Today I went for the Social Mission Conference organised by Caritas. Caritas is the welfare arm of the Archdiocese. The Archdiocese is an organisation where all the catholic churches and activities go under. Just like CHOICE, Engaged Encounter, Marriage Encounter, Marriage Preparation Course, etc, come under the Family Life Society of the Archdiocese, Caritas, being the welfare arm, organises events like community service, mission trips, and outreach to help the poor, under priviledged and disasters, fulfilling the church's social mission.
In any case, it was a very inspiring conference. The speakers spoke on what the church's mission is, how to help others and what we can do for the poor, the marginalised, the migrants, overseas humanitarian and the family.
The first speaker is the Secretary General for Caritas Internationalis based in Vatican City. She spoke on "Values and Social Change in a Post Crisis World". Essentially, she said the mission of Caritas is that all social and economic systems should serve the common good, rather than the interests of the elite minorities.
How many times have we come across priviledges that only benefit the rich and established, instead of those that really need it? Look at our own country. It is only those who earn certain amount and above that can benefit from things. Those that do not make the grade can never be given a chance.
She also spoke on showing compassion and solidarity, fighting global poverty, civil society growing strongly that it benefits all sectors of society, disaster preparedness and risk reduction strategies, priorities needs for poorer countries by funding for sustainable development, protection for migrants, better diagnosis and less prejudice for those with incurable diseases, and working together in peace. These are all a brief overview of what the church's social missions are.
The second speaker was a Monsignor, on "Faith, Charity and Justice". Essentially he said that charity is not enough, to really fulfil the church's social mission, charity and justice must come hand in hand. And only by having faith, charity and justice, can one properly and sincerely outreach to the less priviledged.
After that there was a panel discussion by various established speakers, on a brief overview of the breakout tracks which we would be doing after lunch. The panel discussion was on what the problems each of these group face and what society, especially the church, can do to help them.
I must say, the ideas and notions brought forward were really good! It would really benefit if only the ideas could be acted upon! But it is not easy to change society and people's thinkings, so every effort has to come from each of us. Of course, the budding sociologist next to me always have his own theories on what and how society should function!
The breakout tracks included The Poor, The Migrant Workers, The Family, Overseas Humanitarian, and the Marginalised. We were actually given two choices on which tracks we would like to attend. We put Family as first choice and Overseas Humanitarian as second choice, and we were put into the latter, which turned out just as well because we got to learn about Mission Trips and what is required. This is exactly what I was trying to find out!
After the breakout tracks, the conference was wrapped up by two more speakers on what we could do and what we have learnt, as well as an overview on the various catholic groups set up to help these people. I am glad to say that in light of the church's social mission, the Archdiocese and Caritas have really set up various groups to help the poor, needy, marginalised and migrants!
The greatest lesson I have learnt is that, being church-goers, we should not judge. We should help with a sincere heart and according to what the needy needs, and not what we think they need. People in jail, people infected with AIDS, domestic workers, foreign spouses and workers, children from broken homes, abused wives, abandoned wives, and disaster prone areas, poor slums, these are the people and places that need our help.
We live in a priviledged country and take a lot of things for granted, but there are other places where the people have not even seen a toothbrush nor able to attend schools. What is better than giving back to the community what the community has given us?
Hence, when I found out that ACCT (Archdiocese Crisis Coordination Team) is going to be expanded into humanitarian and not just disasters, I wanted to register as a volunteer immediately. ACCT is now CHARIS (Caritas Humanitarian Aid and Relief Initiatives). I have always been inspired by the kind of work they do, and now that I have registered as a volunteer, I hope I, too, can do my part on overseas mission trips and help the needy.
I hope there will be another Social Mission Conference again soon!
In any case, it was a very inspiring conference. The speakers spoke on what the church's mission is, how to help others and what we can do for the poor, the marginalised, the migrants, overseas humanitarian and the family.
The first speaker is the Secretary General for Caritas Internationalis based in Vatican City. She spoke on "Values and Social Change in a Post Crisis World". Essentially, she said the mission of Caritas is that all social and economic systems should serve the common good, rather than the interests of the elite minorities.
How many times have we come across priviledges that only benefit the rich and established, instead of those that really need it? Look at our own country. It is only those who earn certain amount and above that can benefit from things. Those that do not make the grade can never be given a chance.
She also spoke on showing compassion and solidarity, fighting global poverty, civil society growing strongly that it benefits all sectors of society, disaster preparedness and risk reduction strategies, priorities needs for poorer countries by funding for sustainable development, protection for migrants, better diagnosis and less prejudice for those with incurable diseases, and working together in peace. These are all a brief overview of what the church's social missions are.
The second speaker was a Monsignor, on "Faith, Charity and Justice". Essentially he said that charity is not enough, to really fulfil the church's social mission, charity and justice must come hand in hand. And only by having faith, charity and justice, can one properly and sincerely outreach to the less priviledged.
After that there was a panel discussion by various established speakers, on a brief overview of the breakout tracks which we would be doing after lunch. The panel discussion was on what the problems each of these group face and what society, especially the church, can do to help them.
I must say, the ideas and notions brought forward were really good! It would really benefit if only the ideas could be acted upon! But it is not easy to change society and people's thinkings, so every effort has to come from each of us. Of course, the budding sociologist next to me always have his own theories on what and how society should function!
The breakout tracks included The Poor, The Migrant Workers, The Family, Overseas Humanitarian, and the Marginalised. We were actually given two choices on which tracks we would like to attend. We put Family as first choice and Overseas Humanitarian as second choice, and we were put into the latter, which turned out just as well because we got to learn about Mission Trips and what is required. This is exactly what I was trying to find out!
After the breakout tracks, the conference was wrapped up by two more speakers on what we could do and what we have learnt, as well as an overview on the various catholic groups set up to help these people. I am glad to say that in light of the church's social mission, the Archdiocese and Caritas have really set up various groups to help the poor, needy, marginalised and migrants!
The greatest lesson I have learnt is that, being church-goers, we should not judge. We should help with a sincere heart and according to what the needy needs, and not what we think they need. People in jail, people infected with AIDS, domestic workers, foreign spouses and workers, children from broken homes, abused wives, abandoned wives, and disaster prone areas, poor slums, these are the people and places that need our help.
We live in a priviledged country and take a lot of things for granted, but there are other places where the people have not even seen a toothbrush nor able to attend schools. What is better than giving back to the community what the community has given us?
Hence, when I found out that ACCT (Archdiocese Crisis Coordination Team) is going to be expanded into humanitarian and not just disasters, I wanted to register as a volunteer immediately. ACCT is now CHARIS (Caritas Humanitarian Aid and Relief Initiatives). I have always been inspired by the kind of work they do, and now that I have registered as a volunteer, I hope I, too, can do my part on overseas mission trips and help the needy.
I hope there will be another Social Mission Conference again soon!
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