News archive - 2006.

Vindija donates one thousand chickens and one hundred thousand yoghurts!

„Za 1000 radosti“

Caritas Croatia but even more so, its beneficiaries were particularly made happy this year through the Christmas campaign when for the first time the Varaždin based Vindija company made a donation to the “For 1000 Joys” campaign.

1000 of the neediest beneficiaries were given 1000 Cekin chickens produced by Vindija giving families from Poreč & Rijeka, on to Varaždin, Zagreb & Osijek and down to Split, Zadar and Dubrovnik a happier Christmas this year.
Vindija’s sensitivity for the needy did not end with this valuable donation because soon after, they additionally donated 100,000 ‘z Bregov natural & Freska fruit yogurts to families cared for by Caritases in Krk,  Osijek, Rijeka, Split, Varaždin, Zadar & Zagreb. 

Yogurts were also distributed towards the end of December to several soup kitchens and other charitable institutions in the Zagreb Archdiocese. 

 

Caritas Croatia receives donation to aid HIV / AIDS patients in South Africa  

On 26 January 2007, Ms. Marija Znidarčić from the Zagreb Archdiocese Commission for Ecumenism and Dialogue handed over a donation of 3,720 kuna to Caritas Croatia Director Ivan Milovčić intended to help HIV/AIDS patients in South Africa.

These funds were collected during a prayer group held on 22 January in the Baptist Church in Zagreb as part of a Prayer Octave for the Unity of Christians held from 18 – 25 January. 
„Only a united Church can respond to the dramatic challenges of its time. Our brothers and sisters in South Africa have called upon us for active solidarity towards their country where more than 50 per cent of the population of Umlazi is affected by this illness. It depends on us whether we will respond to their plea!”, said Mr. Toma Magda the president of the alliance of Baptist Chruches in Croatia ending his appropriate homily inspired by the Gospel text about Jesus healing the deaf and dumb.

“We will contact our missionaries in South Africa and then forward this valuable donation to those who need it most”, said Caritas Director Fr. Milovčić in gratitude for the donation. 

 

Chinese businessmen Xiaoping and Xiaoke Cheng join the ‘For 1000 Joys' campaign.  

„Za 1000 radosti“

This year’s ‘For 1000 Joys’ campaign received a donation of over one thousand pairs of men’s shoes. This is the first donation of this kind which was kindly donated by two Chinese businessmen. 

Xiaoping and Xiaoke Cheng are two brothers who are currently living in Croatia and have their own store. Their donation consisted of 1,200 pairs of men’s boots that will go to those most in need. 

“We wanted to help those in need here in Croatia”, Mr. Xiaoping told Caritas staff. “We believe that this too is one way that our people can better integrate into their new home. We hope that other Chinese businessmen living in Croatia will take our example and make donations to similar campaigns.” 

Caritas Croatia Director Ivan Milovčić thanking Mr. Xiaoping and Xiaoke responded offering any assistance Caritas Croatia could give to help these people better integrate into Croatian society

 

If everyone would give a little of themselves…  
The story about the house built for the Pilija family

Priča o kući za obitelj Pilija

This touching film about the moving in of the the Pilija family into their new home, just prior to Christmas 2006 is confirmation that sometimes when things look impossible they can be made possible if everyone gives a little of themselves to help salvage the dignity of the person living next to you!

Caritas Croatia’s national campaign “For 1000 Joys”, receives the most varied requests for assistance – from individual, temporary or partial to the more complicated requests like that of the Pilija family to resolve their housing problem and allow them to live in conditions worthy of man.  Stories of families like the Pilija can always be heard and someone knows about them: a neighbour, parishioner, colleague from work, school mate, school teacher, an institution or association … which means if someone is aware of the problem then they need to feel some sort of responsibility which should motivate them to try and do something.

