‘Hear the cry of the earth and the poor’ Lent 2016 ‘Hear the cry of the earth and the poor’ Whakarongo ki te tangi o Papatūānuku me te hunga pōhara  

Lent 2016 Hear the Cry of the Earth and the Poor In Laudato Si’ Pope Francis calls us to develop an integral ecology in response to the environmental and social challenges facing all people and the planet on which we live. Our Lenten theme in 2016 is taken from this encyclical, in which Pope Francis teaches us that a true response to the world always integrates ecological and social questions, considering issues of justice for people and the environment in which we live ‘so as to hear both the cry of the earth and the cry of the poor’. The Lenten theme, Hear the cry of the earth and the poor comes from Pope Francis’ encyclical Laudato Si', which calls on us to develop an 'integral ecology‘ so as to hear both the cry of the earth and the cry of the poor.

The NZ Catholic Bishops Lent Appeal The annual Lent appeal is run by Caritas on behalf of the NZ Catholic Bishops. It enables Caritas to respond immediately to emergencies, help communities meet their basic survival needs and to advocate for justice to influence attitudes and create change. Last year, your support of the Bishops’ Lent Appeal meant that more than $1 million was raised from parishes across the country. The Bishop’s Lenten Appeal supports the work of Caritas Aotearoa New Zealand. Caritas makes a difference in the lives of people living with poverty or injustice through human development that sustains families and communities, emergency relief, education resources and activities for Catholic schools in New Zealand and advocating for social justice within New Zealand.

Caritas Aotearoa New Zealand Caritas Aotearoa New Zealand is the Catholic agency for justice, peace and development, working on behalf of New Zealand’s Bishops to provide a compassionate Catholic response to poverty and injustice in Aotearoa New Zealand and around the world. Caritas Internationalis is one of the world's largest humanitarian networks with 165 Catholic relief, development and social service organisations working in over 200 countries territories worldwide.

Emergency relief Donations to the Bishops’ Lenten Appeal enable Caritas to be there before, during and after disaster strikes to help the most vulnerable recover. On 25 April, 2015 a massive 7.8 earthquake hit Nepal, affecting 8 million people accross the country. Another 7.3 earthquake struck on May 12. Caritas' strong presence, local partnerships and Church network enabled us to mobilise immediately following the first quake, with Caritas Nepal distributing tarpaulins, food and water to devastated families in Kathmandu’s evacuation sites. Caritas has provided much-needed emergency supplies to hundreds of thousands of families, and continues to help people rebuild their lives and livelihoods across the country. Tropical Cyclone Pam was the largest cyclone to ever hit Vanuatu and caused devastation across the island nation. Caritas staff worked alongside the Diocese of Port Vila to respond to people’s immediate needs, including distributing tarpaulins to provide shelter for the thousands of people left homeless following the tropical cyclone. Caritas is continuing to help communities recover and is partnering with the Diocese of Port Vila and the Butterfly Trust to train local people to rebuild safer houses that are better able to withstand natural disasters in the future. Since 2011, civil war in Syria has left 12.2 million people in need of assistance and created one of the largest refugee crises in history. Eight million people have been forced from their homes inside Syria and more than 4 million are either living in neighbouring countries, or making the perilous journey to Europe in search of a new life. Of the 4 million Syrian refugees, approximately 1.2 million are living in neighbouring Lebanon where Caritas has been supporting those in need through development and humanitarian aid programmes since the outbreak of the conflict. Caritas’ work in Lebanon is part of a regional response to the crisis that also includes supplying food, water and shelter to desperate refugee families in Iraq, Turkey and Jordan. With one of the largest refugee populations in the world living in Jordan, we have begun providing food, shelter, medical care, counselling, education and other aid to the thousands of displaced people in the country as part of our Peace in the Middle East campaign.

