The difference between Catholic Mission and Caritas is that Caritas has a very specific mission of addressing emergency relief and development projects overseas, and social justice education at home.

Catholic Mission’s role is to support a holistic approach to Mission, to answer fully the call to love God and to love our neighbour. That means we are working to help to establish the Kingdom of God – Reign of God which is the basis of the mission of Jesus. We do that with the understanding of the Church as a Community of Disciples on Mission. We help build Christian communities, help those communities grow genuine disciples of Jesus and we help those communities of disciples reach out in Mission, to share their faith, to care for people in need, and to work for justice and creation.

Throughout Australia we support education and formation in mission and evangelisation, again aiming to promote the holistic approach of Jesus.

Every Catholic institution should be aiming to be a Community of Disciples on Mission, involved in community building, discipleship, faith-sharing, care for those in need and working for justice. Every person should be encouraged to be a member of that Catholic community, growing as a disciple, and involved in faith sharing, care for those in need and work for justice.

A parish, project holder, or religious congregation makes an application to its Diocesan Bishop for funding. The Bishop collates and prioritises all applications from his diocese. The Bishop then makes an application for either: an Ordinary Subsidy (bread & butter type items) or Extraordinary Subsidies (special projects, etc). Applications are sent to Rome through the Apostolic Nuncio.

National Directors from all countries are circularised with the details of all applications prior to the May meeting in Rome. A National Director can nominate if he wishes to speak to any application.

National Directors, at the General Assembly, examine, assess, and determine the level of funding for each diocese. Each General Secretary informs the National Director of each country of the destinations to which funds held in their country are to be sent.

From July onwards the funds are distributed accordingly. All recipients are required to acknowledge receipt and to provide reports/photographs about the projects that are receiving funding.

Catholic Mission recieves funds via Parish Appeals, donations, direct mail appeals, bequests etc. Each month these funds, already deposited in our banking system, are transferred to one account for security and investment. Each year in March the International General Secretaries are notified of the funds Australia has available for distribution to projects.

In May each year the General Assembly of the National Directors from around the world allocate the funds to projects. In July Catholic Mission Australia, is then notified of the countries and the projects to which our funds are to be sent. Funding is sent directly from Australia to the projects.

In Australia one third of the funds raised for Catholic Mission's work with Communities (Propagation of the Faith) is allocated to Projects in Australia via the Home Mission Fund. This fund was established in 1926 to support the various works of mission in remote Australia. The Australian Catholic Bishops Coinference sets the criteria for the distribution of this fund. This takes place each year in April.

Catholic Mission's administration costs currently stand at 18.5 per cent. The costs involved in the running of a national organisation including personnel, office space etc are necessary and fixed. This enables all the remaining funds, after costs, to be used in project work for communities.

There are no middle agents, bureaucracy or hidden costs incurred at the project end. The Church network is very effective which means no additional costs are incurred for project implementation. Also, larger donations ensure that an even higher proportion goes to help directly. We endeavor to keep our costs as low as possible while meeting the needs of our donors. For example, donors need and request feedback and this involves the cost of producing newsletters and reports.

Children’s Mission is the Catholic Church’s official mission aid agency for children, working actively in response to requests for assistance from local communities. The Partners program is directed at helping children and their communities who are in need of assistance.

It’s really easy! Freecall 1800 257 296 or go here. Simply fill in the details required on the brochure, including your financial commitment. Payment options are available via cheque, money order, credit card, direct debit.

It is impossible to give an exact number of children who benefit from the Partners program. It is estimated that over 2500 projects and 515,000 children were assisted by funds collected in 2001. Because of the nature of many of the projects, for example, building a school, the benefit for children is ongoing.

Financial assistance is the main source of support and funding varies depending on the local need. Projects include; providing food, clothes, medical care to children in schools, orphanages, on the street, building and providing resources for schools, day care centres and dispensaries, providing access to clean and safe drinking water. Rarely are resources and supplies sent to the projects. Globalisation and development has meant that it is more efficient and cost effective to purchase in the local setting than to supply goods directly from Australia.

Catholic Mission is an international organisation and through its work assists projects in 160 countries around the world.

The program operates on a minimum commitment of $15 a month. However there is flexibility in the giving – a donor may choose to give monthly, quarterly, half yearly etc. At any time, the donor can increase or decrease their gift. Gifts can be made by cheque, money order, credit card or direct debit. Cash is only encouraged for those who wish to come into a Catholic Mission office to make payments. Partners are also encouraged to keep in mind the children and their communities. Partners receive a photo and story quarterly of one of the projects and the children that their money is helping to support.

Children’s Mission Partners is different from child sponsorship programs because one child is not singled out for help, rather a whole community of children benefit from the financial assistance. The program is based on partnership – partnership of donors, communities and Catholic Mission.

Children in developing countries suffer from hunger, disease and poverty. The projects supported through Children’s Mission Partners vary to meet both immediate and more long term needs. All projects encourage communities to be active participants not passive recipients of projects and their funding. How are projects for children determined? Local communities request the funds for their particular needs. In these requests, details such as local contributions (financial, labour, volunteer and the like), costs, children’s needs in the community and number of children benefiting are listed.

The Bishop was convinced that even though young and needing care and help, the child is capable of playing his or her part in the Church’s Mission. He strongly believed in the dignity of children and founded Children’s Mission with the objective of ‘children helping children’. The response to the Bishop’s appeal was extraordinary. In only a few years his work of helping children overseas spread, not only in France, but all over Europe, North America, Asia and Africa. Over the years, thousands of projects and millions of children have been part of Children’s Mission.

Catholic Mission's work with Children began in 1842. Monsignor de Forbin Janson, Bishop of Nancy, France was deeply affected by the distress of Chinese children abandoned in the streets. Today, we care for children on all corners of the globe.

Direct Debits are deducted monthly from your nominated bank account. You may nominate a specific date for your regular monthly, quarterly, twice yearly or annual deduction. You will receive an annual receipt after the end of the tax year which includes all of your regular deductions as well as any other one off donations made during the financial year.

Please download and fill out the Direct Debit Authorisation Form or telephone our Donor Service Team on 1800 257 296 (toll free). Fill out the form and return it by mail to:

Catholic Mission
PO Box 1668
North Sydney
NSW 2059

or

fax it to 02 8904 0246.

Be sure to indicate on the form which area of Catholic Mission’s work you wish to support. Be it our work with Children, Communities or Church Leaders.

If you have any further questions please contact the Donor Service Team on 1800 257 296 (toll free).