text to rebuild the Cathedral

Taken from the Archdiocese weekly newspaper for Saturday, 14 September 2013
It’s even easier now to make a donation towards the Cathedral restoration project: just grab your cell phone! As of this weekend, pre- and post-paid bmobile customers can donate via text. The text code to donate $500 is 2SAVE (27283); for $100, it’s 2GIVE (24483); and for $50, it’s 2HOPE (24673). The Archbishop’s Appeal “Text to Rebuild Campaign” was launched last Wednesday at Archbishop’s House. In attendance were Archbishop Joseph Harris; Chair of the Archbishop’s Appeal Committee, Joanne Miller; acting Vice President of bmobile, Nicole Kerry Lum Kin; and Anthony Joseph of Titan Support Solutions Ltd, which is assisting the Archbishop’s Appeal in this campaign. Also present was Jenny Lee, project coordinator, Cathedral Restoration Project. Archbishop Harris said the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception, a minor basilica, was “part of the patrimony of the nation” and called on citizens to lend a hand in its restoration. Miller said “brick by brick, dollar by dollar”, the cathedral was built “by the people of Trinidad and Tobago for the people of Trinidad and Tobago”. In providing some historical information to the media, she said the stones used to build the cathedral came from the Laventille Quarry and the workers came from that area as well. “It is the people’s cathedral,” she commented, noting that it has served the city and country for more than 150 years. Of the $70M needed to fully restore the cathedral, $20M has been raised through donations from Government, corporate bodies, and individuals both here and abroad – of various cultures and religions, and also through fundraising activities. Lum Kin said corporate social responsibility was important and bmobile was pleased to partner with the Church. She anticipated “great success” for the campaign and encouraged bmobile customers to text “as many times as they wish”. Joseph pointed out that this was the first time a text-to-give campaign was being launched to raise funds for a national heritage site. Donors will receive an automated ‘thank you’ text message after making their contribution; there is no charge for texting a donation. A letter has already been sent out to parishes about the campaign, which is expected to culminate on the Feast of Christ the King (Nov 24), the annual date for the Archbishop’s Appeal collection.