift

I pray that your generosity opens you ever more fully to the abundant love and blessings of our God.

With gratitude,

Fr Dan Serratore
Parish Priest
St Benedict’s Catholic Community