Caritas Japan (Japanese: カリタスジャパン) is a Catholic non-profit organisation of the Episcopal Conference of Japan.[4] It was founded in 1946 and is a member of the global Caritas Internationalis confederation and of its regional structure Caritas Asia.
カリタスジャパン | |
 | |
| Established | 1946 |
|---|---|
| Type | Nonprofit |
| Location |
|
| Coordinates | 35°39′25″N 139°49′00″E / 35.6569°N 139.8167°E |
| Origins | Catholic Social Teaching[1] |
Region served | Japan, worldwide |
| Fields | social work |
President | Daisuke Narui[2] |
| Affiliations | Caritas Asia, Caritas Internationalis |
Budget (2023) | ¥293,490,588[3] |
| Website | www |
Background and work
editIn 1946, after the end of World War II in Japan, the Japanese government established a committee to receive and distribute food, clothing, and others items received by the Licensed Agencies for Relief in Asia (LARA), an initiative of American welfare organisations.[5][6] The Catholic Church of Japan was one of many Christian initiatives that partnered with public authorities to distributing relief items[7] and part of this committee.[8]
Two years later, in response to a letter by the Holy See on the coordination of the Catholic social programmes, the Japanese bishops decided to register the Caritas Society of Japan as an incorporate association. Its goal was to coordinate and guide the work at national level. In each diocese, a priest was appointed to be in charge of the social services provided. Caritas Japan in its current form was established in 1970.[8]
The national office of Caritas Japan has five employees who coordinate the work of the 16 diocesan Caritas organisations. The organisation works with thousands of volunteers across the country.[9]
In 2023, Caritas Japan funded the humanitarian relief efforts of the other members of the Caritas Internationalis confederation aronund the globe, including in South Sudan, Ukraine, Pakistan, Madagascar, Venezuela and Morocco, as well as development efforts abroad and activities implemented in Japan.[3]
Presidents
edit- 2007–2022: Tarcisio Isao Kikuchi[10]
- 2022-now: Daisuke Narui[2]
External links
edit- Official website (in Japanese)
References
edit- ^ "Member organisation in Japan". caritas.org. Retrieved 2 May 2024.
- ^ a b Castellano Lubov, Deborah (9 January 2024). "Caritas Japan President: Accompany our people in prayer after earthquakes". Vatican News. Retrieved 2 May 2024.
- ^ a b "2023年度年次報告書 [2023 Annual Report]". caritas.jp. 1 April 2024. Retrieved 2 May 2024.
- ^ "ブリタニカ国際大百科事典 小項目事典 「カリタス・ジャパン」の意味・わかりやすい解説". kotobank.jp. Retrieved 2 May 2024.
- ^ "Licensed Agencies for Rellef in Asia (LARA)". National Library of Medicine. January 1948. Retrieved 2 May 2024.
- ^ Okada, Aya (2013). "Mobilizing the donor public: Dynamics of development NGOs Message Framing" (PDF). University of Pittsburgh. p. 5 May 2024.
- ^ Van der Watt, Stéphan (1 May 2023). "Diaconal Church Initiatives and Social/Public Welfare in Postwar Japan: A Descriptive Overview". Religions. 14. Retrieved 5 May 2024.
- ^ a b "成り立ちと歴史 [Origin and History]". caritas.jp (in Japanese). Retrieved 2 May 2024.
- ^ Virola, Madonna T. (12 January 2024). "Caritas Japan appeals to accompany people in prayer after earthquakes". Radio Veritas Asia. Retrieved 2 May 2024.
- ^ Watkins, Devin (13 May 2023). "Caritas Internationalis elects Archbishop Kikuchi as new president". Vatican News. Retrieved 2 May 2024.