The COVID-19 pandemic has had a major economic impact on Malaysia, particularly on vulnerable households. Having revised its national poverty line in July 2020, 8.4% of Malaysian households are currently living in absolute poverty in the year 2021. The household income for hardcore poverty is RM1,169 a month.
“It is not hopelessness that causes poverty; it is poverty that causes hopelessness.”
“I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink.”
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.
Caritas encourages collaboration between NGOs, Corporates, Churches, and Volunteers to help at The Lighthouse Feeding Centre in Penang Road. Hundreds of thousands of street friends benefited through this feeding project and many homeless were rescued from dying every year.
Caritas provides funding to support our parishes to buy groceries for the poor families in their neighbourhoods. We also work closely with social mission groups to advocate and promote awareness through Lenten Campaign every year.
True worship is to work for justice and care for the poor and oppressed. Isaiah 58:5-7
What you do for the least among you, you do for Jesus. Matthew 25:34-40
A basic moral test is how our most vulnerable members are faring. In a society marred by deepening divisions between rich and poor, our tradition recalls the story of the Last Judgment (Matthew 25:31-46) and instructs us to put the needs of the poor and vulnerable first.
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.
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