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“Return to the Lord your God, for he is gracious and merciful,” Prophet Joel proclaimed. Answering his call, the Church enters the season of Lent to prepare for Easter. For millennia, the Church never ceases to do this so we can renew our relationship with the Lord and grow spiritually.
However, as the Resurrection shows, we have both body and soul. Therefore, we also need to pay attention to our physical development and material needs. Unfortunately, the sin of Adam brought into the world wickedness, and so many people are living in vulnerable conditions. Our Lord’s command to love our neighbour and preferential love for the poor tell us this is unacceptable.
Yet, despite humanity’s great technological progress, helping each other is not getting easier. The world is mired in conflicts and complicated challenges. Consumerism is rising and environmental degradation is worsening. Widening inequality is creating social unrest. Amidst all these, our vulnerable sisters and brothers are struggling to survive.
But we must not let them lose hope. We must help them get the necessary resources and skills to thrive. Thus, Jubilee 2025 is aptly about hope. The Holy Father called us to “help everyone to gain new strength and certainty by looking to the future with an open spirit” and restore “a climate of hope”. His historic visit to Singapore pointed to this. He hopes that with Singapore’s great success and prosperity, we must respond generously to the poor and not leave some behind, even as the nation progresses.
For this reason, Caritas Singapore has launched Charities Week 2025. This annual fundraising campaign ensures that the Caritas family can continue the work of the Church in helping the vulnerable and marginalised through a network of care of over 20 charities and societies. I urge you to contribute as generously as you can.
Prophet Micah invited us to walk humbly with God, who is especially close with the least. To walk with God, therefore, is to walk with a brother or sister in need with humility so everyone can have a bright future in this journey of life. Sisters and brothers, walk with one another as pilgrims of hope. Walk with me.
Yours in Christ,
William Cardinal Goh
Archbishop of Singapore