annual Sharing the Love Journeying with You Cover photo taken at Mamre Oaks' second anniversary party at Agape Village. About Caritas Singapore Mission: To collaborate and ‘Caritas’ means ‘charity’ in Latin, and this reminds us to live our faith provide leadership within the through social mission work. Catholic community in Caritas Singapore works on the ground in Singapore. We are a member Singapore in fulfilling the of Caritas Internationalis, a global confederation of 165 humanitarian Catholic Church’s social organisations. mission especially for the most vulnerable in society. Caritas Singapore is the official social and community arm of the Catholic Church in Singapore, and the umbrella body for 25 Catholic Vision: To be the visible sign charities and organisations whose work impacts over 50,000 beneficiaries regardless of race, religion or nationality. of God’s love for humanity demonstrated by Catholics The Caritas Singapore Board developed a set of strategic priorities to living the principles and steer the social mission work from 2015 to 2018. values of the Catholic Social Teaching (CST). Knowing Christ, Knowing CST Reflecting Christ in Service • Staff and volunteers formed in CST • Staff and volunteers serve with • More Catholics understand CST and compassion and love, as Christ did are motivated by their faith to do • CST in action @ Agape Village and good Member Organisations Giving Voice to Christ in the Poor Living Christ in Our Parishes • Be an authentic, credible and • Engage, collaborate and support responsible voice of the poor parish groups including families • Enable the poor to speak for in living out their social mission themselves • Support active volunteer engagement Strengthening Organisational Capabilities • Good governance, fair and just practices, transparency • Hub of knowledge and expertise on Catholic social mission, CST and needs of the poor and vulnerable in society • Capability to mobilise volunteers from parishes by offering them practical exposure to Caritas Singapore programmes and the opportunity to develop their faith by working in partnership with the poor • Develop Servant Leadership The member organisations under the umbrella of Caritas Singapore offer a wide array of services to beneficiaries and clients such as the poor, children, youth-at-risk, families, prisoners, elderly, sick, people with life- limiting illnesses, people with HIV/AIDS, those with disabilities, migrants, and people with legal and medical needs. There are more than 70 programmes run by these organisations aimed at helping people in need. Programmes and services include financial assistance, residential care for seniors and children, shelters, befriending, counselling, palliative care, student care, and skills training. Caritas Singapore is about people; we serve the community through our services and programmes, and we welcome you to join us in this effort. 1 Doing the Work of God Charity – an honourable work Under the guidance of the Holy of service to society and Spirit, we remain ever conscious community is that which that everything we have done and will continue to do is for the “glory defines us as true followers of of God.” (1 Corinthians 10:31). Our Christ. We become the visible Lord Jesus Christ “… the Son of presence of God through our Man [who] came not to be served acts of service. As Jesus in but to serve” (Matthew 20:28) is Matthew 5:16 says, we are the our greatest role model. His sacred light of the world. And the ministry was not only in prayer and preaching; He was also only way our light can shine present in the homes of people, is through our good works. eating, drinking, or on the streets, walking with them. He showed us As the social mission arm of the how to listen and be one with Church, Caritas Singapore and the whom we serve. This mission to charitable organisations under her show and spread God’s love is stewardship have continued to what motivates and distinguishes devote time, resources and energy us from other social service to respond to this call to do God’s organisations. work on earth. The Church expresses its deepest “In the same way, let your The stories you will read in this gratitude to all who have lived out Annual Report demonstrates this social mission. Caritas light shine before others, so Caritas Singapore and her Singapore’s staff, volunteers, that they may see your member organisations’ positive member organisations as well as good works and give glory impact on the lives of individuals, donors and partners have families, and the community at contributed generously to make to your Father who is in large. Agape Village, a one-stop Christ known to the poor and heaven.” integrated social service hub, is vulnerable. Caritas Singapore’s effort to show – Archbishop