Welcome to Caritas
Caritas is the Catholic agency for justice, peace and development. Caritas can be translated as “love in action”, which means that we work to make a real difference in the lives of people living with poverty or injustice. Gospel values and Catholic social teaching provide the foundation and framework for our work. We are a part of the Caritas Internationalis confederation of Catholic aid, development and social justice agencies.
New Zealand Charities Commission Registration No: CC36055.
Media Releases
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Extending Easter trading hours for districts covered by the Waitaki electorate would be a step towards losing all Easter trading restrictions, says Caritas, the Catholic agency for justice, peace and more»
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Caritas Aotearoa New Zealand has pledged $10,000 towards relief work following the magnitude 7.1 earthquake that shattered Christchurch on Saturday.Caritas Director Michael Smith says the Catholic more»
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Social Justice Week resources on the theme of cultural diversity have now been distributed to Catholic parishes, schools and youth contacts. Social Justice Week this year (September 12-18) more»
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10 August 2010 - Caritas Aotearoa New Zealand is appealing to the New Zealand public for funds to support flood relief work in Pakistan. The United Nations has said the floods are worse than more»
Christchurch Earthquake
Caritas pledges $10,000 - accepting donations
We are accepting donations towards relief work following Saturday's magnitude 7.1 earthquake in Christchurch. Funds will support St Vincent de Paul Society and other Catholic agencies working with people in greatest need. Caritas has already pledged $10,000 towards relief work. Read more ...
Social Justice Week
Social Justice Week 2010 falls on September 12-18. This year, Caritas focuses creating inclusive and connected communities. Building on a recent Catholic Bishops' formation booklet, we encourage the Catholic community to reflect on how it is recognising and reflecting the diversity in our midst - and to share stories.
The core Social Justice Week resource is our booklet Your people will be my people. There are also posters and special resources for schools and parishes, which can be downloaded here.
Inclusive and Connected Communities
The Social Justice Week theme builds on the New Zealand Catholic Bishops' formation booklet Creating inclusive and connected communities. This is designed to help parish councils respond to increasing cultural diversity. It provides reading and questions for parish councils to consider, and encourages them to identify barriers that might be preventing some cultural groups from participating.
Welfare Justice - Caritas Companions
The August Caritas Companions prayer newsletter focuses on Welfare Justice – the Alternative Welfare Working Group, which is giving ear to beneficiaries' voices in the public debate about the future of welfare. Read and pray ...
Voices against poverty - MDG campaign
Caritas Internationalis has launched a new campaign to pressure governments to live up to their anti-poverty promises, as world leaders meet in September to review the 2015 Millennium Development Goals. Read more ...
Visit mdg2015.caritas.org to find info, actions, downloads, and more.
Other Emergencies
Pakistan floods
Caritas Aotearoa New Zealand is running an appeal for Pakistan following the devastating floods. THANK YOU to New Zealanders who have already given over $276,000. You are helping provide clean water and restored paths, bridges and roads to people whose lives and income have been severely disrupted.
REUTERS/Adrees Latif courtesy of Alertnet
Haiti earthquake
Caritas has helped more than 2.3 million Haitians in since the January earthquake. Six months on, the rebuilding and relief continues as "Caritas continues to share the joys and miseries, the sorrows and hopes of this nation and its crucified history." - Bishop Pierre Dumas, President of Caritas Haiti.