Zagreb, (IKA) – Once again this year during the week between the second and third Sundays in Lent, February 18 to 24, Croatian Caritas will be promoting the Week of Solidarity and Community with the Church and People of Bosnia and Herzegovina. By conducting a national campaign and collecting funds, but also raising public awareness in Croatia regarding the situation of the people and Church in Bosnia and Herzegovina, Caritas is attempting to motivate the Croatian public to become better informed and to provide assistance.

The Croatian Caritas Lenten campaign to help the Church and People in Bosnia and Herzegovina is being organized this year as the second in a series, based upon decisions made at the regular annual joint session of the Croatian Conference of Bishops and the Bishops’ Conference of Bosnia and Herzegovina on January 22, 2007, when a campaign was discussed to assisst the Croatian Catholic Church in Bosnia and Herzegovina.

The faithful in Croatia can make monetary contributions in churches on the third Sunday of Lent, February 24. The Sunday collection, i.e. all contributions collected in all the churches throughout Croatia on that Sunday, will be directed to projects of social assistance, education and incentive for small business in Bosnia and Herzegovina.

Campaign contributions can be made by calling the telephone number 060 9010 (6.10 kn) or via the giro account of Croatian Caritas at PBZ 2340009-1100080340, Ref. No. 08 – Sunday Collection.

The collection of financial assistance is important but it is not the only way to express solidarity. Many in Croatia are aware and grateful for the gift of the people who came from Bosnia and Herzegovina to Croatia and enriched it with their faith, culture, knowledge and labors. In this Week of Solidarity with the Church and People in Bosnia and Herzegovina, the faithful can also provide spiritual assitance, praying for this intention throughout Lent. During the second week of Lent, from February 17 to 24, it is possible to mention prayer intentions in liturgical celebrations and devotions, especially the Way of the Cross, for the people and Church in Bosnia and Herzegovina. For this purpose, Croatian Caritas has prepared a leaflet that can be of assistance.

In anticipation of the Week of Solidarity, the head of Croatian Caritas, Bishop Josip Mrzljak, sent a letter urging all the pastors in Croatia to appeal to the faithful and people of good will in the parishes to respond to the Week of Solidarity and Community. The head and workers of Croatian Caritas will personally participate in prayer for this intention every day in a different parish community in Zagreb.

At the conclusion of the campaign, Croatian Caritas and its partner, the National Caritas of the Bishops’ Conference of Bosnia and Herzegovina, will conduct a public competition for the allocation of funds open to secular and religious associations with projects and programs in the areas of education, social assistance and incentive for small business in Bosnia and Herzegovina. The project and supervisory board will evaluate the quality of the projects submitted, approve funding for their implementation and monitor their realization.