MISSION
Caritas Internationalis, of which Caritas MONA is an integral part, is an institution of the Catholic Church dedicated to serving the poor and promoting charity and justice. “For the Church, charity is not a kind of welfare activity which could equally well be left to other, but is a part of her nature, an indispensable expression of her very being.
In order to fulfil its mission, Caritas MONA aims at: ensuring capacity strengthening services to support the achievement of the mission of each MO in the region; collaborating with the episcopal, regional and other Church organizations’ instances to achieve a socio-pastoral ministry in the region; integrating the regional contribution into CI’s deliberations and programs, and facilitating the implementation in the region of international initiatives and directions in order to favor cooperation among all of CI MOs; offering its MOs a space for dialogue and exchange among them and with other organizations to promote and harmonize their work; Facilitating the foundation of a Caritas structure in the countries and territories of the region where it is needed/requested.
VISION
Caritas MONA’s vision is an extension of Caritas Internationalis’ vision: “Building a civilization of love”. Inspired by the Holy Scriptures, by the CST and by the life experiences and hopes of people living in poverty and other inhuman conditions, Caritas strives for a world: where love, justice, peace, freedom and solidarity flourish; where the dignity of the human being, made in the image of God, is upheld; where people are no longer excluded or cast aside and where all can prosper, where there is no more discrimination, violence, intolerance or dehumanizing poverty; where the goods of the Earth are shared, where everyone can enjoy the necessities of life; where all of creation is safeguarded; and where the voices of the excluded are listened to in the construction of a just and fraternal society.
“The development of peoples depends on a recognition that the human race is a single family working together…” (Pope John Paul II)
VALUES
Justice
We strive to build a just moral order and right relationships within ourselves, our organizations, and the communities we serve. Guided by faith, we accompany and defend those pushed to the margins, helping them transform the unjust structures that keep them poor.
The Common Good
We work with the Church, other faith traditions, governments, and civil society to protect human dignity and promote the common good — ensuring that every person and community can flourish in justice, peace, and solidarity.
Integral Human Development
We promote the holistic development of each person and community — spiritual, social, and economic — ensuring that relief, rehabilitation, and development efforts are linked to achieve justice and human dignity for all.
Preferential Option for and with the Poor and Oppressed
Following the Gospel, we stand with those who are poor, marginalized, or oppressed. We commit to fighting poverty and injustice, empowering people to become protagonists of their own development and builders of a more human future.
Respect
We respect religious traditions, culture, structures and customs in so far as they enhance and uphold the dignity of the human person.
“A just society can become a reality only when it is based on the respect of the transcendent dignity of the human person.”
Solidarity
We work in solidarity with people who are poor and marginalized, thereby achieving the fruits of peace, justice and human development. Solidarity binds us together in the common vision of establishing a world where all human beings receive what rightly belongs to them as sons and daughters of God.
Fraternity and Gratuitousness
Caritas is led by the basic values of fraternity and solidarity, which express the equal dignity of all human beings. The free, gratuitous and loving contribution of every person to the common good, for example through volunteering, supports and fosters community building. Love, seeking the integral development of every human being and of the entire human family.
Religious Freedom and Cultural Diversity
Religious freedom is a fundamental human right. It is enhanced by an appreciation for cultural diversity. Caritas MONA is committed to the multi-level dialogue among faiths and cultures towards the common good.
Integral Ecology
As a basic ethical principle and a responsibility, understanding that the environment, the economy, the society, our daily life, the common good and justice between generations are interconnected, Caritas MONA not only works to eradicate poverty and social exclusion today, but firmly commits itself to sustainable development, the stewardship of a sound ecological order and simplicity of life.