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 official title of the Pontifical Mission Societies – is the agency of the Catholic Church that provides prayerful and financial support for the pastoral and evangelizing programs of the Catholic Church, primarily in Africa, Asia, Oceania and remote regions of Latin America. It supports missionary workers – lay, religious and priests – who provide practical and spiritual support to communities within these countries. Some examples of projects that 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.
Catholic Mission has two major appeals each year. The first, the Propagation of the Faith Appeal could be described as ‘the Pope’s mission appeal’. It was founded in Lyons France, in 1822 by a young woman, Pauline Jaricot, who was inspired to help support the Church’s missionary work around the world. The Prop Appeal, as it is commonly called, has had a rich history here in Australia, with many of the early Catholic communities receiving these funds to help establish parishes, schools and other works. St Mary MacKillop of the Cross, our first Australian saint, received Prop Appeal funds to help build her first school at Penola in South Australia.
The Second Appeal is World Mission Sunday, which is normally celebrated on the second last Sunday in October. It is a day set aside worldwide to encourage the Church to recommit itself to its missionary work. In Catholic schools, students participate in Socktober events throughout October, to heighten students’ understanding of the missions and help to raise funds for mission projects.
Catholic Mission also provides educational workshops and seminars for 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 forums, colloquiums and conferences.
You can learn more about the work of Catholic Mission by visiting http://www.catholicmission.org.au, by contacting the Canberra Goulburn Diocesan Director on (02) 6201 9834, or by emailing the director at canberra.goulburn.director@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