Lighthouse is a center where the hardcore poor and the homeless, regardless of race or creed, are provided the necessities of food and drink and a place to rest in a clean and hygienic environment.
Our mission is to be there for those in dire need but has none to turn to. We aim to find suitable solutions for their problems or, at the very least, help alleviate their anguish. Our vision is to help promote a society where each one is always ready, willing, and happy to reach out to the less fortunate and underprivileged in our midst in a spirit of love and compassion.
In the Gospel story of the five loaves and two fish, Jesus fed the multitude. Today, millions of people go to bed hungry even though there’s an abundance of food in this world. Caritas works on every level to ensure the hungry are fed. Help us make a difference in your life and the lives of countless homeless and needy people.
Success student
This student has journeyed with us since primary school has now completed his Form 5 and waiting for his SPM result. He has now developed computer skills through our IT sessions.
Success student
A client who was the first to be in our rehabilitation program was sent to Langkawi to work as a waiter in restaurant. He is now a bot operator who own 3 boats.
Success client
An ex gambler who now owns a western food hawker stall in a coffee shop in Georgetown.
Success client
A depressed street person who has been through our counselling sessions is now a shipping agent in Port Klang.
Success client
An ex addict who joined us since 2004, underwent our drug rehabilitation program and is now our centre's night hawker.
Success client
An ex addict who has been with us for seven years, and to presently our grave maintenance program supervisor who doubles up as an hawker in the night at our centre.
Success client
A young run-away from home whom we picked up in the street hurt and down trodden, having spent 3 years with us he is now a staff of St Joseph's Home.
Success client
The Lighthouse – “A Place of Hope” is a Community Service Centre by Caritas Penang (formerly known as Penang Office For Human Development or POHD), the social arm of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Penang. It was opened to reach out to the people of the urban poor, underprivileged, homeless, and marginalized backgrounds in society.
The Lighthouse Community Service Centre was initiated on 19th March 2003. It began humbly with only 6 clients and 12 volunteers using the St Francis Xavier’s Church compound, operating 3 days a week, offering only dinner. As the number of clients increased, tea time was added.
Due to the pandemic lockdown, our operation changed. We temporarily suspended food serving in our canteen but we still serve food packs daily at 4 pm except Sunday to the homeless.
The Lighthouse has also successfully journeyed with several victims of drug addicts. They have now fully recovered and are able to go back to work.
An offshoot of The Lighthouse feeding center, it embodies the possibilities of new beginnings for citizens who have faced extreme challenges in integrating themselves back into society.
Lightworks trains our clients for outdoor Contract Services, creating a livelihood for them. When you engage Lightworks, you would be raising an underprivileged person to stand you on his/her own feet.
A person who works under Lightworks is given shelter at The Lighthouse St Peter’s Home and an allowance for their hard work. For those who wish to save part of their income, we assist by saving part of their allowance into their savings account.
Below is the services offered by Lightworks:
The Lighthouse Thrift Shop started operating in 2011. Pre-loved items which are donated by well-wishers are resold here. The items are mostly clothing, books, toys, shoes, bags, etc. For those who want to clear their clutter, which is still reusable, you are welcome to donate here.
At the Lighthouse Thrift Shop, any underprivileged person who wishes to learn some basic entrepreneurship skills will be given on-job training.
In this program, we offer youth who have completed SPM to take up technical courses at the Penang Skill Development Centre (PSDC) or other colleges offering technical courses. The students who are studying at PSDC under the Lightworks TVET Program will be provided with a monthly allowance and even accommodation if needed.
These shops operate as collaborators under Lightworks – Creating Opportunities. A percentage of their proceeds help fund the students apart from providing a training ground for them under the Lightworks – TVET Programme.
The Lighthouse Café is a pre-war house turned into a simply designed Cafe with a cool and cozy ambiance. It is a great place for dining while bonding with your peers or family. The cafe is now operated by a church parishioner in collaboration with The Lighthouse.
The menu consists of Oriental and Western Food. Customers will be served delicious and reasonably priced food with a free flow of ice cream.
The cafe can be booked for private functions. It also provides job opportunities for any underprivileged person who is interested to work at the Cafe.
The Lighthouse Bakery started operating on 15th September 2009 by training our clients with some bakery and basic entrepreneurship skills. Our main hot sale pastry item is The Lighthouse Signature Chicken Pie (curry or mushroom flavors). Usually needs pre-orders so that customers can get it fresh from the oven. A new and highly recommended addition is the Colonial Pork Pie.
Enjoy your chicken pies at The Lighthouse Cafe or get freshly baked at The Lighthouse Bakery. Pizza lovers, fresh hot! Non-Halal pizzas are sold here.
The menu is uniquely and personally crafted by Pizza Chef – Hwa. Their specialties are Pork Bacon, Pork Chorizo, Four Cheese, Hot Buffalo Chicken, English Breakfast Pork Sausages, Kimchi Pork Belly, and Salted Egg Pizza, just to name a few. Open for bulk orders too.
Heritage Pies and Pastries is the newest partner of Lightworks – Creating Opportunities. They serve Premium Chicken Pies, Nasi Lemak, and Cakes.
Caritas is the charitable arm of the Roman Catholic Church. It is to spearhead the church’s social mission, to respond to humanitarian crisis, promote integral human development and advocate on the causes of poverty and violence.
Caritas Penang comes under the jurisdiction of The Titular Roman Catholic Bishop of Penang.
© 2022 Caritas – Diocese of Penang. All Right Reserved.
A boy who has been with our centre since Form 1 graduated with a Machining & Molding certificate from Montfort Boys Town.