Caritas – 50 years of ‘love in action’

He aha te mea nui o tēnei ao? Māku e kī atu: ‘He tāngata, he tāngata, he tāngata’. You ask me what is the greatest thing on Earth? My reply is: it is people, it is people, it is people.

ORIGINS AND FOUNDATIONS Caritas Aotearoa grew out of concern in the 1950s and 1960s for justice and a fairer distribution of the world’s resources; as well Cardinal Reginald Delargey and Bishop Brian Ashby, who as the ’s promotion of the served as the respective Episcopal Chairs respectively for Members of the Caritas Kiribati Youth Group planting mangroves to protect their shoreline, and provide a food source. ’s concern for social issues and the role of COAC and the CCJP. Photo: Caritas. the . In 1966, the New Zealand Catholic Bishops Conference set up a national commission to review COAC was to be the Church’s official voice on CATHOLIC VOLUNTEERS On the cusp of the third decade of the new the Church’s overseas aid and missions, culminating international issues of , justice and peace, millennium, Caritas Aotearoa New Zealand stands in a 1968 conference. reminding people that the world is a global village Catholic Overseas Volunteer Service (COVS) was set well placed to respond to the needs of people and that we all have a responsibility for its needs up in 1968. It grew out of the Catholic Lay Mission around the world. As its Strategic Directions and Following that, the Bishops established a National and survival: Helpers founded by Jocelyn Franklin in 1964. This Goals 2018-2022 state: ‘From our place in the world, Coordinating Committee for Catholic Overseas “COAC was a pioneering movement. … There is recognised a growing need and desire for skilled our home, our tūrangawaewae, we will contribute Aid (COAC), the Catholic Commission for Justice the need to constantly explore new frontiers. lay people to assist the Church’s mission, especially to the well-being and flourishing of communities and Peace (CCJP) and Catholic Overseas Volunteer To learn and to relearn. The agendas have to in the Pacific. In those early days Miss Franklin in other parts of the world. Our interconnectedness Service (COVS). These three strands are now all found be related to a swiftly changing world. Gospel ensured that formation of overseas volunteers means that the well-being of Oceania is the well- within Caritas Aotearoa New Zealand. questions as outlined in the final judgement: included some knowledge of Māori culture and being of the world. In solidarity, we will stand with language, drawing on the services of Pā Henare Two key people in the future development of justice, ‘Did you feed me, clothe me, visit me…’ allow for all others in our One Human Family.’ Tate and the Māori Mission at Te Unga Waka. peace and development in Aotearoa New Zealand, people to do this in some of the most destitute corners of the world.” In 2001, COVS became Mahitahi under a new model “We’re better able to respond. We engage Jocelyn Franklin and Fr John Curnow, attended the Jocelyn Franklin, Member, COAC National Committee to more effectively meet partner needs. It was more closely with our partners and with the Vatican Council meeting on the Role of the Laity incorporated into Caritas in 2012, and now operates discourse. We have a better understanding with Bishop (later Cardinal) Reginald Delargey and COAC and the CCJP were also attentive to justice under its direction with the name of Catholic of advocacy and justice, and better ability to Bishop Brian Ashby. They committed themselves to and peace matters at home. In the 1970s, a task Volunteers Overseas, providing short and long-term analyse what is just and fair.” ‘reading the signs of the times’, meaning the church group was established to consult and provide a assignments for New Zealanders according to needs Beverley Turnbull, International Programmes should listen to, learn from, and respond to the Catholic perspective on Te Tiriti o Waitangi. The expressed by partners in the Pacific. Manager 1993–1996, Current Chair of Caritas Board. world around it. They also applied Catholic social 1980s Lenten programme ‘New Hope for our Society’ analysis principles of See, Judge, Act. helped Catholics examine our history and the

Ehara taku toa i te toa takitahi, engari he toa takitini My achievements and strengths are not those of the individual, but those of the many