William Goh God’s love more visibly. The 14 Much has been done, but more member organisations housed remains. As we strive to fulfil our under one roof reach out to the role, we should not feel anxious or wide strata of society, including worried. After all, success or failure the young, the old, the vulnerable, is in the hands of God. Let us trust and the under-served in Him and leave everything in His Singapore. hands. As our beloved Mother Mary instructed the disciples of Our work was affirmed by the Jesus, “Do whatever he tells you.” President of Singapore, Mdm (John 2:5). When we live in firm Halimah Yacob, during her visit to and humble obedience to this Agape Village in September this golden rule, we shall always year. succeed in our work of God. Yours in Christ, Most Rev William Goh, DD Archbishop of Singapore Patron, Caritas Singapore 2 Message from Archbishop Called to serve 2017 has been another year In her first week in office, blessed with encounters of Singapore’s first woman President, faith, hope and love as the Madam Halimah Yacob, visited staff, volunteers and partners Agape Village. Madam President is of our 25 Caritas member herself sensitive and empathetic to organisations share in the the needs of the community and journeys of the 50,000 she engaged with the Caritas and clients we work with. member organisations’ staff, volunteers and clients and A Year in Reflection affirmed the impact of the work It is Caritas’ vision to be the visible we do. sign of God’s love for humanity. I am heartened to witness this 2017 has been a challenging year vision being made real and would for many but with the support of like to share a few highlights in our generous benefactors, Caritas 2017. raised $8.6m enabling us to continue serving the poor and God’s love for the elderly especially disadvantaged. the elderly poor radiates the new St Joseph’s Home (SJH) that was Moving Ahead re-built by the Catholic Welfare In the coming year, we are Services. And, on Dec 1, 2017, a commissioning a research to study “light shone brightly” on the new the needs of the under-served in building of Assisi Hospice on its our midst. We look forward to our official opening. biennial Social Mission Conference “your light must shine in to be held on 21 July 2018. The Catholic Business Network people’s sight so that seeing organised two Community We continue to provide enriching your good works they may Employability Day job fairs that volunteering experiences for our give praise to your Father resulted in 61 persons getting a volunteers as well as supporting job. our member organisations with a in Heaven.” smarter volunteer management – Matt 5:16 The Caritas Roundtable V system. We will also actively continues to be a platform for engage Catholic communities in dialogue and collaboration among parishes to increase awareness of stakeholders in the social sector. the needs of our society and every This year, we had an enriching Catholic’s mission to live out the discussion on mental health issues, Catholic Social Teaching (CST) of including an intimate sharing by a the Church. person with mental illness. Caritas the opportunity to share in With Thanksgiving Every week, about 200 senior your journey. It is with a grateful heart that we citizens are at Agape Village, in Toa Payoh, to participate in the close 2017. On behalf of the board I ask for your continued prayers “Share-A-Pot” programme, IT and trustees, I would like to thank and support for all of us at Caritas classes or “YAH (Young-at-Heart)” all staff and volunteers for their Singapore that we work with faith, talks. commitment and dedication to hope and love, to partner the poor our Caritas mission and vision, and out of their “poverty” by re- in living out the principles and discovering their own greatness. values of CST. May God’s Peace be with you. “Go and live among the I sincerely appreciate the generous poor in spirit and they will donations, big and small, by individuals and corporations – Yours in Christ, heal you.” may you be blessed richly for – Henri Nouwen sharing what you have with the Janet Ang (Reflections on Christian poor. And I am grateful to our Chairman Leadership) partners and clients for giving Caritas Singapore Message from Chairman 3 Board of Directors Chairman : Janet Ang wef January 2015 serving since 2013 Member, Board of the Agape Fund Trustees Chairman, Executive Committee Chairman, Nominations Committee Vice President, Industry Solutions & Smarter Cities, IBM Asia Pacific members Benedict Jane Foo Rev Monsignor Cheong serving since 2011 Ambrose Vaz serving since 2013 Chairman, Volunteer serving since 2013 Chairman, Audit Resources Member, Executive Committee Committee Committee CE, Temasek Member, Advocacy Member, Foundation and Research