Zagreb, (IKA) – During Croatian Caritas’ Christmas 2005 campaign entitled “For 1,000 Joys,” thanks to the solidarity of Croatian companies and citizens, the amount of 4,662,984.90 kunas was collected and assistance was sent to a total of 5,398 needy families in Croatia. This was announced at a press conference that representatives of Croatian Caritas held on March 1 at the Palace of the Archbishop in Zagreb. This third such campaign organized by Croatian Caritas collected 24% more funds, products and services than last year’s campaign. Of the total collection, 3,226,330 kunas were collected in cash, 1,208,379.90 kunas in products and 228,275 kunas in services. Presenting the campaign results, the head of Caritas Special Projects, Boris Peterlin, announced that 3,534 families had been helped via the diocesan and parish branches of Caritas, and 1,864 via schools. This year, he said, the beneficiary families who received assistance via the Caritas network were most often needy families of returnees, veterans, unemployed parents, large families, single-parent families, families with one or members who are seriously ill, and particular emphasis was placed upon needy families awaiting the birth of a child or who have a newborn. Assessing the campaign, Peterlin pointed out that Croatian Caritas is gratified that this campaign resulted in visible growth in the numerical indices, despite the negative consequences of the events in connection with Brezovica and their media repercussions, and also despite the active engagement by Croatian Caritas for non-working Sundays and for regulating the working hours of stores on Sundays, i.e. despite the absence of several potential donors.

Each year for the campaign “For 1,000 Joys,” Croatian Caritas sets three basic goals. The first of this year’s goals was to collect as much as possible, in order to assist a minimum of 5,000 needy families. The second goal was to draw attention to the essential values of Christmas and their expression through giving, unselfishness, solidarity and effective love. The third goal was the development and activation of the networks of solidarity: Caritas’ networks, the networks of elementary and secondary schools, public institutions and commercial enterprises.

Commenting on the fact that the results of the Caritas campaign were being presented at the beginning of the Lenten season, the president of Croatian Caritas, Bishop Josip Mrzljak, said that it is precisely during Lent that Christians think more about the important command to love our neighbor. Mentioning how various media are writing about what people will give up during Lent, Bishop Mrzljak said that as Christians we should be asking ourselves what good we shall do during this Lent, because renunciation is often somehow selfish and egoistic, as if we are doing something for ourselves, but as Christians we should be asking ourselves what we shall do for others, and this is the meaning of Caritas.

Ivica Smiljan, the director of auditing of the independent auditing firm of Deloitte d.o.o. that audited the financial operations of Croatian Caritas for 2003 and 2004, said on this occasion: “We are pleased that Croatian Caritas expressed the desire to have an audit performed, although it was not required to do so according to the prevailing legislation. Applying our standard methodology, we have determined that the financial reports of Croatian Caritas present the financial position of the organization realistically and objectively, pursuant to the Croatian Accounting Act, the provisions on the accounting of nonprofit organizations and the Regulations on the Bookkeeping and Accounting Plan of Nonprofit Organizations.”

The head of Croatian Caritas, Ivan Milovčić, stated that the practice of the past three years would be continued regarding the auditing of the financial operations of Croatian Caritas for the year 2005, and a summary of operations for 2003 and 2004 would be made available for public inspection.