AT YOUR PARISH - Caritas Australia

AT YOUR PARISH2013

CONTENTS03 THANK YOU FROM CARITAS AUSTRALIA CEO04 WHY HOLD A FISH FRIDAY EVENT AT YOUR PARISH?04 FISH FRIDAY EVENT SUGGESTIONS05 HOW TO HOLD A FISH FRIDAY EVENT06 WHAT IS CARITAS AUSTRALIA?07 WHAT YOUR DOLLARS CAN DO08 PRAYER AND BIBLE PASSAGE FOR REFLECTION09 FISH FRIDAY POSTER10 FISH FRIDAY INVITATION11 FISH FRIDAY MEDIA RELEASE2

THANK YOUDEAR PARISH PRIEST AND PARISHIONERSI’D LIKE TO THANK YOU FOR TAKING UP THE CHALLENGE TO PUT JUSTICE ONTHE MENU BY HOLDING A FISH FRIDAY FUNDRAISING EVENT.Fish Friday is part of Caritas Australia’s Project Compassion campaign, the largesthumanitarian fundraiser in Australia. Donations support Caritas Australia’s longterm development projects in over 30 countries, enable the agency to respond tohumanitarian emergencies and engage Australians in the quest to tackle povertyand injustice.While Catholics traditionally forgo meat on Fridays in Lent, Caritas Australia takes itone step further by inviting people to stand in solidarity with millions of others in thedeveloping world who survive on a staple diet of fish and rice.Fish Friday is a fundraising event where fish is sold or offered for donations on Fridaysduring Lent. It is fast becoming a flagship event for Caritas Australia, with events heldin Catholic parishes, Catholic schools, public spaces, and workplaces across Australia.It’s not often that we go without the basics in Australia. But by holding a Fish Fridayevent – and serving a simple meal so others can simply live - you can help raisemoney for communities in need. In partnership with Caritas Australia, you are helpingalleviate poverty and bring hope and justice to disadvantaged communities aroundthe world.Thank you for being a part of this.Yours sincerely,ely,Jack de GrootChief Executive Officer, Caritas Australia3

WHY HOLD AFISH FRIDAY EVENTAT YOUR PARISH?TO FUNDRAISE FOR CARITAS AUSTRALIAsupporteddevelopment projects that alleviatepoverty across Asia, Africa, the Pacific, LatinAmerica and Indigenous Australia.TOENJOY EACH OTHER’SCOMPANY– and a deliciouslunch or dinner!TO RAISE AWARENESS of, and stand insolidarity with, millions of people in ourworld who have no choice but to gowithout everyday.TO PUT JUSTICEON THE MENUIN YOUR PARISH!FISH FRIDAY EVENT SUGGESTIONSFORGO MEAT ON FRIDAY DURING LENT AND,FOR A DONATION TO CARITAS AUSTRALIA’SPROJECT COMPASSION, ENJOY A SIMPLE LUNCHOR DINNER TOGETHER IN SOLIDARITY WITHTHOSE LESS FORTUNATE THAN OURSELVES.INSTEAD OF ASAUSAGE SIZZLEAFTER SUNDAYMASS, HOLD AFISH FINGER SIZZLEORDERFISH BURGERSOR FISH ANDSALAD FROMA LOCAL FISHSHOP WHOARE HAPPY TOPARTICIPATECOOK A FISH BBQInvite your local fish shop todonate or subsidisefish fillets!(no cutlery required!)INVITE THE SOCIAL JUSTICEGROUP or Parish Council tohelp make tuna sandwiches.Suggest parishionersDONATE what they’d usuallyspend on lunch that day.4

