Charity Organisations
Mission and Development Services
The Archdiocese supports the work of our Catholic overseas aid and mission organisations – Catholic Mission and Caritas Australia. Pope Francis tells us “In the poor and outcast we see Christ’s face; by loving and helping the poor, we love and serve Christ.”[i] Through supporting the projects of Catholic Mission and Caritas our love of God is made real and tangible.
Catholic Mission
Catholic Mission – also known by its international title of the Pontifical Mission Societies – is the Pope’s international mission agency in Australia. It provides prayerful and financial support for the pastoral and evangelizing programs of the Catholic Church across the world so that all may experience the fullness of life. It supports missionary workers – lay, religious and priests – who provide practical and spiritual support to communities within these countries. Some examples of projects that the Catholic Mission supports are training and supporting catechists and seminarians, building schools and orphanages, helping to dig water pumps and sanitation facilities and providing vocational training for young women in order to support their families.
There are a variety of ways to support the work of Catholic Mission, however, their main annual appeal occurs in the month of October, which the universal Catholic Church dedicates as Mission Month. Every January, the Pope highlights a scriptural theme to inspire the focus on mission for that year, and this culminates in World Mission Sunday, which is normally celebrated on the second last Sunday in October. On this day, parishes across the world unite to encourage the People of God to recommit to having missionary hearts in the name of Jesus. In Catholic schools, students participate in Socktober events throughout October to heighten students’ understanding of the missions and help to raise funds for various mission projects.
Catholic Mission also provides educational workshops and seminars for parishes, students and teachers; produces resources for parishes and schools; participates in advocacy for social justice events; offers immersion experiences to overseas mission projects and runs a variety of forums, colloquiums and conferences.
For more information, contact the Catholic Mission Diocesan Director for Canberra-Goulburn, Mark Raue, at 0417 431 827 or mraue@catholicmission.org.au. Or visit the website at http://www.catholicmission.org.au.
Caritas Australia
Caritas Australia is the international aid and development agency of the Catholic Church in Australia. Through effective relationships with the Church, local partners and communities, Caritas Australia helps to end poverty, promote justice and uphold dignity in over 30 countries. Programs, advocacy and education initiatives promote the dignity of every person, regardless of religious, political or cultural beliefs. Caritas envisages a world in which children, women and men most vulnerable to extreme poverty and injustice are architects of their own sustainable development.
Caritas Australia is part of Caritas Internationalis, one of the world’s largest humanitarian networks, which works in over 200 countries and territories. Their emergency relief programs work with communities to respond to disasters, develop strategies that build resilience and reduce the risks and impact of future disasters.
Caritas Australia is a member of the Australian Council for International Development (ACFID). They are committed to adhering to ACFID’s high standards of governance, transparency, accountability and financial management. Caritas is also fully accredited by the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT), which manages the Australian Government’s overseas aid program.
For more information contact Caritas Australia Archdiocesan Director Lulu Mitshabu on (02)62019851, visit the website at http://www.caritas.org.au or call 1800 024 413 toll free.
[i] Pope Francis (2014), Lenten Message of our Holy Father Francis, 2014, retrieved June 26, 2015, from https://w2.vatican.va/content/francesco/en/messages/lent/documents/papa-francesco_20131226_messaggio-quaresima2014.html