No-one is able to resolve such serious problems on their own – for example to put a roof over someone’s head – but together, in co-operation with others – institutions (Caritas network at the parish, diocesan and national levels) together with individuals in the neighbourhood and in the business world, nothing is impossible and wishes really can come true – as they did in the case of the Pilija family. Even though the idea to build their house was born long before 2006, construction could only start in the summer. Construction began late August and this was mostly due to the courageous and kind efforts to two ambitious parishioners Mandica Vranješ and Ružica Bračun who formed a friendship with Vesna Pilija.

They managed to engage several kind hearted businessmen amongst whom special mention goes to engineer Vjeko Slavikovski and Ante Ivić. If it were not for these two men, construction would never have been possible because the funds available were simply insufficient to complete the house and this discouraged a lot of people. The house was being built, literally, by pulling anyone we could find by the sleeve to join this action: friends, acquaintances, acquaintances of acquaintances and general people of good will. Thanks to these people by Christmas the Pilija family was able to celebrate Christmas in their new home!

The house of about 70m2 was financed partially from funds collected by the BDM Kraljice Mira parish Caritas, where the Pilija family live and partially from donations that were made available to Caritas Croatia as well as some savings that Vesna Pilija managed to put aside.  

Vesna and Božo Pilija, who are under the constant care and patronage of their parishioners and friends Mandica and Ružica, managed to save quite a significant sum towards the house. Ružica and Mandica were led by the idea that instead of just helping this family to merely exist, they could help by tutoring them and teaching them how to live responsibly and to overcome the challenges of family life. 

We are grateful to all those individuals and companies who shared the burden of this action and in that way contributed to making this Christmas so special for Vesna & Božo Pilija and their children Božica and Drago:  Čistoća Zagreb, Darh 2, Dvor-plast, Elektra Zagreb, Gradatin, Gramat, the Machine Tools Department & Polymeric Manufacturing Department at the Faculty of ; the Croatian Welders’ Society,  Maksima trgovina, Siemens Elin, Rudar-posebna trgovina, Stipić Interart, Vodoopskrba i odvodnja Zagreb, Taberna V.S., TLOS.

Caritas Croatia is particularly grateful to NOVA TV’s reporters Iva Gačić and Željka Markić, Mihaela Tomurad and cameraman Milan Vuksan who unselfishly offered their know-how, experience and good will and without whom this story would not have been able to be published. 

Your Caritas Croatia


Croatian Forests Day as part of Caritas Croatia’s For 1000 Joys – 16 December 2006, charity sale of Christmas trees in 7 cities

As part of Caritas Croatia’s “For 1000 Joys” campaign this year once again the charity sale of Christmas trees is to be organised for the fourth year in a row. This year’s charity sale of Christmas trees will be on Saturday 16 December.

Christmas trees will be sold in Zagreb and at the same time in 6 other Croatian cities: Karlovac, Rijeka, Sisak, Slavonski Brod, Varaždin and Zadar. This charity sale of Christmas trees is being organised along with Hrvatske šume with a valuable donation of 800 trees. All the proceeds collected from the sale will go to help the poorest families in Croatia.

Christmas trees will be sold:

In Zagrebat Trg Petra Preradovića (Cvjetni trg), commencing at 9 a.m.
In Karlovac at Trg Matije Gupca, commencing at 9 a.m.
In Sisak at Trg bana Josipa Jelačića, in front of Holy Cross church,commencing at 10 a.m.
In Slavonski Brod at Trg Ivane Brlić Mažuranić, commencing at 8 a.m.
In Rijekaat the Korzo, commencing at 10 a.m.
In Varaždin at Pavlinska 4, in front of the cathedral, commencing at 9 a.m.
In Zadar at Narodni trg, commencing at 8 a.m.

