Lent is a season of prayer, fasting and almsgiving. Prompted with these thoughts, Caritas India under the Campaign against Hunger and Disease has been endeavouring over the years to bring people of faith to grow sensitive and share in the emancipation and care of the impoverished, marginalized and the needy who are fighting every single day against their adversities. Each year, Caritas India dedicates the campaign to the most sensitive theme.

This year’s theme “Healthy Planet Healthy Life” reminds and exhorts us to be peaceful with ourselves and with nature. It is calling to promote rich biodiversity in our ecosystem to re-establish the missing chord between human beings and the environment around. The campaign reminds us to take constructive actions for the rejuvenation of nature.

Keeping this thought in mind, Caritas India commemorate the National launch of the Lenten Campaign 2022 at the Sacred Heart Cathedral, New Delhi on 6^th March 2022. The first Sunday of the Lent Season of selected as the most appropriate way of reaching out meaningfully, to share and spread the message about the theme. The day unfolded with our dedicated Caritas Samaritans interacting and engaging with all the people visiting the church and even getting them registered as volunteers to support the campaign.

Caritas India had set up a small kiosk that had a varied and panoramic display of traditional and indigenous seeds, books and handouts to promote and cultivate healthy food. The star attraction was the kitchen garden seeds that attracted many people who not only took along the seeds of chillies, cucumber, potato, tomato etc. The people shared their excitement to grow these in their terrace and balcony pots. We reached out to several people who showed interest in promoting the backyard kitchen garden and shared the good practices of Caritas development programs emphasizing agriculture.

The day concluded with High Mass celebrated by Most. Rev. Deepak Valerian Tauro, Auxiliary Bishop of the Archdiocese of Delhi. His Grace was joined together with Fr. Paul Moonjely, Fr. Jolly Puthenpura, Fr. Sushil Modi, Fr. Jarvis, Fr. John Britto as concelebrants.

In his homily, he shared that the Lenten campaign intends to create a Christian environment and spirit of sharing, caring and enabling amongst the believers. Referring to the Prophet Isaiah, Fr. Paul in his introduction urged all to share our riches with the poor, our clothes with those who are without and our resources with the needy.

After the mass, His Grace released the Lenten Campaign Poster and handed over the first copy to Fr. Jervis D’Souza, the Deputy Secretary-General of CBCI and urged the congregation to take the message of the campaign forward to other masses.

The Lenten campaign is being launched at different states, dioceses and parishes simultaneously to spread the message to the last corner.