Caritas Malaysia: Listening & Understanding to identify common objectives and tasks

By Charles Bertille

KUALA LUMPUR — Caritas Malaysia (CM) concluded its two days’ online National Meet over the weekends of 22 / 29 January 2022. While 91 had registered, 79 participants from 9 dioceses attended the first day and 65 the second day, including invitees from Creation Justice and Migrant Ministries. The purpose of this National Meet was to come together to listen to the voices and plan for the year.

A parable

In his opening speech, Bishop President, Bishop Bernard Paul shared a parable about two miners who were digging for diamonds. One was impatient and kept digging at different locations when he could not find any diamonds and the other was determined and persevered in his dig. He patiently kept digging in one spot and after some time, found a field of diamonds. The take home message was that there is no ready-made Kingdom of Heaven. We have to work hard, be patient, persevere, never give up and we will reap the rewards of what we have sown. 

Bishop Bernard built further on the parable saying that this is the time for us all to hear, listen and start preparing for a long journey ahead. We must be bold, move forward and be the voice of our parishes and dioceses for the future. We have to acknowledge that all parishes and dioceses are different with differing concerns and priorities – and among all these differences, find out what are the common and regional concerns. 

In the next two days, we must go through the survey findings and question if we have been effective, ask ourselves what we have and do not have in place, if we have raised the necessary fundamental infrastructures and how far are we aligned with the vision, mission and values of Caritas – which is the foundation of Caritas Malaysia. It is a time for review, assessment and discernment. It is time for us to read the signs of progress, weakness, concerns and priorities that are in front of us. 

The process

This journey leading to CM’s National Meet began in October 2021 with the discussion among all diocese caritas directors on the need for a review. This led to the rollout of the Office Review Exercise in early November through two surveys targeting Caritas volunteers and office bearers.

The objective was to assess if CM’s activities are in line with the Vision, Mission and Values of Caritas Malaysia, to identify if there are clear structures and roles, are we responding to the mandate to develop the social mission of the Malaysian Church, and to reflect on the present reality and plan for the future.

In December, the diocese directors were asked to reflect on their respective survey findings with their parish coordinators, and later with their board or commission members.

Those who participated in the surveys and discussion, found it to be relevant as it had helped them and the diocese recognise the challenges faced by the communities and parishes, thus enabling them to identify the concerns and priorities. It also provided them with a clear direction for their ministry.

On Day 1 of the CM National Meet, each diocese director was asked to present the findings of the surveys. This was followed by a group discussion by regions (Sabah, Sarawak, Semenanjung), facilitated by the Caritas board members, to identify common concerns and priorities.

During the week leading to Day 2, each diocese office was asked to meet up again, this time to discuss and plan their activities for the year using the SMART (Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant & Time-bound) method. This method was again used when they met on Day 2 as a region.

Regional priorities

Sabah as a region raised concerns on the need for fundraising and administration of funds, accessibility, clarity of structures and procedures, collaboration between parishes and diocese and capacity building. 

Sarawak on the other hand, identified the need for training of volunteers especially in building and enhancing their skills in management, understanding and creating awareness on Caritas spirituality, building resilient communities towards poverty and natural disasters, education of migrant children, enhancing relationship and communication among social mission groups and attracting our youth in each parish to be involved in Caritas as they are the Church and are needed to build the social mission of the church priorities.

Meanwhile, Semenanjung highlighted a lack of understanding on the function and mission of Caritas across all levels. They too, wished to attract more volunteers, focus on capacity building, spirituality, organisational skill sets and infrastructure. They suggested to compile best practices which can be shared.

A working framework

Besides the discussions among dioceses and regions, the Board had also met to reflect on the findings and propose a framework around all the points that were brought up. The executive secretary, Charles Bertille proposed a framework with three major aspects: programmes and services, organisation – structures, systems and roles, faith and witness. The heart of all these he said, is the voice or heartbeat of the people – which is also the heartbeat of God – and which corresponds with the vision of CM, “Caritas is the heart of the Church” (Pope Benedict)  and “Caritas is the caress of the Mother Church to those suffering” (Pope Francis).

All these take place within local communities in a certain context, with its local needs and challenges, but also with the prevalence of the graces of God which we can tap into. He then went on to elaborate five priority areas for everyone’s consideration :