This year’s sale will be held on the day before Caritas Sunday which is held on the third Sunday of Advent. Each year we choose a new motto. This year’s Caritas Sunday is celebrating with the motto Deus Caritas Est (God is love). Caritas Sunday is dedicated to thinking about the needy but even more so, it is an invitation for all people of good will, particularly Catholics, in churches throughout Croatia to make their contributions for the needy. The collection at all church in Croatia on that Sunday (or parish priests can organise their own collections), will be put towards Caritas. This will enable Caritas to operate and continue working on new ideas to motivate and promote various campaigns and concrete assistance where it is needed most. 
Like last year, the sale of Christmas trees in Zagreb is being held with special sponsorship from Croatian Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Veterans’ Affairs, Family and Inter-Generational Solidarity, Ms. Jadranka Kosor and the President of Caritas Croatia, Msgr. Josip Mrzljak. 


Pliva makes one thousand littlies happy as part of the For 1000 Joys campaign  

„Za 1000 radosti“

This year’s “For 1000 Joys” campaign was richer by a donation by PLIVA consisting of 1000 packets of sweets that were donated to children, institutions and associations throughout Croatia.

Some of those who received the packets included the: Mala škola in Lončarevo, a Roma settlement near Podturn; Bedem ljubavi in Varaždin; the Association for the deaf from Varaždin; children in the Ogulin and  Plaški parishes; the Mi association for children with difficulties in development from Požega; families with five or more children in the Požega Diocese;  the children’s home in Brezovica in Zagreb; the Alojzije Stepinac association of families with multiple children; and the Croatia HIV association.

Pliva’ gifts were a welcome surprise for a thousand littlies during St. Nicholas’ festivities and Christmas. 


Zagreb Economics students assist the For 1000 Joys campaign

„Za 1000 radosti“ uključili se i studenti ekonomije

For the second year in a row, students at the Zagreb Faculty of Economics actively involved themselves in Caritas Croatia’s “For 1000 Joys” campaign. About thirty students, freshmen to graduates engaged themselves in the campaign arranging to sell Christmas cards with the proceeds going to assist the poorest families. 

The sale was organised at the Economics Faculty. “Last year was the first time that we decided to be involved in the campaign and in that way, contribute towards helping those in need. The sales were excellent and we thank all the students and professors who realised that even the smallest contribution – can sometimes mean a lot”, Robert Čulo said on behalf of Zagreb’s Economics students. 

 

Press release: Caritas Croatia announces its fourth
For 1000 Joys Christmas campaign

He who is aware, is responsible, he who is responsible is called upon!
Love lives on the love of others, St. Francis of Assisi


Hrvatski Caritas najavio četvrtu božićnu akciju Za 1000 radosti

On 5 December 2006, Caritas Croatia organised a press conference in the Large Hall of the Archdiocesan See to present this year’s traditional For 1000 Joys campaign to raise funds intended for the poorest families in Croatia. This is the fourth year that the campaign is being organised. 

The conference started with a presentation of the results of last year’s campaign with a total of 4.6 million kuna collected which was distributed amongst 5,389 families, particularly families expecting a newborn. Over the past three years this campaign has raised over 11 million kuna and in that way assisted 11,255 of the poorest families in Croatia.

Beneficiaries of Caritas’ Christmas campaign are families in need including: large families, single-parent families, families with one or more children with special needs or suffering from a serious illness, returnee refugee families. This year’s funds which were distributed via Caritas’ network on the diocesan and parish level highlighted the needs of Croatian war veterans’ families in need.

A live report was given about the Pilija family from Granešinskih Novaka in Zagreb, who, thanks to the solidarity and assistance by fellow parishioners, friends, and neighbours approached Caritas and their shanty was demolished and replaced with a new family home. This enterprise was supported thanks to the mediation of Caritas’ network and the “For 1000 Joys” campaign with the professional assistance of tradesmen who donated their time, material, products and money to complete the house. After only four months, the Pilija family were able to move into their new home just before Christmas. Caritas Croatia thanked Nova TV for making the report of this happy event possible.

President of Caritas Croatia and Auxiliary Bishop of Zagreb, Msgr. Josip Mrzljak and Caritas Director Ivan Milovčić spoke about the implementation of the campaign and the way funds were to be raised. 

