The Caritas Department of the Uganda Episcopal Conference (UEC) has organized the Sixth Annual Caritas Week to bring together the Caritas Governing Body in Uganda to share experiences and harmonize strategies for future engagement.
The annual event, which is underway in the Diocese of Fort Portal, began on Tuesday, March 15 and will conclude on Sunday, March 20, 2016. It is being conducted under the theme “Be Merciful as Your Father in Heaven is Merciful,” extracted from Luke 6:36.
The Ordinary of Fort Portal Diocese, Rt. Rev. Robert Muhiirwa is presiding over the proceedings together with Rt. Rev. Joseph Franzelli, Bishop of Lira Diocese. Caritas Directors, equal opportunity focal persons and selected stakeholders from different dioceses are some of the participants present at the event.
According to the Program Coordinator of the UEC Caritas Department, Hellen Chanikare, Caritas week helps to develop more comprehensive strategies, wider public support and increase the influence that individuals and communities cannot do alone.
| Image may be NSFW. Clik here to view.  |
| Participants of the sixth Annual Caritas Week held in Fort Portal Diocese |
“The week strengthens a sense of belonging to the fraternity, since members are able to express concerns about the operative of the organization country-wide which enables planning for improvement,” she said adding that “It also provides an avenue to share diocesan Caritas performance and strategy used, which fosters learning and knowledge generation for the organization as well as the broader development of the community, and provision of information to promote transparency and accountability.”
She also noted that organizing a successful Caritas Week is an evidence of coordination of the Catholic Church development programs throughout the country. “The outcome for this coordination is creation of harmony and adherence to Caritas Principles of partnership, stewardship, solidarity and subsidiary,” she explained.
Meanwhile, the annual event has built the image of Caritas in two ways. First, when the participants engage the local communities especially during field visits, the strength of Caritas is exhibited. Secondly, the government is engaged through the invited representatives who usually attend the national Caritas celebrations on Palm Sunday.
This is the first Caritas Week to be held in Fort Portal Diocese, last year’s event was held in the Dioceses of Lira.
By Jacinta W. Odongo; Media Officer, Uganda Episcopal Conference
