For Gazan refugees, like 56 year old Muhammad Saleh a father of eight, living in tents stirs memories of the tragedy that began 61 years ago, when the 1948 war forced thousands of Palestinians into refugee camps. “I was a child back then living in Al-Yarmook refugee camp. I know the feeling of returning from [...]
Entries from February 2009
February 24, 2009
Thoughts on Lent from Caritas Nigeria
By Mike Utsaha Lent is here again and with it comes the Lenten Appeal Campaign of the Justice Development and Peace/Caritas (JDPC) Commission. Over the next forty days our Christian observances will be characterized by fasting, almsgiving and most importantly prayers and reconciliation with God. It is a period of introspection and retrospection and a [...]
February 24, 2009
Stories from Gaza: “I will die missing you”
by Caritas Jerusalem Communication Department “I was already missing you and now I will die missing you all,” said Jameel Megmas to his wife, son, and daughter Aya. Jameel had just returned to his family in Gaza from the West Bank after a two year absence. He’d left them because as a Palestinian government civil [...]
February 19, 2009
International Social Justice Day
February 20, 2009 is an important day for all persons in our global village but especially for those of us committed to living the Good News of peace and justice. The World Day of Social Justice is being observed for the first time following its unanimous adoption by the 192 member States of the United [...]
February 13, 2009
Caritas web highlights around the world
What we liked on our Caritas members websites from around the world
10.
Caritas Switzerland explain micro-finance through a neat animation
9.
Caritas Europa launch a new website
http://www.caritas-europa.org/code/en/default.asp
8.
Caritas Australia launch an interactive world map of their development programmes
http://www.caritas.org.au/AM/Template.cfm?Section=Encourage_self_reliance
7.
Catholic Charities USA (A Caritas member in the US) has a nice 10 ways they are Catholic
http://community.catholiccharitiesusa.org/NetCommunity/Document.Doc?id=388
6.
CAFOD (Caritas England and Wales) is using Twitter. Aren’t you?
http://twitter.com/cafod
5.
I heard it on the radio: Secours Catholique goes on air.
http://www.secours-catholique.asso.fr/actualiteinternational_1719.htm
4.
Benvenuto Caritas Italiana to the climate justice campaign.
http://www.caritasitaliana.it/caritasitaliana/s2magazine/index1.jsp?idPagina=4
3.
Caritas Lawyer, Mom, and “Jesus” films on Caritas Manila’s web
http://www.caritasmanila.org.ph/our-work/index.htm#lawyer
2.
Caritas Singapore has a nice flash
http://www.caritas-singapore.org/indexflash.html
1.
Check out Caritas Chile’s rebranding.
http://www.caritaschile.org/sitio/
Seen something better then let us know.
February 13, 2009
Caritas food gets to Gazans
“These parcels are something great,” said a Gazan woman as she peaked inside her Caritas food parcel. “These food items will last for a while. I am really happy to see the flour and sugar but I am so excited to eat the good quality cheese,” she said. Caritas is distributing 1000 parcels that contain [...]
February 12, 2009
World Day of the Sick: Pope Benedict’s message
This year we direct our attention particularly to children, the weakest and most defenceless creatures, and, amongst them, to the sick and suffering children. There are little human beings who carry in their bodies the consequences of illnesses which have made them invalids and others who fight against diseases that are now incurable despite the [...]
February 10, 2009
A meeting at World Health Organization (WHO) or a lecture on Catholic Social Teaching?
By Rev. Msgr. Robert J. Vitillo, Head of CI Delegation in Geneva One could easily have been confused about the venue and setting of the most recent meeting of the WHO Executive Board meeting, held in Geneva between 19 and 27 January 2009. Words that are more than familiar to us who are students of [...]
February 9, 2009
Caritas President on the role of the family
Interview With Cardinal Oscar Rodríguez Maradiaga By Gilberto Hernández García MEXICO CITY, FEB. 6, 2009 (Zenit.org).- With all of the importance that families have for individuals and society — including in the economic realm — the decision to form a family should be made with ample preparation, says the president of Caritas. Cardinal Oscar Rodríguez [...]
February 9, 2009
CRS in Gaza
By Matt Davis, Catholic Relief Services/CRS (Caritas member in the USA)
During the past week I traveled to Gaza to assist with the logistics and coordination of the relief distributions as the first non-Gazan from CRS to gain access since the recent conflict erupted.
It was liberating to finally get into the Gaza and spend a few days with the CRS team; but simultaneously disheartening to witness the devastation first hand –from health clinics, apartment buildings, schools, and mosques to government buildings and individual farm houses.