Development projects In Cambodia, Caritas works with Development and Partnership in Action (DPA) to help indigenous people improve their farming techniques and adapt their crops to a changing climate. For more than 10 years, Caritas has worked in partnership with DPA to help and support some of the poorest and most marginalised people in Cambodia- particularly indigenous people who are subsistence farmers. During the last three years, with support from the New Zealand Government, we have helped poor farmers grow enough food to feed their families and have a surplus that they can sell for income. Caritas has also been providing wells, water filters and toilets so families have access to safe water and so they can maintain a more hygienic environment. As part of the ongoing programme, Caritas and DPA are also helping indigenous communities to gain legal titles to their customary land, so they can oppose environmentally destructive activities like illegal logging at the highest level. By protecting their surrounding forest, they can at least partially safeguard their area against drought.

Advocacy for justice Caritas’ advocacy work involves speaking out against poverty and injustice and its causes in both New Zealand and overseas. This work includes solidarity visits, prayer, affecting change by lobbying politicians and decision-makers and education work within New Zealand to raise people’s awareness. Following on from the release of Caritas’ foundational work, presented in the 2014 report Small yet strong: Voices from Oceania on the environment, Caritas’ first State of the Environment Report for Oceania identifies five key issues affecting people in the region and which will be monitored in the coming years. In particular, how these issues are affecting the most vulnerable. These issues are: Impact of severe weather-related emergencies Coastal erosion and rising sea levels Access to food and safe drinking water Mining and drilling of the ocean floor Climate financing for Oceania’s developing nations – to support both minimisation of greenhouse gas emissions (mitigation) and adaptation to climate change. Highlighted throughout the report is the story of the Carteret Islands, offshore from Bougainville in Papua New Guinea. Their experience reflects many of the key issues facing small Pacific communities, and the call to each of us to participate in protecting our common home. The “Caritas indicator” gives a snapshot assessment for this year of how a particular issue is impacting people’s lives – and what room there is for improvement.

One day of difference for a lifetime of change! Caritas Challenge 2016 One day of difference for a lifetime of change! 1 April – 15 May, 2016 www.caritas.org.nz/caritas-challenge The Caritas Challenge is an annual event aimed at schools and youth groups to build solidarity with those living in poverty or injustice. It offers hands-on experiences that are fun and informative, while also raising funds for projects in Cambodia to help poor families adjust their farming techniques to a changing climate. During the Challenge participants are encouraged to undertake an activity for 24 hours that brings them closer to the living conditions of those less fortunate. This year the Caritas Challenge will be launched around the country on the weekend of 1-2 April and will run until 15 May. Groups can choose a date within these six weeks to hold their Caritas Challenge event. www.caritas.org.nz/caritas-challenge

SINGout4JUSTICE Song writing competition for Years 7 to 13 The theme is ‘The time is now!’ Enter online by 24 June, 2016 www.caritas.org.nz/schools/singout4justice The annual Singout4Justice song-writing competition for Years 7 to 13 students is now open for entries. The theme for 2016 is ‘the time is now!' reminding us all of the urgent need to take action against poverty and injustice. Pope Francis, in Laudato Si’, called us all to be instruments for the care of creation. We need to hear the cry of the earth and the cry of our neighbour and make a difference. Enter online by 24 June 2016. www.caritas.org.nz/schools/singout4justice

Lent Reflection Programme For reflection and discussion of the Lenten Gospels by groups in parishes, families, rest homes, communities, and chaplaincies and for personal reflection. The programme is available in English, Tokelauan, Tongan, Samoan and Māori. Two English Booklets are available in the parish and can also be downloaded from: www.caritas.org.nz/lent

Giving at Lent Donate throughout the weeks of Lent or make a single donation using the Lent Appeal envelopes Online at www.caritas.org.nz Or call 0800 22 10 22 Donate throughout the weeks of Lent or make a single donation using the Lent Appeal envelopes provided by your parish. Leave donation envelopes in your parish’s collection basket or post to Caritas, PO Box 12193, Wellington 6144. You can also donate online at www.caritas.org.nz or call 0800 22 10 22 to make a donation over the phone.

facebook.com/caritasaotearoa Ngā mihi - Thank you For more information, visit Caritas online at www.caritas.org.nz www.caritas.org.nz facebook.com/caritasaotearoa