The word Caritas is Latin for Love and Charity. At Caritas, we faithfully carry out Jesus’ commandment to love our neighbors. Those who serve with us walk in the footsteps of the Good Samaritan—constantly reaching out to the poor and marginalized, and providing essential aid to relieve their suffering.
Grounded in the Gospel and guided by Catholic Social Teaching, our mission is to respond to humanitarian crises, promote integral human development, advocate against the root causes of poverty and violence, and empower youth for mission. To fulfill this mission, Caritas Penang establishes dedicated ministries and teams to effectively manage and coordinate our projects.
Caritas—through our presence and works—as a visible sign of God’s love for all creation in Jesus Christ.
A world where the poor, vulnerable, and excluded are empowered.
A society rooted in justice and compassion, as a "Civilization of Love".
Caritas acknowledges God’s first commandment in the Book of Genesis, where He entrusted humanity to till and keep the earth, making the care for our common home a priority in our mission.
Observing the global climate crisis, Pope Francis, in his encyclical Laudato Si’, reminds us of the urgent need to address this pressing issue. The climate belongs to all of us. However, when the world’s resources are plundered for self-interest under the guise of development and economic growth, the ecosystem is damaged, and the climate is destabilized. The effects are obvious: unpredictable extreme weather that causes millions to suffer. Compounded by war and conflict, marginalized communities face even greater struggles to grow food amidst economic collapse. Millions are internally displaced or forced to become refugees because their homelands have become uninhabitable. The climate crisis severely worsens existing humanitarian emergencies, and the poor always suffer the most.
In response, Caritas prioritizes the most vulnerable while actively raising awareness about the deep interconnectedness between human activities and our climate.
Explore our works: Care for our common home, disaster response, migrants, and asylum seekers and refugees.
Integral Human Development (IHD) refers to the holistic growth of the human person, encompassing all aspects of life: social, economic, political, cultural, personal, and spiritual.
A living example of this is the Church of Our Mother of Perpetual Help in Ipoh. The Parish Caritas team initially began by providing monthly food rations to poor families in a local estate. When they realized the children were struggling academically, the team went a step further by launching a free tuition center. Volunteer teachers stepped up to educate, while others became drivers and cooks to serve the families holistically. Over time, as these students completed secondary school, the team coordinated with donors to secure university scholarships. Their mission didn’t stop at feeding the hungry; it evolved to empower children to shape their own futures.
Ultimately, Caritas serves as a vital vehicle driving Integral Human Development: promoting human dignity, ensuring equality, and pursuing the common good.
Explore our works: Poverty and the Orang Asli.
Our work does not stop at charity. Through our daily encounters with the marginalized, we constantly ask ourselves: Why are they poor? What has happened to them? How can we be a voice for the voiceless?
Caritas serves as a prophetic voice for the poor in the world. We understand that our work is a work of love, and true love brings peace. Poverty is not created by God; it is created by us when we fail to share what we have. When the poor are deprived of their rightful share of the common good, they suffer profound injustice. A core mission of Caritas is to raise awareness about the root causes of poverty and violence, boldly proclaiming both social and ecological justice.
In most cases, the suffering of the poor originates not from their own failures, but from a wounded world. When we neglect family members at home for work or business, when our systems become exclusive rather than inclusive, when we mistakenly choose structures over people, prioritize unchecked development over preservation, and focus on punishment over safeguarding—these choices inflict profound suffering on our communities. In confronting these injustices, Caritas places inherent human dignity at the absolute center of all our outreach, programs, and advocacy.
Explore: Human stories
Cardinal Sebastian Francis, the Bishop of Penang, often says that the youth are the “here and now” of the Church. We realize how important it is to empower them fundamentally in spirituality—through biblical knowledge and Church teachings—and holistically, guiding them to encounter the disguised faces of Christ in the poor and marginalized. This ensures they are equipped to be instruments of Christ’s light and God’s love in the world.
To bring this mission to life, Caritas Penang empowers three distinct groups of youth: the Love Squad, parish youth groups, and non-Catholic youth volunteers.
Read more: Youth empowerment and engagement
Caritas traces its roots to Germany, where it was founded by Lorenz Werthmann in 1897. Today, it has grown into a global confederation of 162 national organizations operating in 200 countries and territories.
Recognizing the need for greater coordination and a unified identity in the Church’s charitable work, the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Malaysia unanimously agreed to establish a national body, officially launching Caritas Malaysia on November 6, 2020. The following year, the Diocese of Penang transitioned its Penang Office of Human Development into Caritas Penang. The official launch was presided over by Bishop Sebastian Francis on August 31, 2021.
Empowered by the global Caritas network, Caritas Penang serves as a coordinating body. We support the diocese and its parishes in responding to humanitarian crises, promoting integral human development, and advocating against the root causes of poverty and violence.
The Catholic Church in Malaysia has a rich history of serving the poor, dating back to 1511 when the first church was built in Melaka. Today, within the Diocese of Penang, Parish Caritas—formerly known as the Parish Integral Human Development Ministry—continues this mission by serving vulnerable communities within the territories of the local parishes . The needs are diverse across the region:
Caritas Penang works alongside all the 29 parishes in the Diocese of Penang, supporting each Parish Caritas through capacity building and programe coordination.
St. Joseph’s Home is a shelter dedicated to providing care and education for children from underprivileged families. Its origins date back to 1865, when French Catholic priest Fr. Francois Xavier Hab founded it to care for orphaned boys in a time of great need.
Also located at the Church of St. Francis Xavier on Penang Road, the mission has evolved beautifully over the decades. What began as a refuge for 20 orphan boys is now a welcoming home for both boys and girls of diverse religions and ethnicities who come from severe socio-economic and psychological hardships. Children growing up at St. Joseph’s receive exceptional care, educational assistance, and developmental support, empowering them to become self-sufficient and contributing members of society.
Lighthouse is a mission dedicated to serving the homeless, offering a beacon of hope, rest, and nourishment for the hungry and thirsty. Located at the Church of St. Francis Xavier on Penang Road, the initiative began on March 19, 2003, with just 12 volunteers serving six clients three days a week with a single packed dinner.
Today, the mission has expanded significantly. Supported by numerous dedicated volunteers and corporate social responsibility (CSR) programs, Lighthouse now serves approximately 60 afternoon teas and 120 dinners every weekday. Beyond providing daily meals, Lighthouse empowers the socially marginalized by creating job opportunities, supporting them on their journey toward reintegrating into society.
Caritas Penang operates under the jurisdiction of The Titular Roman Catholic Bishop of Penang.
