Bishop Joe accepts sponsorship from Judith McCarthy of CCI

Catholic Church Insurances joins a growing list of official partners for the world’s largest youth event which will be staged in Sydney from the 15 - 20 July, 2008. Over 500,000 people are expected to attend the week-long activities, including over 125,000 registered overseas pilgrims.

In Sandhurst we would like to thank CCI for their generous donation to our WYD experience which will go towards supporting events around the Cross and Icon, our Days in the Diocese programme and evangelisaiton and awareness raising initatives, such as this website, that will bring the message of WYD and therefore the message of Jesus to young people.

 Catholic Church Insurances have become major sponsors of World Youth Day in the Diocese of Sandhurst with the generous grant of $50,000.

Bishop Joe received the gift for Sandhurst Youth Ministry.  

“We are absolutely thrilled,” Karen Lunney, Diocesan Youth Ministry Coordinator, said.  “There are a lot of hidden costs at a diocesan level in mounting big events like World Youth Day.  This grant is a huge boost, and has been allocated already to the budget outlined for the Diocesan celebrations of the Journey of the Cross and Icon, the Days in the Diocese together with the WYD Schools Rally and other planned events. We have put considerable resources into projects such as the website and the banners for the schools and parishes which Bishop Joe expects to be displayed at all times through the diocese in the lead up to WYD”

The grant also means we are now in a position to support regional committees in fundraising efforts through seed grants, and to kick start the Sandhurst2Sydney fund to help young people from the Diocese to go to World Youth Day who would otherwise be unable to go.

“Our aim is to ensure that no young person who sincerely desires to attend World Youth Day in Sydney 2008 will miss out because of lack of money, and as such have established the fund so that anyone can donate towards this cause” Karen said. “We hope that lots of other businesses and individuals will follow in CCI’s footsteps”. To donate, see our sandhurst2sydney fund information online  or call 5441 2544.


“Catholic Church Insurances has provided insurance to organisations of the Catholic Church for nearly 100 years,” said Bishop Anthony Fisher OP, WYD08 Coordinator.  “Catholic Church Insurances are owned by the dioceses and many religious institutes, so becoming a partner of World Youth Day was a natural fit,” he said.

The agreement is a two-stage process which includes assistance grants to individual dioceses and religious institutes for WYD08 activities, as well as a financial contribution to WYD08.

Catholic Church Insurances’ vision is, simply, to serve the Church. The company is unique in the insurance industry, operating as a mutual and providing protection for risks faced by the Church in the areas of property, liability, and workers' compensation.

“Catholic Church Insurances is proud to be a partner with this event that will be a great moment in Australia’s history as well as the history of the Catholic Church in Australia,” said Peter Rush, General Manager, Catholic Church Insurances.

The Victorian Government have allocated the equivalent of 4 million dollars to Victorian WYD planning. Rather than direct subsidies for individuals to attend WYD,

Sandhurst will benefit from this through the development of state-wide infrastructure, such as extra refuelling stops for buses on the way to Sydney and driver support.