Malaysian Catholic Church unites charity and justice mission through Caritas Malaysia

Bishop Bernard Paul, President of Caritas Malaysia, launched Caritas Malaysia Nov 6 at its first Online National Assembly

By Linda Edward

Nov 6 2020

The Malaysian Catholic Church has taken a concrete step to strengthen its mission of charity and justice by establishing Caritas Malaysia.

KUALA LUMPUR – Given the various ecological-socio-political issues that are happening in the country and the urgency to respond to these humanitarian crises, the Malaysian Catholic Church has taken a concrete step to strengthen its mission of charity and justice by establishing Caritas Malaysia, which will bring all charity works of the Church under one united body.

The Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Malaysia (CBCM) had, in its January 2020 meeting, decided unanimously to establish Caritas Malaysia.

Bishop Bernard Paul, President of Caritas Malaysia, launched Caritas Malaysia today in its first Online National Assembly, attended by 120 people from nine dioceses, including the arch/bishops, Dr Benedict Alo D’Rozario, President of Caritas Asia, staff of diocesan Caritas offices, commissions and ministries of the poor that are currently working in the various missions of the church.

This is the first effort of coming together by all nine Malaysian dioceses to work for the purpose of social mission of the Catholic Church.

Caritas as a faith-based organisation, has a specific mission to attend to the poorest and the neediest, assisting in humanitarian emergencies and helping to spread charity and justice in the world in the light of the Gospel and of the teaching of the Catholic Church (CI Statutes, art.1.3).

Archbishop Julian Leow, President of CBCM, in his keynote address, said the Malaysian Church needs to do much more for the vulnerable communities in the country, and this, he said, can be achieved through Caritas Malaysia.

“It is now more than ever, during this pandemic, that we need to go out to the periphery, to be present and lend a hand to those in need; the poor, the vulnerable, the migrants, to offer them hope and assistance in these desperate times.

“I am confident that we, the Malaysian Church, will be able to do so much more than what is currently being done, through the initiative and endeavours of Caritas Malaysia,” said the prelate.

He said Caritas Malaysia as inter-diocesan collaboration, “coming together under one umbrella, gives us a stronger visible presence of the Church in action, in the marketplace.”

Some dioceses have already an existing social mission office such as the Human Development Commission or Office for Human Development where these will continue their same work. Meanwhile, other dioceses will need to set up its own Caritas office where it does not exist.

Given the various names of social mission office at the diocesan level, CBCM has therefore agreed to refer all such offices as Caritas.

The works of Caritas Malaysia, Archbishop Leow said, is not confined within the Catholic circle but will include the poor who are in need regardless of faith and beliefs.

To the individuals who care for those in need, he said, “they must first be professionally competent, should be properly trained in what and how to do it, and be committed to continuing care.”

While Caritas Malaysia comes under the direct autonomy of the bishops, they are also part of the Caritas Internationalis Confederation based in Rome.

Some of the participants of the first Caritas Malaysia National Assembly

A new VUCA world

Living in a VUCA world, which stands for volatility, uncertainty, complexity and ambiguity, Bishop Bernard Paul said the Church can perceive this in a positive light or in negativity.

“We can perceive it (VUCA) as an enemy or a challenge, or a condition that invites all institutions and ministries for a time of collaboration and innovation,” said the bishop.

He invites the church, through the diocesan and parish-level Caritas offices, to create a new VUCA world which stands for vision, understanding, clarity and agility.

To achieve this, Bishop Paul said “We need to become Caritas (charity or love) in the world, literal love in the world by being a communion of love where we are, where we are sent with what we have.

“We also (need to practise) contemplative-action where we affirm our oneness and inter-connectedness, and how all things and people are interconnected and inter-dependent,” he said.

The bishop also mentioned the need for new action for a new future, and to take the road less travelled, “For the ministries, it may cost their exclusivity and status-quo. The parishes need to be more welcoming. The clergy may need to “turun padang”. The dioceses may need to spend more, re-design their plans, invest in skilled man-power to drive the social mission agenda.”

Bishop Paul then signed the Caritas Malaysia plaque to mark the launching of the official organ of the Malaysian Catholic Church for the promotion of its social mission.

The second half of the National Assembly will be held Nov 13 at 8.45am until 11.15am. Participants can expect to see presentation by Caritas Asia, another presentation of each Diocesan Consultation Findings and will end with a session of questions and answers.

The development of Caritas Malaysia

On 08 July 2019, during the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Malaysia-Singapore-Brunei (CBCMSB), the Bishops met with Caritas staff from the Vatican and Asia for a dialogue.
On 9 January 2020, at the following Bishops’ Conference they unanimously decided to establish Caritas Malaysia as an overarching body for all organisations involved in charity and development work.
Appointment of Bishop Bernard Paul as Chair of Caritas Malaysia (CM), and Charles Bertille as Executive Secretary and head of the National office.
On 25 February 2020, a launching meeting was held with all diocese delegates and the Bishop Chair at the APC, KL. They discussed the situation and need for capacity building, being systematic and research based in ministry work. There was a consensus to work together at the national level under Caritas.
An interim Exco was established at this meeting and has been meeting regularly. It consists of Bp Bernard Paul, Charles Bertille, Dominic Lim from Kota Kinabalu, Sabah, Frs Galvin Richard Ngumbang & Alvin Ng from Kuching, Sarawak, and Alvin Santhanam from KL.
In March 2020, at the request of all the diocese delegates, a Kit was designed and sent out on how and why we need to be “Listening to Voices on the Ground”, as part of the local community/diocese consultation process.
A national quick survey was carried out in early April during the Covid Relief work and the findings shared with all bishops, diocese offices and the Vatican Dicastery.
On the last week of August, training for conducting focus group discussions (FGD) was conducted and the tools made available to all.
The Caritas Malaysia (CM) national office has been set up in the Archdiocesen Pastoral Centre, Kuala Lumpur.
Working ties have been re-established with Caritas Asia and Caritas Internationalis.
Caritas Malaysia linked up locally with the Alliance of Community Service Organisations (CSO). This gives us access to a wider network, webinars and other information.
On 23 June 2020, the Bishops met and approved the Caritas organigram and other operation matters to set up or strengthen existing diocese Caritas offices.
A standard job description for all diocese offices have been sent out.
Each diocese is being helped to have a standard visual identity and logo.
The Bishops also approved the Caritas National Assembly via online in November 2020, and a second part for planning in 2021.