 If you need me, ring: Parish Priest Father Michael Gatt will again operate his Christmas Help-Line for people in crisis this year. His lines will be open for seven days. |
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If you need me, ring: Parish Priest Father Michael Gatt will again operate his Christmas Help-Line for people in crisis this year. His lines will be open for seven days. |
Christmas is the loneliest time of the year for some people, so Father Michael Gatt will again provide a lifeline for those in need this festive season.
While many of us enjoy a Christmas dinner with family and friends, others out there will struggle and feel they have no place to turn.
Father Gatt wants them to know they have someone to talk to.
This will be the seventh year the Roman Catholic parish priest has set up telephone lines and put aside his Christmas celebrations to provide a non-judgemental and confidential counselling service.
For one week, 24 hours a day, Father Gatt will be on call to talk to people in distress.
“For some people Christmas time can be a painful reminder of their loneliness and personal problems,” Father Gatt said.
“As in previous years people need to know there is always someone to turn to in a difficult time or crisis time, even in a moment of despair.”
Father Gatt said people experiencing family breakdown, financial difficulties, drug issues and people contemplating suicide had used the Help-Line in past years.
People needing further counselling will be referred to appropriate professionals.
The lines will be open from December 19 to December 26 or Email: m.gatt@perthcatholic.org.au
The West Australian 14/12/99 Story: Peta Rasdien
For some people, the Christmas season can be a painful reminder of their loneliness and personal problems.
But there is someone to whom they can turn.
Father Michael Gatt, parish priest of St Kieran's Parish Osborne Park, runs an annual 24-hour Christmas Help-Line for the lonely and those needing counselling.
It will open again this Christmas from Sunday 19 December to Sunday 26 December.
“Parishioners can visit me at home and help me deliver food to the needy,” Fr Gatt told The Record. He can refer callers to a doctor, lawyer, psychiatrist, St Vincent de Paul, or any priest in their own area in the archdiocese.
Fr Gatt said he gives on-going support to callers, who even come from the country and as far away as the North-West.
Last year he had more than 50 calls, and in the Christmas of 1997, more than 60 callers.
The Help-Line is anonymous and confidential.
“Sometimes people are shy to talk and they can write a note and fax me,” he said.
His Email address is: m.gatt@perthcatholic.org.au
The Record 16/12/99 Story: Glynnis Grainger
Perth's lonely and depressed can again turn to their own "Father Christmas".
Catholic parish priest Father Michael Gatt has opened a telephone and email help-line for those who do not find Christmas a time for celebration.
A team of professional counsellors is available 24 hours a day until December 26.
The Sunday Times 19/12/99
Father Michael Gatt's annual 24-hour Christmas Help-Line attracted quite a few calls from the lonely and those needing counselling.
This year, "Crisis Care" asked Fr Gatt to help them with counselling and he had a number of referrals from them, especially during the night.
Altogether he had 45 calls, covering many areas of concern in the community.
The calls included drug issues, domestic violence, sexual assault, contemplating suicide, loneliness and extreme poverty.
The Record: 13/01/2000No turkey and champagne for this priest while other citizens are celebrating the birth of Christ in fun and fraternity.
Because it’s parish priest Father Michael Gatt’s opportunity to open his two telephone lines to become a lifeline for the lonely and those needing counselling and other things over Christmas.
It’s become an established tradition for Fr. Gatt. He enjoys it because he gains much satisfaction in helping others during what could be a crisis time for them, hence his availability - yes, even during the wee small hours of the morning, 24 hours a day from Sunday, 20 December to Sunday, 27 December.
He received 65 calls last year and wants everyone to know he’s available again with his listening.
Colleen McGuiness-Howard “The Record” 17/12/98
PERTH’S Father Christmas to the lonely and depressed, Father Michael Gatt, is going online with his help hotline.
The parish priest has been operating a Christmas telephone counselling and referral service for the past six years and this year it will include an email link. The 24-hour service is anonymous and confidential.
Telephone lines and email will open for a week from today.
Jim Kelly “Sunday Times” 20/12/98