TIPS FOR HOLDINGA SUCCESSFULFISH FRIDAY EVENT1. DECIDE WHAT KIND OF EVENT YOU’DLIKE TO HOLDSee page 4 for suggestions or email fishfriday@caritas.org.au or phone 1800 024 413 to have a chat withCaritas Australia’s Fundraising & Events Officer.2. SEEK OUT PEOPLE TO HELP YOU TOORGANISE THE EVENT AND HELP ONTHE DAYAsk some parishioners, Parish Council members ora local social justice group to help out.Think about how you can make your eventenvironmentally friendly.3. SET AN EVENT FUNDRAISING TARGET• Event costs should be within the percentage thatis generally acceptable in the fundraising sectorand by the public – no more than 60/40 revenueto costs.• Consider how to minimise your expenses – whynot invite a local business to provide a donationof fish fillets or buns?4. PROMOTE YOUR EVENT• Print the poster on page 9, fill in your event detailsand display in prominent positions around the Parish.• Print the sample invitation on page 10 – distributeone to each family and add it to your Parish bulletin.• Make an announcement after Mass the weekendbefore and on the day.AND DON’T FORGET TO:Use the sample Media Release on page 11 to sendto your local newspaper, radio or television stationto help promote the work of Caritas Australia andto let them know about your Parish’s commitmentto alleviating poverty. Invite them to come along totake photos, write an article and join your activity!5. HOLD YOUR EVENT AND HAVE FUN!Contact Caritas Australia for a t-shirt, cap or chef’sapron.6. BANK YOUR FISH FRIDAY FUNDRAISINGMONEYTO COMPLY WITH AUSTRALIAN TAXATION OFFICELEGISLATION, PLEASE SEND ALL MONIES RAISEDFOR CARITAS AUSTRALIA WITHIN 14 DAYS OF THEEVENT BY:• Cheque/money order payable to Caritas Australia,GPO Box 9830, Sydney NSW 2001 (please attacha note letting us know it was raised through a FishFriday event).• Online at www.caritas.org.au (please emailfishfriday@caritas.org.au to let us know it was raisedthrough a Fish Friday event).• Phone 1800 024 413.7. THANK ALL INVOLVED• Thank the Parish Priest, Parish Council, parishionersand their families for their participation and let themknow how much money was raised to help CaritasAustralia alleviate poverty and bring hope and justiceto disadvantaged communities around the world.• Call Caritas Australia to arrange a cheque collectionand to personally thank parishioners.• Caritas Australia would love to hear how yourevent went too – please email and send photosto fishfriday@caritas.org.au.WHY NOT FUNDRAISE ONLINE?NOTEIf you would like to hold aFish Friday fundraising eventoutside Parish premises, pleasecontact Caritas Australia on theabove details for advice.5Set up an online fundraiser page for yourParish at www.caritas.org.au/fundraiseand invite parishioners, friends and familiesto donate for their Fish Friday meal ticketsonline. It’s easy! You’re just a few clicksaway from running a successful fundraiserthat will help change the lives of the mostimpoverished people around the world.

WHAT ISCARITASAUSTRALIA?Caritas Australia is the official aid and developmentagency of the Catholic Church in Australia anda member of Caritas Internationalis, one of theworld’s largest aid and development networks. We work inpartnership with local communities, helping people to helpthemselves, regardless of race, political beliefs, gender orreligion. Our work is focused in three areas:1. Encouraging self-reliance via long term developmentprograms in Africa, Asia, the Pacific, Latin America andwith Indigenous Australians. Our focus is on providingintegrated development through water and sanitation,housing, education, literacy, women’s empowerment,income generation and sustainable agriculture.2. Responding to emergencies whenever and whereverdisaster occurs. As part of one of the world’s largest andmost effective emergency response networks, Caritascan respond almost immediately through local partners,providing food, clothing, housing and medical attentionto those who need it most.3. Changing attitudes in Australia to promote a just andcompassionate society at home and abroad. We work inCatholic parishes, schools, universities and communitygroups around Australia to raise awareness of the realityand causes of poverty, hunger, oppression and injusticeand the interdependence of poverty and affluence.Find out more about Caritas Australia’s work atwww.caritas.org.auIn Latin, ‘Caritas’means love andcompassion –qualities that arecentral to our work.Every Catholic parish, school and all Australiansare invited to be part of the Project Compassioncampaign each Lent. It’s the biggest humanitarianfundraiser in Australia!Reflecting the principles of CatholicSocial Teaching, Caritas Australia workswith the local people of a particularcountry in all of its programs. Thepartnership approach is central to ourphilosophy - international partnersare best placed to identify their owncommunity’s needs and are central toensuring development sustainability.The international aid and development work of CaritasAuststralia is reflective of the life of Jesus Christ, andshapedby the tradition of Catholic Social Teachingprinciples including: preferential option for the poor,solidarity, the common good and stewardship of theearth’s resources.Administration costsare kept low – at or below10% of our income so as muchassistance as possible reachesthose who need it.6FIND OUT MOREabout CaritasAustralia’s work atwww.caritas.org.au