The head of the campaign Boris Peterlin spoke about the various ways donations could be made noting that companies could make their donations to Caritas’ account no. 2340009 – 1510126452 (poziv na broj 06), or by buying Christmas cards produced by Caritas Croatia for their business greetings for the Christmas season. Citizens can make their donations by calling the Caritas Donation Line on 060 600 400 and that way make a donation of (6.82 kuna/min) or by purchasing Caritas Croatia’s Christmas cards at their local parish or simply by depositing their donation to Caritas’ account. Pre-printed deposit slips have been prepared and can be found at all PBZ bank branches throughout Croatia. 

Similarly to the past two campaigns, a special action is being organised with prior approval from the Ministry of Science, Education and Sports (directed to primary and secondary school children), this year once again involving students which are of particular importance to Caritas Croatia. It seems that there is an increasing feeling of sensitivity amongst students and their teachers for their fellow students and citizens in need as is their readiness to help promote the ideal of common good on a local and national level.

The results of last year’s campaign indicate that for example, students and teachers alone managed to collect 25% of the funds raised for this campaign. Apart from collecting such a significant amount it is important to note that more than half of the funds raised – over 600,000 kuna – was forwarded directly to people in need in their own local communities. Last year’s experience and feed back information received from schools indicates that the idea of “spending” the funds collected was of great value,
…..the funds we collected was used to buy gifts for children interned at the Kantrida Children’s Hospital…we bought didactic items for children suffering from cerebral palsy who are integrated in our school…and we assisted a family with eleven children attending our school…

Like last year, Caritas Croatia suggests that schools that include themselves in the campaign donate 50% of the funds they raise and use it for “their own need”, that is, poor families within their own local community. The other half can be sent to Caritas Croatia and in that way, assistance will be distributed to poor families all over Croatia.

This year’s product offered to school children, the young and senior kindergarten groups are stickers that have been designed for school children and can be used throughout the year. The stickers are designed to motivate children to send a message during the festive season to their friends, relatives and acquaintances telling them how much they mean to them. All they need to do is write in their message on the sticker and stick it on their Christmas gift or exercise book, text book, etc. (a visual of the sticker can be found at www.caritas.hr). 

Once again the For 1000 Joys campaign will be organising a Christmas tree sale thanks to the kind donation of Hrvatske šume (Croatian Forests)  who have been a valuable benefactor for the campaign for four years now. This year Hrvatske šume donated 800 live Christmas trees that will be sold on 16 December simultaneously in Zagreb and six other Croatian cities: Karlovac, Rijeka, Sisak, Slavonski Brodu, Varaždin and Zadar. The sale in Zagreb will be on Trg Petra Preradovića (Cvjetni trg).

Caritas Croatia thanks all those companies who have joined the campaign in its preparatory phase, companies such as:  Croatia osiguranje, ECOS, Hrvatske autoceste, Hrvatska lutrija, HEP, Hrvatske šume, HŽ, Gramat, JANAF, Jedinstvo, Karlovačka banka, Medikol, Mozaik knjiga, Odašiljači i veze, Partner banka, PBZ, Peko-Dal, Petrokemija, Plinacro, PLIVA, Stipić Interart, TLOS, the Zagreb City Office of Health, Labour, Social Welfare and Veterans’ Affairs and  the Government of the Republic of Croatia.

Cartias Croatia’s long time friends and supporters attended the press conference as a show of support for this year’s campaign:  delegate from the Ministry of Science, Education and Sports, HEP, Hrvatske šume, PBZ, TLOS, Medikol,  the Zagreb City Office of  Education, Culture and Sports and the Zagreb City Office of Health, Labour, Social Welfare and Veterans’ Affairs.   

Download a PowerPoint presentation of the press conference (1.3 Mb)

 

Caritas Sunday Homily (17.12.2006)

Dear faithful, brothers and sisters in Christ!
The theme for this year’s Caritas Sunday comes from the Holy Father Benedict XVIth himself from his first encyclica “Deus Caritas est” – God is love. That is the shortest definition of God that we Christians believe in and as St. John wrote in is epistle, “And so we know and rely on the love God has for us. God is love.

