Archbishop Giambattista Diquattro, the Apostolic Nuncio to India and Nepal officially launched the Caritas India Lenten Campaign at the Sacred Heart Cathedral in the National Capital on Sunday, February 23, 2020.

“Sustain Life: Sustainable Livelihood” is the theme for this year’s Lenten Campaign which invites everyone to join hands and come together to be a catalyst – a change agent – to adopt “Each one Help one” approach in reaching out to attain a sustainable livelihood. This nation-wide campaign is running for nearly five decades and is one of the largest faith-based fundraising efforts currently being conducted in the Indian Catholic Church.

The recent imbalance in the economy has led to an increased economic burden on the poor and marginalised of the country. Socially, Indian society is highly unequal, divided into a different caste, religion, region, and gender which threaten to hurt India’s growth.

In this context, Caritas India through its multidimensional presence in the most backward areas of the country is working towards building sustainable livelihood and improving lives for several individuals. Under the thematic focus of Caritas India Livelihood and Skill Development stressing upon the Sustainable Development Goal 1: “End poverty in all its forms everywhere” and SDG 2: “End hunger, achieve food security and improved nutrition and promote sustainable agriculture”.

The campaign’s first National launch was initiated with Holy Eucharistic Mass at the Sacred Heart Cathedral celebrated by Archbishop Giambattista Diquattro, co-celebrated with Fr. Paul Moonjely, Executive Director, Fr. Jolly, Assistant Director and Fr. Sushil Modi, Administrator of Caritas India along with other priests. A special Liturgy was prepared for the mass to officially open the launch.

“It is a celebration of our faith, an invitation to live our faith in action”, said Fr. Paul Moonjely in his introductory speech. He shared that Caritas India, the humanitarian arm and compassionate face of the Catholic Church in India observes lent with Campaign against hunger and disease and invites everyone to celebrate the season with heart and space for others and extending solidarity and support to millions who suffer from poverty. He urged all the parishioners to help in sustaining the lives of the poor by internalising, living and sharing this message during this lent.

Parishioners gathered outside the Church and inaugurated the Campaign poster along with Apostolic Nuncio and other priests. Archbishop Giambattista Diquattro congratulated Caritas India for this campaign and wished for its success. Parallelly, a drawing and essay competition were also organised for the children.

Caritas India proposes six possible ways for organisations/institutions to run the campaign: Create platform for dialogue and linkages with the duty bearers especially for landless farmers; Create linkages with corporates to promote entrepreneurship options; Promoting young entrepreneurs at own parishes; Creating market facilities for both producers and buyers; Upgrading the existing skills to enhance livelihood opportunities; Support organisations to support grassroots interventions.

The campaign encourages individuals to start living lives with a sustainable approach by sustainable use of the natural resources, reducing carbon emissions by using eco-friendly methods of traveling, reducing/recycling the waste products, enabling community-led initiatives.

The past few months have been the campaign’s planning phase, during which Caritas India planned various activities in archdioceses and dioceses including launch, street plays, flash mob, food festivals, competitions, rallies, etc. Caritas India has dedicated each staff to accompany the dioceses in their launch and activities. Volunteers and coordinators are being roped in to streamline the activities and events.

Caritas India has been conducting this campaign for ages but this time the scope has been widened with the support and engagement of Catholic Bishops. Following the national launch, several diocesan launches and activities are being planned in different parts of the country in the coming days.