Project Compassion for 2017 will be formally launched at St Mary’s Cathedral on Sunday, 26 February, with Father George Sigamony, Caritas Australia’s Manager of Community Engagement, discussing Caritas’ work in empowering communities. Photo: Supplied
Project Compassion for 2017 will be formally launched at St Mary’s Cathedral on Sunday, 26 February, with Father George Sigamony, Caritas Australia’s Manager of Community Engagement, discussing Caritas’ work in empowering communities.
Through this year’s theme, ‘Love your neighbour’, Caritas Australia demonstrates how this approach can transform lives, featuring engaging stories from the Philippines, Timor-Leste, Australia, Vietnam and Fiji.
Project Compassion will run over Lent, the six weeks leading up to Easter, commencing on Ash Wednesday (March 1), and funds humanitarian and long-term development programs in more than 29 countries across Asia, Africa, the Pacific, Latin America and First Australian communities.
A secondary launch for Project Compassion will also be held at the Catholic Pastoral Centre in Highgate for ‘Shrove Tuesday’, with some Catholic secondary school students invited to attend.
The event will be a great opportunity for young people to learn about the inclusive message of social justice that Caritas Australia promotes, over a simple shared meal of pancakes.
Caritas Australia supporters, staff, and volunteers will gather together to join the students, in a ‘coming to the table’ in solidarity with the world’s poor.
Pope Francis’ views of putting faith into action, especially when concerning the poor and marginalised are widely known, with the Holy Father calling for Christians to imitate Christ in a practical way.
“We Christians are called to confront the poverty of our brothers and sisters, to touch it, to make it our own and to take practical steps to alleviate it,” he said.
In what echoes Pope Francis’ words, Justice Educator for Western Australia, Anita Finneran, has encouraged support for Project Compassion, to provide help to impoverished communities and create a ‘better future for our world’.
“Caritas Australia has worked with partner agencies overseas and in First Australian communities to assist those communities lift themselves out of poverty.
“We have transformed millions of lives in the process, including over 2 million people directly last year through our emergency and development programs.
“Your donations make a big difference to our capacity to help impoverished communities become stronger and more resilient,” Ms Finneran said.
In support of the world’s poor, including millions in our immediate region, thousands of school children, teachers, churches and community leaders across Australia and in Perth, are putting their compassion into action, during Caritas Australia’s Project Compassion.
The World Bank estimates that 90 million people live in extreme poverty in Australia’s neighbouring region.
Another 300 million are vulnerable to falling back into poverty due to natural disasters, climate change, disease and economic shocks.
During Lent, Australians are invited to support Project Compassion by making a donation, or by hosting fundraising events in their local school, parish, community or neighbourhood. Supporters can also to share their stories on social media at #ProjectCompassion.
To donate to Project Compassion or for fundraising ideas visit www.caritas.org.au/projectcompassion or phone 1800 024 413.