Project Advance: a `win-win' for parish and diocese

By Laureen McMahon

The Project Advance Commencement took place at St. Patrick's Church in Vancouver on April 12, with over 200 Leadership Committee volunteers and pastors attending Mass and lunch.

Sammy Tong / Special to The B.C. Catholic Father Glen Dion, chairman of the Project Advance steering committee, with Archbishops Raymond Roussin and Michael Miller at the launch of the annual appeal.

As 2008 is the archdiocesan centenary, notes Archbishop Raymond Roussin, SM, and Coadjutor Archbishop J. Michael Miller, CSB, in this year's Project Advance brochure, it is a good time to give thanks for the wonderful blessings of the past 100 years.

"Your gift," the archbishops suggest, "lets us meet pressing concerns throughout the archdiocese as well as address the particular needs of your parish."

Under this year's theme, a History of Faith ... a Future of Promise, Catholics in the Vancouver Archdiocese can put their faith into action by assisting in efforts to build schools, support parish projects, and help the needy.

Project Advance has been described as a "win-win" giving opportunity, because the Parish Rebate Program enables parishes exceeding their diocesan goal to fund (less their share of expenses) parish projects while concretely sharing in the mission of Jesus.

This year's goal, which includes initiatives to upgrade the archdiocesan web site and construction of a new Notre Dame high school, is $2.75 million, up 10 per cent from 2007.