Young, Catholic and building a better world

Every Catholic is called to love like Christ did. Some might express this through caring for their elderly parents or their children. Some might love others through serving their parish. Others, like Koreen and Daniel, strive to love like Christ by working towards building a better world for all those in need.

Koreen and Daniel are young Catholics in Sydney who work for Caritas Australia, an international aid organisation, who runs the widely known program ‘Project Compassion’ (featured throughout the Xt3 Lent Calendar). They shared with us how they view Lent and what they’ve learned working for a better world day-in and day-out.

Koreen’s Story

Lent is unlike any other time of the year. Instead of showering each other (or ourselves) with presents, we are instead asked to go without temporarily. This call to sacrifice is crucial on many levels – it teaches us gratitude, self-discipline and detachment from the world.

Working at Caritas has only added more value to my Lenten fast. I’m reminded that in a developed country such as Australia, the choice to forgo certain things is a luxury. There are many people in the world who live every day with no choice but to go without because they lack access to basic resources such as food, water and shelter. Take for example, twelve year old Thandolwayo from this year’s Project Compassion, who would bravely walk seven kilometres before school every day, risking crocodiles, to bring back a limited supply of water to her family.

Above all, my role at Caritas reminds me there is hope. I am blessed that I get to spend every day with people who generously dedicate their time, talent and money to, as our tagline says, ‘end poverty, promote justice and uphold dignity.’ The third element of Lent is almsgiving, which serves as a reminder to seek Christ in all people and especially those who are poor and vulnerable. In each person, there is innate dignity and strength and Caritas works with these to develop long-term solutions.

Lent is such an important time of the liturgical year, and Caritas Australia has shown me the true value of my Lenten experience. Our prayers, fasting and almsgiving not only has the power to change our own lives, but the lives of others throughout the world.

Koreen Cueto is a Digital Communications Specialist at Caritas Australia

Daniel’s Story

Working at Caritas Australia and being a young Catholic has been an eye-opening experience. Here are three ways that that I’ve grown and experienced a change in world view.

1. Helping people isn’t about dropping money or resources into communities and turning away

At Caritas Australia, we believe in long-term development projects. This is the kind of work that truly makes a difference, creating instrumental change at a grassroots level.

For example, one of the stories of our annual fundraising appeal, Project Compassion, is that of Thandolwayo, a young Zimbabwean school girl who frequently had to travel several miles between her home and the Gwayi river, across a rocky mountain path and to a river which sometimes has crocodiles in it, carrying on her head a bucket of water, all before school began.

40 billion hours are spent annually in Africa collecting water and this sets back the education of young girls like Thandolwayo, sometimes for several years.

In 2017, Caritas Australia partnered with Caritas Hwange to help the community to install two solar-powered pumps to draw the water up from the river, as well as two 10,000 litre storage tanks. Thanks to Caritas’ support, water is now on tap in the village – benefitting the whole community. We saw a need and supported the process of a community’s own self-improvement: this is what made the difference.

2. Development can’t be purely economic, it needs to be grounded in love and compassion

Caring for the poor is everyone’s responsibility. Preferential care should be shown to poor and vulnerable people, whose needs and rights are given special attention in God’s eyes. Jesus taught that God asks each of us what we are doing to help the poor and needy.

“Truly, I tell you, just as you did it to one of those who are members of my family, you did it to me.”

(Matthew 25:40)

3. In the end, being consistent and being available are what matter most, in the very best tradition of Catholic social teaching’s emphasis on ‘subsidiarity’ and ‘solidarity’

We know that people work together for the good of all, and not just a lucky few, they can create inspiring, unexpected solutions!

For example, when supporters of Caritas Australia and other faith-based groups came together, they created the largest multi-electorate pen and paper climate petition in Australia’s history. Across the country over 200 dedicated volunteers, like the Huntington family (pictured below), from 9 to 90 years of age collected signatures within their federal electorates – in churches, schools, farmers markets, workplaces, railway stations and on the streets. Supporters of the community climate petition met 41 Members of Parliament in total. This is just one example of what can happen when people work together in solidarity, for the Common Good.

Caritas Australia has opened my heart and mind to the possibilities of community development. This year’s theme, ‘Hope,’ encourages us all to give Lent 100%. You can do this by donating to a worthy cause, such as Caritas Australia, or engaging in fundraising activities by giving something up for Lent yourself and receiving donations from your friends and family in turn. As a Coptic-Catholic, I will be giving up meat and dairy for Lent.

Daniel Nour is a Content Specialist at Caritas Australia

Find out more about how you can give to Caritas Australia at caritas.org.au. Thank you for your support of our work to end poverty and promote justice all over the world.

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Book a night in silence with Jesus: in Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament, with a silent undistracted meal, or listening to some worship music