Lent 2015 Light a Fire in the Heart of the World Whakakāngia te kāpura ki roto i te ngākau o te ao tāngata  

Lent 2015 Light a Fire in the heart of the World In his letter Evangelii Gaudium, Pope Francis asks us to be witnesses at all times and in all places to the joy and hope of the Gospel. He invites us to join him in being personal witnesses to our faith, through our actions as well as our words, with everyone we meet – to light a fire in the heart of the world. To read the full letter, go to:   w2.vatican.va/content/francesco/en/apost_exhortations/documents/papa-francesco_esortazione-ap_20131124_evangelii-gaudium.html The Lenten theme, Light a Fire in the Heart of the World, comes from Pope Francis’ call to be protectors of creation and one another, particularly the poor and vulnerable.

The NZ 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, charged by 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. As the plight of Iraqis fleeing persecution reaches tragic levels, Caritas continues to provide humanitarian aid to thousands of families affected by the war and sectarian violence. Caritas was among the first organisations to supply food, water, bedding and essential living supplies to families in northern and central Iraq that have been displaced by ongoing violent attacks from the extremist group Islamic State of Iraq (formerly ISIS) since June 2014. With no end in sight for the civil war raging in Syria, Caritas Aotearoa New Zealand continues to partner with Caritas Lebanon to help some of the more than 1.2 million Syrian refugees in Lebanon. Most recently by providing much-needed shelter and warmth for families facing the most severe winter in years. Closer to home, Caritas’ work preparing people for disasters played a large part in reducing casualties in the Philippines during Typhoon Hagupit (known locally as Ruby) last year. Caritas in the Philippines stockpiled essential supplies, provided updates to areas in the path of the typhoon and joined with other NGOs and local authorities to help organise the largest peacetime evacuation in the country’s history.

Development projects In the Philippines, Typhoon Bopha caused widespread destruction of houses on the southern island of Mindanao. Caritas responded to the crisis and supported partner organisations on the ground to build new houses for those who lost their homes. These children are playing in front of one of the Caritas ‘farm houses’ in Davao Oriental. Robust construction techniques have been used to ensure that the houses can withstand extreme weather, and the homes are built with timber from coconut palms that were felled during the typhoon.

Advocacy for justice Caritas’ advocacy work involves speaking out on 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 educative work within New Zealand to raise people’s awareness. Rising sea levels, fragile food and water supplies, contamination of soil and increasingly severe weather patterns are some of the environmental challenges described by peoples from Oceania in Caritas’ report, Small yet strong: Voices from Oceania on the environment (launched October 2014), which explores what these people are experiencing, how they are responding and what they want to happen, and advocates for environmental justice for those most affected. The report provided a voice for the most vulnerable in the region when it was presented at the recent UN climate change conference in Lima by a Caritas delegation.

One day of difference for a lifetime of change The Caritas Challenge One day of difference for a lifetime of change 27-28 March 2015 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 the Philippines to help people Build Back Better following natural disasters. 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. The Caritas Challenge takes place 27-28 March 2015. www.caritas.org.nz/caritas-challenge

SingOut4Justice Song writing competition for years 7 to 13 The theme is ‘Horizons of Hope’ Enter online by 24 April 2015 www.caritas.org.nz/schools/singout4justice The annual Singout4Justice song-writing competition for Years 7 to 13 students is back. The theme ‘Horizons of Hope’ encourages young people to express empathy for people in need through their original songs. Enter online by 24 April 2015. 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/resources/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