DESPITE the 2009 Caritas Project Compassion appeal being launched in the toughest economic climate for a generation amid unprecedented natural disasters, the aid agency’s Brisbane diocesan director is still confident of a generous response.
Patricia Ryan, who organises the appeal for the archdiocese, said 2008 had seen an extraordinarily generous response with more than $972,000 received – about $250,000 of this from students.
“I think it will be a big ask to expect to equal this in 2009 given the global economic situation and the recent disastrous fires and floods and the outpouring of community support that have resulted,” she said.
“However, it’s crucial that as much money as possible can be raised through the Project Compassion appeal to help the less privileged so desperately depending on our generosity.
“Of course what’s also of the utmost importance is the change that people experience in their hearts when they give.
“Certainly I feel confident that people in the archdiocese will give as generously as they can.”
Ms Ryan made the comments at the Ash Wednesday Brisbane launch of this year’s Project Compassion appeal which included a visit by more than 70 Catholic primary and secondary students to the Blueprint for a Better World exhibition at the Francis Rush Centre.
Caritas Australia chief executive officer Jack de Groot was in Brisbane to officially open the exhibition two days later.
Archbishop John Bathersby of Brisbane launched the 2009 appeal in St Stephen’s Cathedral Chapel. Students and others including Auxiliary Bishop Brian Finnigan, archdiocesan moderator Fr Peter Meneely and Brisbane Catholic Education executive director David Hutton attended the launch.
Also present was Ugandan Caritas worker Florence Ssubukyu, later introduced by Ms Ryan to tell the gathering about projects that donations helped support.
Officially launching the Project Compassion appeal, Archbishop Bathersby thanked Ms Ssubukyu for “painting so dramatically” the poverty experienced in her home country Uganda.
He said he “was delighted to be present on Ash Wednesday” to launch the Caritas archdiocesan appeal.
“The season of Lent is meant to focus on the resurrection and death of Jesus,” the archbishop said.
“So it is also a time to remember Jesus asked us to reach out to the poor and needy.”
The students and their teachers had earlier in the day visited the exhibition Blueprint for a Better World originally set up in Customs House on Sydney’s Circular Quay as part of the World Youth Day celebrations last year.
In partnership with the Australian Government’s AusAID department, Caritas has created the interactive display to raise awareness of the millennium development goals agreed to by Australia and about 160 other economically stable countries in 2000.
The exhibition was in Townsville from last Wednesday until tomorrow (March 3). It will be launched in Cairns on March 13 and Rockhampton on April 1, and will be in Toowoomba over Easter.