$2000$1600$1000$500$250$100$50$30$10$5could help provide a healing workshop for oneIndigenous community in AUSTRALIA.could provide one year of circus school activitiesand education for a group of 10 children frommarginalised communities in BOLIVIA.could train a rural midwife to assist women andbabies in rural BANGLADESH.could provide marketing skills training for100 people for a year in PAPUA NEW GUINEA.could provide training for a Centro Creativo Artistico“educar es fiesta” (education is celebration) staffmember to work with children from marginalisedcommunities in BOLIVIA.could buy a box of materials for children to learncarpentry at the Matuba Children’s Centre inMOZAMBIQUE.could provide a bicycle for a young person to travelto school and to use for work in CAMBODIA.could provide materials, reference books andresources for skills training for one person fora year in PAPUA NEW GUINEA.could provide a water filter to access clean,safe water and reduce waterborne diseasesin CAMBODIA.could buy a chicken for Matuba Children’s Centreto raise and sell to provide food, medical suppliesand school uniforms for children in MOZAMBIQUE.7

PRAYER ANDBIBLE PASSAGEFOR REFLECTION“The means and resources the worldhas at its disposal today could supplysufficient food to satisfy the growingneeds of everyone…Why is it not possible,then, to avoid having so many peoplesuffer so gravely from hunger that theyfind themselves facing the most extremeconsequences?”Pope Benedict XVI“The one who is nourished on the Breadof Christ cannot remain indifferent beforethe one who, even in our day, is deprivedof daily bread.”Pope Benedict XVI“How does God’s love abide in anyonewho has the world’s goods and sees abrother or sister in need and yet refusesto help?”1 John 3.17“What good is it if the Eucharistic table isoverloaded with golden chalices whenyour brother is dying of hunger? Start bysatisfying his hunger and then with what isleft you may adorn the altar as well.”St John ChrysostomPRAYERDear Lord,We thank you for the blessings of food,water, shelter, family and well-being. Aswe enjoy healthy food, we will think ofthose who struggle to feed their familiesevery day.You taught us to pray.As we say “Give us today our daily bread”we make that prayer also for the millionswho go hungry every day.You fed the hungry.Inspire in us the commitment to followyour example, showing compassion inaction and sharing what we have withthose who have less.You cared for all.Help us to remember your command tolove one another.Help us to see you in each of our brothersand sisters – especially those who are inneed.You are the Bread of Life.Strengthen us as we work for justice in theworld.Help us to stand in solidarity with thepoorest of the poor.You came so that we could have life andhave it to the full.Our prayer is that this might be true for all.We pray that communities andgovernments recognise our sharedresponsibility to be more just in sharingthe world’s resources.Help us to care more deeply, live moresimply and share more fully.AmenBIBLE PASSAGE FORREFLECTION ANDDISCUSSIONMatthew 25:35-40For I was hungry and you gave me food,I was thirsty and you gave me somethingto drink;I was a stranger and you welcomed me;I was naked and you gave me clothing;I was sick and you took care of me;I was in prison and you visited me.”Then the righteous will answer him,“Lord, when was it that we saw you hungryand gave you food, or thirsty and gave yousomething to drink?And when was it that we saw you a strangerand welcomed you, or naked and gaveyou clothing? And when was it that wesaw you sick or in prison and visited you?”And the king will answer them, “Truly I tellyou, just as you did it to one of the least ofthese who are members of my family, youdid it to me.”SOME REFLECTIONSFROM THIS PASSAGE:• The call to respond to our neighbour’sneeds and to share with others.• The importance of the preferentialoption for the poor. The special careJesus himself showed to the “least”– the poor and suffering among hispeople.• A reminder of the words of ArchbishopOscar Romero of El Salvador: “Aspirenot to have more but to BE more.”8

