CPNG launches Lenten Appeal

 

-  Abigail Seta 

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Port Moresby: Caritas Papua New Guinea (CPNG) marked the Lenten Season by launching the Lenten or Turangu Appeal Campaign for 2020. 

 

With the theme “Holy and formed for a mission of love and charity,” the annual appeal was launched on Wednesday, 26th February through a ribbon cutting ceremony. 

 

Present for this momentous occasion was the Bishop of Wewak and Bishop Deputy of CPNG, Bp Jozef Roszynski, SVD; the Bishop of Bereina, Bp Otto Separy; the Director of CPNG, Mavis Tito, Catholic Bishops Conference (CBC) Development Secretary, Marie Mondu and staff of CBC. 

 

Ms Mondu spoke on the Lenten Appeal Campaign and shared that it is a time to give to those in need in the communities and for the common good. 

 

“The Lenten Appeal is a six-week campaign that starts during the Lenten Season and we are encouraging priests, religious brothers and sisters, lay men and women to contribute towards reaching out to people who are in need of help in our communities,” Ms Mondu said. 

 

According to the Director of CPNG, Mavis Tito, K314,321.73 was raised during the 2019 campaign of which K93,451.16 was returned as one-third returns to the dioceses. K85,135.48 was given to the dioceses that requested support from CPNG to help with responding to disasters. The dioceses were Wabag, Alotau, Kimbe and Daru-Kiunga. 

 

“The three highest contributors for the 2019 campaign was the Archdiocese of Rabaul, Archdiocese of Port Moresby and the Diocese of Wewak. We have provided this information to the bishops and Caritas coordinators to share with their parishioners,” stated Ms Tito.

 

During the cutting of the ribbon, Bp Jozef reminded everyone present that Caritas is ‘Love in Action’ and that it comes from Jesus because his concern was always about the poor.

 

“The poor in spirit, the poor in material things and the Church always reaches out to people to help in all these levels of human needs and that is what Caritas is trying to do,” said Bp Jozef. 

 

“Always be sensitive to the needs of others and share with them. As St Francis said that ‘it is in giving that we receive’ and in giving, it enriches us in sharing with others and it makes us richer in growing in our holiness, in our openness and in our sensitivity to the needs of others and we become more like God who looks after us.”  

 

Following the cutting of the ribbon, posters and pocket-sized envelopes where distributed to those who would like to contribute to the campaign this year. These materials will also be distributed in the dioceses.