1. Restoring community, relationships and spirituality. It seems there is a deficit of trust and community at every level and we are being called to nurture it by visiting people on the ground, affirming them, supporting their initiatives and existing projects, and assuring them there is “no taking over”. We need to adopt a community-based approach to our work as anything sustainable can only last when it is built on a community and not on individuals or offices. 
2. Deepening in Caritas spirituality and the Catholic Social teachings. There are existing methods and tools in social or pastoral work which can be adapted to our social mission. An example is the 4E method (encounter, enlighten, empower, evangelise) that is promoted by the diocese of Malacca Johore. The story of the disciples on the road to Emmaus highlights the steps of 4E – and the same can be used when approaching community work.
3. Communicating, sharing hope and collaboration. The mission and works of CM has to be communicated to share the hope and also to encourage internal and external collaboration. As shared by the diocese of Penang, we need to build bridges, plant the seeds and promote a buy-in. We have to find ways to enhance communication and share news among each other. We are all the voice of the church in society and need to bear witness to it. We were reminded in the survey feedback to look into various groups which need support but may be overlooked, such as those who are in prison, rehabilitation and detention centres; and to “turun padang” to connect and listen to these groups in need. We can initiate conversations around common themes like the Orang Asli, migrants, youth, poverty, etc.
4. Calling and forming a new generation of Caritas volunteers and leaders. Indeed, this is a felt need across all dioceses for the future of the Malaysian Church. We can begin with small groups of committed disciples who can light the fire, pass the faith and make a difference. But we need a method and orientation to do it well. And we can share ideas, resources, and work together with others like the Youth & Campus offices. This priority area is also linked to capacity building of our management, staff and volunteers in various aspects, as mentioned by many.
5. Climate change and disaster preparedness which has to integrate care for our common home. We envisage a pool of resource persons who can be trained and mobilised as a national team to serve any diocese or affected area. Local communities need to learn about different types of disaster preparedness, relief skills, mitigating or reducing disaster risk for the community, and strengthening community resilience.

All our programmes and activities are encouraged to integrate certain cross cutting themes such as spirituality, communication and safeguarding. 

Vatican requires that every diocese to put in place mechanisms for safeguarding children and vulnerable adults against sexual and psychological abuse. Most diocese have offices and professional teams to look into any case. However, as Caritas, we are required to know the protocols about safeguarding, build this into our recruitment activities, brief all staff and volunteers, and ensure compliance in any public programme. This information needs to be spread to create this awareness even if there are no cases.

Asian priorities

It is good to recall here, the 25 countries forming Caritas Asia set as strategic priority, the following areas for 2022 – 2025:

1. Inspiring care for creation by practicing servant love-based* leadership
2. Reducing impact of disasters by effective emergency preparedness and response across Asia
3. Upholding dignity of the person for integral human development by global solidarity and promotion of peace

They see as Cross-cutting themes:Safeguarding / Youth engagement / Localization / Women in Leadership / Inter-Faith Dialogue.

*Servant love-based leadership is the leadership focused on serving people and not on leading people; it is fueled by the love for humanity and the planet, not by individual or organizational interests.

Back to planning

In the dioceses / regions planning session, Semenanjung proposes to recruit more volunteers, set-up a disaster relief team, and promote a culture of networking. Sabah also wants to recruit more volunteers, provide formation, and establish clear working guidelines. Sarawak identified volunteer recruitment and training, and youth formation for ministry as their priorities.

What is the Spirit saying?

In Bishop Bernard’s closing remarks, he reminded everyone to constantly ask ourselves, “What is the Spirit saying to the diocese, the region, as well as the national Caritas?” It is evident, he said, that we are not only local but regional and national as well. We are being challenged to leave behind a legacy, not a curse. When we build what God wants us to build, which is building upon the vision and mission on what God has for Malaysia, there has to be obedience to the Spirit.

Another form of legacy is to have a system of succession as the journey does not end with you and me but we are preparing the next generation of leaders to take over and continue building. However, if we build only on our dreams and agendas, we would not be able to sustain it as scripture says, “Unless the Lord builds the house, its builders labour in vain” (Psalm 127) and “whoever does not gather with me, scatters.” (Luke 11:23)

The words “Together We Care” also holds something special and is becoming synonymous with Caritas as that is what we are. We know we are not alone and much can be done if we were to communicate, connect and collaborate more. We need more communication and not competition, and this is not limited to technics and technology but also building relationships (connecting). 

We are also called to a new generation of leadership, implement new ways of responding and doing things in everything that we do. Coming together as a network of ministries and a network of specialised groups is the way forward. 

Opportunities to connect and collaborate should be grabbed because we are stronger together than when we are on our own, with our limited resources. Bishop Bernard reminded that when we bring up weaknesses, it does not mean that we have failed but we are working and moving forward with existing resources.

Looking back at the history of the Church, in the beginning everyone did charity. Gradually, as we became more structured, we have sub-contracted charity. Now, the direction in which the Spirit is moving us is towards organising the whole Church for charity and we have to embrace it wholeheartedly by putting aside individual hang-ups and agendas and working towards a specialised network.

Cross over to the other side

It was providential that the closing Mass and gospel reading highlighted Jesus asking his disciples to “cross over to the other side” and Jesus “calming the storm” that arose on the journey (Mark 4: 35 – 41). The Lord who called us, who started the journey is there with us in the boat. The storm is outside, why let it enter in us? When the storm is inside us, we lose perspectives, we lose clarity.

From the evaluation feedback, the participants were able to define their objectives and set new goals. The process taken for the national meet was affirmed as helpful. The SMART planning method aided in envisioning outcomes and specific actions to be taken. They agreed that further skills training is required for all.

A number of participants requested for regular meetings, closer accompaniment, updates and coordinated collaboration between all ministries for the common good. With that said, this journey does not end with the two days meeting. Together we are asked to “cross over to the other side.”