Every year, the Diocese of Broken Bay, through Pastoral Works Broken Bay (PWBB), supports members of our Diocesan community, helping to educate young people and support vulnerable people.
The PWBB November Appeal is a chance for parishioners of the Diocese to support ministries within their own community, particularly the Confraternity of Christian Doctrine (CCD) and Hospital Chaplaincy and Pastoral Care Program.
Through the Confraternity of Christian Doctrine (CCD), the Diocese sends more than 700 volunteer catechists into primary and secondary schools to provide religious education to over 12,000 Catholic students within the public education system, with the local parish communities.
Through weekly classes, these volunteers provide key Catholic education to thousands of young people who would otherwise go without.
Pastoral Works Broken Bay also supports the work of the Hospital Chaplaincy and Pastoral Care Practitioner Program.
In the last financial year, our Priests and CatholicCare Pastoral Care Practitioners engaged with around 2,000 individuals (including patients, their families/friends/carers, and even hospital staff) across the seven hospitals (Hornsby Ku-ring-gai, Gosford, Northern Beaches, Royal North Shore, Mona Vale, Sydney Adventist and Wyong) in which they minister, representing around 5,000 pastoral visits.
Their special ministry supports patients and their families when they are at their most vulnerable, and they are there for those who may not have a family. Sometimes, it may mean a simple conversation, a listening ear, or providing prayerful and sacramental support.
Through Pastoral Works Broken Bay, the Diocese supports the Pastoral Care Practitioners (PCP) from CatholicCare, the Hospital Chaplains and the Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion (volunteers in each Parish) to ensure that no one facing illness or end-of-life situations needs to suffer alone.
Pastoral Works Broken Bay also supports the work of St Lucy’s School and St Edmund’s College, schools that provide education for students with disabilities, and the Ephpheta Centre, which supports the deaf community across Sydney.
Overall, these ministries provide hope to people, through education, the Sacraments and support. They are a way to show and spread God’s love to people living within our community.
You can support Pastoral Works Broken Bay’s November Appeal by donating using the envelopes at your parish or donate online at bbcatholic.org.au/pastoralworks.
All donations to Pastoral Works Broken Bay over $2 are 100% tax deductible.
Visit the September 2024 edition of Broken Bay News (Pages 14 and 33), to meet the people working in Pastoral Works Broken Bay ministry and the people they support thanks to your generosity.