On 22 December 1992, the UN General Assembly declared 17th October as the International Day for the Eradication of Poverty, shortly after human rights activists highlighted it in Paris in 1987. A hundred thousand people gathered to honour victims of extreme poverty, violence and hunger. They proclaimed that poverty is a violation of human rights and affirmed the need to come together to ensure that these rights are respected. Since then, people of all backgrounds, beliefs and social origins have gathered every year on October 17th to renew their commitment and show their solidarity with those in need.

Synchronously, on the other side of the globe, on 1st Oct 1992, our late Cardinal Soter Fernandez signed the document for the formation of the Archdiocesan Office for Human Development. AOHD is the official arm of the Catholic Church that oversees the promotion of charity, integral human development, justice and peace. Our main objective is to ensure that pastoral care is provided to the poor and marginalised. Since our formation almost 30 years ago, we have continued to reach out to the least, the lost, the little and the last.

More and more hungry, homeless, lonely, lost and sick people are reaching out for help since the pandemic started in March 2020, both in Malaysia as well as regionally.

AOHD’s responses to these people were made possible by the gracious generosity of local parishioners and benefactors who donated to our annual Lenten Campaign. Funding from
the Lenten Campaign also supports various special projects by the Parish Integral Human Development Ministries (PIHDM). These projects include ministering to the Orang Asli, migrants and refugees, urban and rural poor, women’s ministry/ single mothers, and prisoners by way of distribution of provisions, educational assistance, medical help and cash aid. AOHD has also supported a special needs centre for children with the autism spectrum, over a span of 20 years. Annually, before the pandemic, about 10 – 15 of these special children have benefitted from the early intervention programme, and in later years, from the vocational training programme.

In spite of the everyday challenge of trying to serve all who reach out for help, we continue on our mission to provide aid with the support of our Catholic community. A key to saving desperate families and individuals from spiraling into poverty over this pandemic is to operate shorter funding cycles to address their immediate needs. Whether you join us with a little loose change whenever possible or a ringgit every day for this upcoming Lenten almsgiving, rest assured that your generosity will provide warmth and comfort
to those in great need, especially as we recover from this COVID-19 pandemic.

As followers of Christ who has, 2000 years ago, shown us how to love and lift up the poor, the weak and the down-trodden, we continue in thismission to be the Salt of the Earth, and bring the Light of Christ to the World and all of Creation; serving and aiding with one tiny step at a time.

God bless you all.