Caritas – The Parish Community's Unavoidable Activity

Prospects for creating a caritative community, or rather Parish Caritas within the parish community

Abstract

In this article the authors reflect on the prospects for creating a caritative community, that is , a Parish Caritas within the parish community. Charity work is an unavoidable part of parish community activity. The article avails itself of two terms, namely caritative community and Parish Caritas with the desire to promote the name »caritative community.« This term inherently propels one toward communitarianism among all faithful in the parish community, concretely in its concern for the material and spiritual needs of the community's less fortunate members regardless of age or situation in which they may find themselves. The article consists in an introduction, two sections and concluding thoughts. The first section reflects on the Parish Caritas, or rather caritative community within the parish community. The Parish Caritas, or rather caritative community holds an irreplaceable position in the life of every parish community. The second section discusses the caritative community in accordance with the plan and programme for parish catechesis titled »Parish Catechesis in the Renewal of the Parish Community.« The authors put forward those features of the caritative community, or rather of the Parish Caritas which are important for creating a change in mentality and in the praxis of the community's activities. These are supported by excerpts from the Parish Caritas' Report to the Zagreb Archdiocese Caritas for 2010. Finally, an agenda of the caritative community, or rather Parish Caritas is presented for one pastoral year in accordance with the plan and programme for parish catechesis titled »Parish Catechesis in the Renewal of the Parish Community.«