Theme: An environment to grow in

A letter from the Caritas Australia Chairperson

Dear Friends,
The season of Lent we are about to begin invites us into a time of reflection and discernment in our relationship with God, with others and indeed all of creation.

As Pope Benedict XVI has stated “Every person and family can and must do something to alleviate hunger … by adopting a lifestyle and consumption compatible with the safeguarding of creation and the criteria of justice.” (12 November 2006).

We live in a world of contrasts and conflicts. While many people in the world are experiencing unprecedented wealth, others suffer debilitating poverty. We are consuming and polluting at alarming rates with little awareness or concern for the destructive environmental impacts we are having.

In the meantime, people living in poverty are becoming more vulnerable and suffering the consequences of environmental degradation. We are now seeing the significant impact climate change is having on food security, available water supplies, and ultimately the livelihoods of millions of people.

However there is much to learn and good news to share. Our theme for Project Compassion 2009 is ‘An Environment to Grow In’. This encompasses not only the physical conditions, but all the circumstances that surround us as we strive to live life to the full.Again this year, Project Compassion highlights six Caritas Australia projects. These stories give us the opportunity to journey with the participants and to learn what can be achieved when we gather as a Church to reach out to our brothers and sisters in need.

These projects include:

Building food security and livelihoods for subsistence farmers in Uganda
Bringing Green Hope to drought prone areas in tribal India
Helping former ‘street boys’ to farm organically for their future in Papua New Guinea
Supporting Indigenous Indonesian communities to participate in a future of ecological justice
Developing and training local community members to run an effective youth program that benefits the whole community in Indigenous Australia
Building communities’ capacity to adapt to the effects of changing weather in Bolivia

In 2008, Project Compassion raised $9.2 million. Your generosity enables Caritas Australia to continue to support many projects, in Australia and around the world, assisting some of the most vulnerable and disadvantaged people in the world to create a safe and sustainable environment to grow in.

This Lent, may Project Compassion remind us all to be good stewards of the earth and care for our environment on which all life depends.

Yours sincerely in Christ,

Archbishop Adrian L Doyle
Chairperson, Caritas Australia