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. The Church is a field hospital; she brings the light of Christ and goes out to the peripheries—the darkness of the world—to bring the Good News to the poor, the lonely, and the rejected. Through her actions—her acts of charity, her presence, and her proclamation of justice—she witnesses to God’s love. You and I, we are the Church.
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.
This group consists of our youngest youth, primarily 18-year-old Confirmation students. Each year during Lent, we invite them and their Catechists for a Lenten Campaign formation. They are guided to deepen their understanding of Lent, prayer, fasting, and almsgiving, while developing the soft skills needed to initiate Lenten formation and outreach programs at the parish level.
This group includes secondary school students, campus students, and young working adults. To cater to this category, Caritas Penang initiated the YOUMAD (You Make A Difference) program. Every year, youth attend a camp where they learn Catholic Social Teaching and pastoral methodologies like See-Judge-Act. They engage in prayer, learn to animate programs, and, most importantly, encounter and serve marginalized communities. YOUMAD empowers these young people to discover the true meaning of their lives, practice servant leadership, and navigate the world as young Christians.
Our final group comprises students and working adults of other faith backgrounds. The works of Caritas encompass every human being, transcending race and religion. We recruit these volunteers to assist in charity projects, conduct home visits and run programs, empowering all people of goodwill to help build a “civilization of love”—a goal that aligns perfectly with our vision.
Caritas Penang operates under the jurisdiction of The Titular Roman Catholic Bishop of Penang.
