Communities come together online and in person this Lent

The Christian tradition of eating pancakes just before the beginning of Lent is one which stretches back to medieval times. In our affluent society, we may not appreciate the challenge of food shortages in poor communities globally. The World Bank tells us that the coronavirus pandemic will push the global poverty rate up for the first time in 20 years. This   will further exacerbate the challenges for vulnerable communities in the Pacific, across Asia and Africa, where malnourishment and poor nutrition have contributed to childhood stunting and poor health throughout communities.

The money you raise by sharing a pancake breakfast on Shrove Tuesday can help to nourish poor communities globally.

If you’d like to hear more about Project Compassion launch events, click here. 

Thank you for Being More with Project Compassion and Caritas Australia!

Photos: In Canberra and in Sydney, Caritas Australia staff give the 'flip' to poverty with its traditional Shrove Tuesday pancake fundraiser. Caritas Australia.

All across Australia, you have joined the groundswell of support to 'Be More' for Project Compassion. Here are just some of the ways that you have come together in a spirit of generosity and compassion in support of vulnerable communities facing the new challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic.

In Adelaide on Sunday, February 14th (Project Compassion Sunday) there was a lot of love at the Clearview/ Kilburn Parish, with a Valentine’s Day themed Project Compassion launch this year.

Parishioners dressed in national costume from their homelands globally, including the Solomon Islands, Bangladesh, Indonesia and Tanzania, to acknowledge the multiculturalism of their parish and the global solidarity of the Caritas supporter community.

Across the East coast, on Sunday February 16^th, around 70 Catholic Primary and Secondary schools, from Sydney, Canberra-Goulburn Archdiocese, and dioceses of Broken Bay, Wollongong, Lismore, Armidale and Wagga Wagga, attended an online schools’ launch.

Bishop Brian Mascord (Bishop of Wollongong) blessed the students, encouraging them to ‘Be More’ as ambassadors for Caritas throughout the Project Compassion appeal. Organiser and Caritas Australia Social and Ecological Justice Animator, Chris Nolan, encouraged them  to lead the way for their fellow students. “Each student in attendance was blessed and commissioned to be a Project Compassion ambassador, leading by example to live out this year’s theme,” Mr Nolan said.

Photos: In the Archdiocese of Adelaide, Project Compassion was launched with a multicultural mass, while in Sydney, a Zoom event brough together school students from across the East coast (thumbnail image). Paul Reid/Chris Nolan, Caritas Australia. 

In the Diocese of Paramatta, a region of New South Wales which contains a twentieth of Australia’s population (Australian census data) over 30 Catholic schools came together to ‘Be More’ for the  ongoing mission of global poverty eradication. Some students attended in person, but most joined the special webinar online. Thank you, Diocesan Director for the Archdiocese of Paramatta, Patrice Moriarty and the Catholic Education Diocese of Paramatta team for offering this wonderful event.

Students heard powerful stories from refugees and communities, emerging with the determination to promote good health and wellbeing, gender equality and environmental sustainability across the world.

“(The Project Compassion launch) helped me understand the little contributions we can make and how it can go a long way,” said Adut Deng from St Clare's. “I learnt that I have a lot of power and privilege and because of that I should go out of my way to help those who don't have the same advantages as me.”

Thank you, Diocese of Paramatta student body for ‘Being More’ with Caritas Australia and Project Compassion.

Photos: Students and teachers came together to ‘Be More’ for Project Compassion and Caritas Australia. 

Margaret Moriarty, 69 (pictured here with her children, grandchildren and Bishop Vincent Long), is the matriarch of the Moriarty family. A long-time Caritas Australia supporter, she says she can't remember a time without a Project Compassion box in her house during Lent.

For four generations now, the Moriarty family have been stalwart advocates of Project Compassion and Caritas Australia.

“As my husband and I firmly believe in donating to Project Compassion, our own children have grown up with the same iconic boxes in our home. Some of my grandchildren are also continuing the tradition now at home and at school and I am proud that four generations of my family have been able to live out Christ’s love in the world,” Margaret says.

Thank you, Margaret and the entire Moriarty clan, for your devotion to social justice, globally!

Photos: Four generations of the Moriarty family stand together for Project Compassion. Patrice Moriarty, Caritas Australia.