Whoever lives in love lives in God, and God in him.» (1 Jn 4:16) – and that is the core of Christian belief – then love towards one neighbour i sin fact love for all men, those close and far, those whom we know and don't know and what is most difficult, those who do us wrong, those who are our enemies. The kind of love that Jesus proclaims cannot be realised in life if we do not look at our neighbours and recognise God's image. As such the most excellent encounter with God is to serve one's neighbour in need because this opens our eyes to see what God does for us and how much he loves us.

The entire second part of the encyclical is dedicated to Caritas and carries the title: Caritas – The Practise of the Love by the Church as a “Community of Love”.  In it the Pope emphasises that the charity work is the responsibility of the Church and love of neighbour, grounded in the love of God is first and foremost a responsibility for each individual member of the faithful but is also a responsibility for the entire ecclesial community at every level. The completeness of love is realised through concrete actions and that is the fundamental function of the Church – the Church has an obligation to pass on God’s love to the world and to share it.

This is the responsibility for each individual and also a responsibility for the entire ecclesial Church. The Pope says, “The Church’s deepest nature is expressed in her three-fold responsibility: of proclaiming the word of God (kerygma-martyria), celebrating the sacraments (leitourgia), and exercising the ministry of charity (diakonia). These duties presuppose each other and are inseparable”, (DCE, 25). That, the Pope emphasises, amongst else means that love of serving others must be organised so that in reality it can represent a form of serving. Charity work renders the proclamation and liturgy credible in the world; Charity work is at the same time proclaiming God’s word and his calling to the liturgy.

Parish communities are a privileged place for life and action for Christians to proclaim God’s word and the liturgy but also to Charity activities. If we ask ourselves, to what level are our parishes “stopovers” for the Good Samaritan or how often do we pass by oblivious to “men who have fallen in need”?! From experience we know that Caritas is faced with many hardships for it to properly fit into the pastoral plans of many parishes. Let us not forget though, catechism and liturgy that are not transferred into authentic living active love and that are not transferred to the mission of witnessing brotherhood and togetherness in the world, risk being unfruitful. Just witnessing active love, if it is not supported by contemplation and faith, transforms into mere help and benevolence.

If, as Christians we do not live and act in the spirit of justice and love in our every day lives then we are not doing our duty to accept the “news” that we are Christians so that we can renew society in the light of the Gospel of active love. Without this testimony of love our neighbours in need remain alone, abandoned and forgotten. Speaking about Marxism that criticised the charitable activities of the Church, emphasising that the poor need a just society and not acts of love, the Pope says that it is correct that a fundamental standard of a state must be to achieve justice and that the purpose of a just society is to guarantee everyone his share of the common good. Citing the words of St. Augustine, who said that the state that is not rule by justice transforms into a society of bandits, the Pope emphasises the role of the Church in shaping the conscience of political life and contribution to increasing awareness of the true law of justice. Christian charity work must be independent of party and ideology. It is not in itself the means to achieve ideological changes neither in the world, nor in the service of world strategies but makes love present here and now. 

As Christians, we have the right to advocate to requestion political and social decisions that determine social relations and how they affect the poor. A moral examination of society, of which we are a part, stands in how our decision relate to the most oppressed members of society: women, children, the elderly, ill, handicapped, unemployed, employed whose workers’ rights are violated or withheld, addicts.

There are many forms and opportunities for charity work in the parish and other communities. “Love is kind…” (1 Cor 13:4), but we need to have it. Caritas Sunday wishes to motivate Christians and all people of good will to active love. May God’s goodness and love follow all people of good will and particularly Caritas volunteers. 

Msgr. Josip Mrzljak
Auxiliary Bishop of Zagreb
President Caritas Croatia

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