C O M PA S S I O N • C A PA C I T Y • C O N N E C T I O N • C
ATA LY S TIssue 07 Sep to Dec 2019 MCI (P) 005/08/2019
04 C H A R I S C O N N E C T
IN HIS REFUGE AND STRENGTH
Your hearts were moved in solidarity for those suffering the
aftermath of natural disasters and unfortunate circumstances.We
bring to you examples of how your support has helped Make Hope
Happen for those in need.
From October 2018 to August 2019, CHARIS has pledged over
S$326,000 to disaster relief and rehabilitation efforts in 13
countries in Asia and beyond.
Join us in being the helping hand of the Church -
and Make Hope Happen for those who need it most.
Compiled and written by Joy Tan and Christopher Toh. Photos by
Caritas India, Caritas Internationalis and KARINA Indonesia
[ Team ]Editor: Christopher Toh and Joy TanGraphic Designer:
www.theflatstudio.com
55 Waterloo Street #07-02 Catholic Centre Singapore 187954 Tel:
+65 6337 [email protected]
CHARISingapore @charis_singapore
Caritas Humanitarian Aid & Relief InitiativesSingapore
(CHARIS)
is the Catholic Church’s umbrella body for overseas humanitarian
aid.
We hear from two Christ-loving CHARIS volunteers who answered
our call to a mission trip to Cebu, Philippines.
PASSING IT ON
Written by: Jerome Teo
Written by: Celeste Seah
We joined the Cebuan Archdiocesan Relief and Rehabilitation Unit
(RRU) for a mission trip on 31 March to 6 April 2019.
Our team of eight CHARIS volunteers and staff headed to
Maricaban Village at Santa Fe. Our mission was to build two
bio-sand filtration tanks to provide potable water. The tanks will
serve 100 families whose homes were almost completely destroyed by
Typhoon Haiyan five years ago.
It is more blessed to give than to receive. - Acts 20:35
This trip reiterated my belief that we are constantly moulded by
whom God places in our lives.
I begun this journey with a wounded heart and received healing
as I offered my services to the love of others. Leading formation
sessions was outside my comfort zone. Because we called upon Jesus,
every session was inspiring. Say yes to God, and He will provide
you with the necessary graces to do all things. We continue to grow
by carrying our daily cross.
Once you have experienced God’s love, you will respond by
passing it on. I am still a work-in-progress, but I am assured that
God is with me, transforming me.
We far exceeded the mission objectives as we managed to clean
the sand and gravel, entertain the children, donated pre-loved
clothes and a sum of 11,000 pesos (approximately S$291)!
On the feast day of their patron Saint Pedro Calungsod, we
attended mass with the villagers. Father Charles Louis Jayme, the
director of RRU, presided over the Eucharistic celebration.
When we gathered for our nightly prayers and faith formation, we
could feel the whole team becoming more filled with the spirit. To
show his gratitude, the Archbishop of Cebu, His Grace Jose Serofia
Palma, invited us into his office for a tea session!
It was an humbling experience, and I am glad for the bonding and
fellowship.
Typhoon Usman - PhilippinesCyclone Fani - India and Bangladesh
Sunda Strait Tsunami - Indonesia
Joint Response Team of Caritas Bogor distributed food items to
affected villagers.
A family feels relieved after receiving a shelter kit from
Caritas India.
The local Caritas team packs the initial relief goods for
distribution to families in Ilagan, Isabela.
What support has been done for these communities?
Safe-drinking water, sanitation, hygiene, shelter and food for
10,000 households
Survival essentials such as food, sleeping kits, cooking
equipment for 25,000
Food, water, tents, medicine, hygiene kits, toilets and
psychosocial support
How much did CHARIS pledge to support these communities?
SGD 50,000 to Caritas Philippines (NASSA)
SGD 40,000 to KARINA IndonesiaSGD 50,000 to Caritas India
The strongest cyclonic storm in 20 years struck India and
Bangladesh in April 2019, leaving thousands homeless and without
food. Destroyed crops impacted livelihoods, and water-clogged
environments breed mosquitoes, causing health concerns.
In December 2018, flash floods, erosion and landslides in the
Bicol region and southern Luzon killed at least 71 people, and left
many missing. Major interruptions to power and water supplies
disrupted life for thousands of families.
A tsunami caused by a volcano eruption in December 2018 struck
coastal regions of Banten in Java and Lampung in Sumatra, killing
426 people and injuring 14,059. Over 36,000 people were displaced,
and 681 houses were severely damaged.
Cheque / GIRO Pick up a donation envelope from your nearest
parish.
VolunteerJoin the CHARIS family! bit.ly/CHARISVolunteer
Online For credit card and Paypal donations, please
visitmakehopehappen.charis-singapore.org
And do not forget to do good and to share with others, for with
such sacrifices God is pleased.
- Hebrews 13:16
Jerome with a bag of washed stones for the bio-sand water
filter
Celeste (in green) washing sand for the filter
The team with the completed water filter
02 03C H A R I S C O N N E C T C O M PA S S I O N • C A PA C I T
Y • C O N N E C T I O N • C ATA LY S T
CHARIS became a member of the Caritas Internationalis (CI)
Federation at the CI 21st General Assembly (GA) held in Rome on 23
- 28 May 2019. Representing us at the GA was our Deputy Chairman,
Elizabeth Quah.