WE’RE HAVING AFISH FRIDAYFUNDRAISEREVENT DESCRIPTION:WHEN:WHERE:HOW YOU CAN PARTICIPATE:FIND OUT MORE:Please help us raise funds for Caritas Australia’s Project Compassionappeal which helps alleviate poverty and brings hope and justice todisadvantaged communities around the world.1800 024 413www.caritas.org.auA SIMPLE MEAL SO OTHERS CAN SIMPLY LIVE9

INVITATIONPLEASE COME ALONG TO OUR FISH FRIDAY EVENT AND JOIN USFOR A SIMPLE MEAL SO OTHERS CAN SIMPLY LIVE. WE ARE RAISINGMONEY FOR CARITAS AUSTRALIA’S PROJECT COMPASSION APPEALAND YOUR DONATION ON THE DAY WILL MAKE A BIG DIFFERENCE –ALLEVIATING POVERTY AND BRINGING HOPE TO DISADVANTAGEDCOMMUNITIES AROUND THE WORLD.LOCATION:DATE:ORGANISERS:DETAILS:RSVP:TIME:1800 024 413www.caritas.org.auINVITATIONPLEASE COME ALONG TO OUR FISH FRIDAY EVENT AND JOIN USFOR A SIMPLE MEAL SO OTHERS CAN SIMPLY LIVE. WE ARE RAISINGMONEY FOR CARITAS AUSTRALIA’S PROJECT COMPASSION APPEALAND YOUR DONATION ON THE DAY WILL MAKE A BIG DIFFERENCE –ALLEVIATING POVERTY AND BRINGING HOPE TO DISADVANTAGEDCOMMUNITIES AROUND THE WORLD.LOCATION:DATE:ORGANISERS:DETAILS:RSVP:TIME:1800 024 413www.caritas.org.auINVITATIONPLEASE COME ALONG TO OUR FISH FRIDAY EVENT AND JOIN USFOR A SIMPLE MEAL SO OTHERS CAN SIMPLY LIVE. WE ARE RAISINGMONEY FOR CARITAS AUSTRALIA’S PROJECT COMPASSION APPEALAND YOUR DONATION ON THE DAY WILL MAKE A BIG DIFFERENCE –ALLEVIATING POVERTY AND BRINGING HOPE TO DISADVANTAGEDCOMMUNITIES AROUND THE WORLD.LOCATION:DATE:ORGANISERS:DETAILS:RSVP:TIME:1800 024 413www.caritas.org.au

MEDIA RELEASETAKE THE FISH FRIDAY CHALLENGETO HELP END POVERTY!Thisevent wherename of alleviating global poverty.will be holding their annual Fish Fridaywill be cooking up fish in theYou may be surprised to know that for a typical family in a Cambodian fishing village, their onlymeal for the day could be as little as 80 grams of fish and a handful of rice. And that can be ona good day!Fish Friday is an annual fundraising event held in support of Caritas Australia’s ProjectCompassion, one of Australia’s largest humanitarian fundraisers.Project Compassion, held during the six-week period leading up to Easter, raises critical supportfor the work of Caritas Australia. Funds raised go directly to long-term international aid anddevelopment programs, as well as natural disaster and emergency responses.In 2012, over $10.7 million was raised for the world’s poorest communities and in 2013, CaritasAustralia is hoping to raise even more.“With so many people with so little access to nutritious food this Fish Friday we will stand insolidarity with them, by raising valuable support for Caritas Australia’s work,”said.“Project Compassion is the ultimate demonstration of this philosophy. This Fish Friday eventseeks to ensure the poorest of the poor are delivered justice and peace, which ultimately leadsto stability and security.”YOURLOCALPROJECT COMPASSION LAUNCH EVENT:DATES:TIME:VENUE:PHOTO OP:CONTACT:11