You are invited to join Bishop Shane, parishioners, and students from Catholic Schools for pancakes at the Diocesan Launch of Project Compassion at Hargreaves Mall at 11:30 a.m. on Shrove Tuesday (13 February).
Project Compassion is a fundraiser of Caritas Australia and has become a tradition in the Diocese of Sandhurst. Over the six weeks of Lent, parishes and schools all over Australia immerse themselves in fundraising projects to support the work of Caritas in some of the world's most vulnerable communities.
At the Diocesan launch Bishop Shane will commission Project Compassion school and parish representatives. “Project Compassion has been an integral part of the celebration of Lent in Australia,” wrote Bishop Shane in a recent letter to the Project Compassion supporters in his Diocese. "Not only does Project Compassion give us a very effective vehicle for assisting those in need, but it also works to shape our life as Church to reflect the missionary outreach and service to which Jesus calls us.”
In 2024, the theme of Project Compassion is, again, ‘FOR ALL FUTURE GENERATIONS’ inspired by the story in Exodus [3:1-20].
In this story, God tells Moses that he has heard the cry of the people. God responds to things not being fair and chooses Moses to speak to Pharaoh. Though Moses is afraid, God promises to be with him. And God said, “This is my name for all time; by this name I shall be invoked for all generations to come” [3:15]. As God called Moses, he now God calls us to work for justice for all future generations.
Caritas Australia works with and continues to collaborate with their partners across the world who are working tirelessly to assist people who are dealing with the catastrophic effects of natural disaster, war and conflict and injustice. Project Compassion provides us with an opportunity to be part of a mission to work towards making life better and fairer for all, especially those who are most vulnerable.
In 2023 funds raised by Project Compassion have assisted Caritas Australia to help their partners to respond to emergencies such as the flooding in eastern Africa, and Libya, earthquakes in Turkey, Syria, and Morocco; and the conflict in Ukraine, Afghanistan and Turkey.
In addition to humanitarian responses to such emergencies, Caritas continues with long-term community development projects in various parts of the world.
Hence the theme, For all Future Generations, which reminds us that our contribution not only assists those in need, but also helps us to move towards long-term solutions to global issues.