Caritas Aotearoa New Zealand Catholic Centre, 22-30 Hill St, PO Box 12193, Wellington 6144 [email protected] www.caritas.org.nz Tel: (+64 4) 496 1742 Fax: (+64 4) 499 2519 Tutū ana te puehu Stirring up the dust Church’s role in addressing injustice. Today, Caritas of the Church. … it aimed to show to people time, some of the hardships that Caritas partners Aotearoa New Zealand continues a journey of living all over the world, that the Church walked with encounter on a daily basis.” out obligations under Te Tiriti, through development them in their poverty, in the injustice they were Catherine Gibbs, National Education Coordinator, programmes with tangata whenua, consultation experiencing, and in the midst of disasters 2005 to 2014. or conflict.” with Te Rūnanga o te Hāhi Katorika ki Aotearoa “Accompanying people as we open our eyes to John Egan, Programme Officer then Fundraising and a kaihāpai Māori role to guide tikanga and see and understand the poverty in our midst Officer, 1985-1994. relationships with Māori. is an essential part of the mission of Caritas. One significant project was our initiation and support of the Alternative Welfare Working SIGNS OF THE TIMES Group in 2010. This drew together disparate groups wanting to ensure that the voices of Directed and guided by the Bishops, Caritas and beneficiaries were heard during the welfare its predecessors have continued to support them reforms of 2010-2011. We enabled a clear vision in reading the signs of the times, and applying of a more humane way of supporting the most See, Judge, Act to the issues of the day – both In 1988, the organisation became the Catholic vulnerable in our society.” within Aotearoa New Zealand and overseas. Commission for Justice, Peace and Development Lisa Beech, Advocacy and Research 2003-2016 The organisation itself has changed with the times, (Aotearoa-New Zealand) and the kowhaiwhai ‘Tutū ana ate puehu – Stirring up the dust’ was in name, structure and work priorities. In 2009, a logo change incorporated the ‘flaming incorporated into the logo. Designed by the late In 1978, the Bishops cross’ of the Caritas Internationalis confederation. Martin Winiata of Ngāti Raukawa, Horowhenua, the Women from Caritas partner HAFOTI in Timor Leste prepare integrated aid and However, as an organisation grounded in Aotearoa dominant line represents the strong orator prevailing food products for sale. Caritas support and partnership has New Zealand, the kowhaiwhai continues to point development with through all other argument. been sustained since Timor Leste’s independence, reflecting justice and peace to solidarity and commitment to the new country and its Caritas in new directions as we face the challenges of a complex, globalised world. form the New Zealand “The task of reading the Signs of the Times people. Photo: Helen Reynolds. Catholic Commission is ongoing, and I use it in my role as a Kiwi New Zealand joined the Caritas Internationalis for Evangelisation, academic.” confederation of Catholic aid, development and self-determination. In 1999 this culminated Justice & Development Manuka Henare, Founding Director, Caritas Aotearoa social justice agencies in 1975. It has been a member in the visit by Bishop of Dili, Carlos Belo, and (NZCCEJD), with Fr John New Zealand; Caritas Board 1997-2005. or affiliated with other international Catholic later, in our active lobbying of the New Zealand Curnow as Executive Director. He led many Catholics agencies such as International and the In 1992, the Bishops government as Timor was suffering devastating to understand that justice, peace and development Catholic development alliance CIDSE. reviewed national and post-referendum violence.” work are integral elements of our faith. diocesan justice, peace and Peter Zwart, Fundraising Officer; then International “The Christian perspective on international development structures. Programmes Manager, Caritas Aotearoa New Zealand, relations is centred on the human person, on the They establish three related 1994-2005. entities: Caritas Aotearoa Students from St Peter Chanel School, Green Island, Dunedin promotion of human development, defending In 1998, the three entities become Caritas Aotearoa fundraising through the Caritas Challenge. New Zealand as its aid and the dignity of people and their rights. The New Zealand – the Catholic Agency for Justice Peace development agency, Gospel puts the stress on love, justice, sharing and Development. Its mission continues to include the Catholic Commission – the values of the kingdom. The task of the education and formation of the Catholic community for Justice and Peace to advise on social issues and church is to witness to these values and work in Catholic social justice and acting justly in the face educational programmes, and the Catholic Office for for a world where these values are the ways that of injustice at home and abroad. guide human relationships at every level.” Social Justice to service both. “To help students understand the causes Fr John Curnow, Founding Executive Director, A new logo merged a bold, sweeping kowhaiwhai with and consequences of injustice, so that their Catholic Commission for Evangelisation, Justice a globe, symbolising continuity, pointing to the future, traditional fundraising efforts became an and Development. the idea of movement and change. outcome of their learning rather than an end in “Changing the organisation’s name to the “For five years leading up to Timor Leste’s itself, it was important to help grow empathy Catholic Commission for Evangelisation independence referendum, we engaged with and compassion for those in need before simply Justice and Development was an attempt to church and NGO partners in Timor to support donating a gold coin. This was the underlying emphasise the importance of justice, peace and community development and human rights and vision of the Caritas Challenge which began development work to the evangelising mission advocated in New Zealand on peace and in 2012. Students could experience for a short