7th February 1997
"Project Compassion": 33 Years of Giving Hope
Bishop Michael Malone will launch Caritas Australia's 33rd Project Compassion Campaign on Tuesday 11 February at 1pm in the Toohey Room of the Maitland-Newcastle Diocesan Centre.

Project Compassion, the national Lenten appeal, helps to support development and relief programs conducted by the Catholic Church's worldwide Caritas network, with annual support being given to programs in Africa, Asia, the Pacific, Latin America and the Middle East.

Within Australia, Project Compassion helps to support community development in Aboriginal communities and the Church's national education programs on global issues of social justice and human development.

As a special overseas guest for the Maitland-Newcastle launch, Sr Pereka Nyirenda RSC, (National Secretary of Caritas Zambia) will speak about the efforts in her country to battle growing unemployment, worsening poverty and the AIDS epidemic.

Also in attendance at the launch will be Tom Story, National Director of Caritas Australia, Patricia Banister, Maitland-Newcastle Diocesan Director of Caritas Australia, as well as staff and students from Catholic secondary schools in the diocese.

During 1996, $4.3 million was donated to Caritas Australia-wide, with $120,000 coming from people in the Maitland-Newcastle Diocese.

The Project Compassion campaign around Australia during 1997 will focus on Caritas Australia's support for development in South Africa, Zambia and Bangladesh.

Sr Pereka Nyirenda will be available for interview just before the launch between 12.30 and 1pm in the Toohey Room of the Diocesan Centre, 841 Hunter Street, Newcastle.

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