The GA takes place every four years,
through the Gospel of Matthew 25: 31-46, of the following:
“Charity is not an idea or a pious feeling, but an experiential
encounter with Christ; it is the desire to live with the heart of
God Who does not ask us to have a generic love, affection,
solidarity, etc. for the poor, but to meet Himself in them in the
style of poverty.”
Indeed, Pope Francis reminds us not be overly caught up in the
specifics of the tasks we are given. Otherwise, we may forget that
we have professed to serve, work for and with the poor and less
privileged.
and brings together over 130 member organisations worldwide.
This year, the theme was “One human family, one common home”. It
reflects the need for sustainable integral humanitarian
development, based on Evangelii Gaudium and Laudato Si. A key task
was to approve the strategic framework for the next four years so
that it can be cascaded down to individual regions and national
Caritas’ plans.
GA delegates were privileged to meet Pope Francis, not just
once, but twice! We saw him at the Opening Mass (23 May), and the
Papal Audience (27 May). The Pope shook the hands of all delegates
present at the Papal Audience. He reminded us
KEEPING MERCY FOR THOUSANDS
Our Deputy Chairperson Elizabeth Quah represented CHARIS
Caritas Internationalis General Assembly at St. Peter’s
Basilica, Vatican City
1. What do you think is the greatest need in the mission field
today?
I’ve been to many mission trips. In each mission trip, there are
many people who are earnest and passionate about spreading love and
joy to those less fortunate. What we need now is an organisation
like CHARIS to get all the affiliates, all the people geared up,
equipped with the correct organising committee to organise more of
these. With further support in funding, logistics and support, we
can make our mission to the third world countries a more successful
outreach from the Catholic standpoint.
2. What brings you the most joy in serving the people?
For Epiphany, we teach English to less privileged students. They
come on their own accord on Sundays to want to better themselves. I
think the interactions between students and the teachers are the
most important, and we feel joy when they converse back to us in
English.
3. How do you think we can work collectively to build a more
vibrant, missionary and evangelical Church?
That is a tough question to answer because the viewpoint of each
person is different… For Clare’s Missionary (another CHARIS
affiliate), I followed them to a village in Paitan, Kota Kinabalu
in Malaysia together with polytechnic students on a mission trip.
For many, this was the first time without modern comforts like
running water and electricity. So I think that these participants
took back the learning that there are people who are fortunate and
those whom are are less fortunate. The objective of all the
missions is to share what we have with our fellow humans, like
clean running water.
We spoke to Norman Seet who serves at Epiphany, a CHARIS
affiliate. Epiphany volunteers frequently go to Batam, Indonesia
for the TeachNLearn programme to teach English to their young
learners.
Interviewed by Stephanie Seet, photos by Epiphany
Text and photos by Elizabeth Quah
SPREADING LOVE AND JOY
CHARIS JOINS THE CARITAS INTERNATIONALIS FEDERATION
It is in the dedication and commitment of humanitarian aid
workers and groups that the Lord’s work is done for those in
need.Here are some ways CHARIS has supported our affiliates and
Caritas Member Organisations in continuing His work.
A woman peers nervously at her scan results in a subsidized
clinic.
The Caritas SED Galle team in Sri Lanka testing the new water
filters.
Children sitting with Fr. Matthieu Dauchez, Executive Director
at ANAK-Tnk
(https://www.anak-tnk.org/).
Medical & Surgical Subsidies in Gaza Strip, Palestine -
Caritas Jerusalem
Water and Sanitation Facilities in Galle, Sri Lanka
Shelter Renovation for Abandoned Children in Philippines -
ANAK-Tnk
Whose lives have been changed by your donation?
• Patients with chronic illnesses, including breadwinners of 130
low-income families with four or more dependents
How much did Caritas Jerusalem receive from CHARIS?
• SGD 22,500
Whose lives have been changed by your donation?
• 6,300 impoverished plantation farmers
How much did Caritas SED Galle receive?
• The project cost of SGD 22,000 was fully funded by CHARIS
Where was the money spent on?
• 75 bio-sand water filters
• 55 toilets
Where was the money spent on?
• Purchase of medical equipment
• Subsidising of health insurance premiums, medical and surgery
costs
Out of the 79 cases supported by Caritas Jerusalem, there was a
14 year-old girl from Jenin who required Cochlear implants costing
S$11,365. Her father, a construction worker and the sole
breadwinner of their big family of seven members, only earns S$70 a
day.
What issues affect this community due to the drought?
• Crop failures mean that farmers are deprived of their
livelihood
• Fecal matter flows into the river beds and water ways of the
lower ground
• Shortage of potable water, while unsanitary facilities and
poor understanding of health and hygiene made many children suffer
from bowel disease
Whose lives have been changed by your donation?
• 20 girls with disabilities who lived on the streets
Where is the shelter located?
• St. Josephine Bakhita Home in Quezon City, Manila,
Philippines. It is still under renovation.
How much did ANAK-Tnk receive from CHARIS?
• SGD 35,000
Where was the money spent on?
• Construction, carpentry and painting works, funitures (beds
and cabinets)
What issues affect this community?
• Extreme poverty and malnourishment, no access to education,
lack of knowledge in basic health and hygiene
• Easy victims of drugs, violence, rape and prostitution
From October 2018 to August 2019, CHARIS has pledged almost
S$525,000 in grants for development and rehabilitation work in
various causes in the region and beyond.
Students listening attentively to a class conducted by an
Epiphany volunteer
Interactive English lessons for younger children
