Lietuvos Caritas | |
![]() | |
Established | 1926 |
---|---|
Type | Nonprofit |
Purpose | social services, humanitarian relief |
Location | |
Region served | Lithuania |
Official language | Lithuanian |
Secretary General | Deimantė Bukeikaitė |
President | Archbishop Kęstutis Kėvalas |
Affiliations | Caritas Europa, Caritas Internationalis |
Website | www |
Caritas Lithuania (Lithuanian : Lietuvos Caritas) is a Catholic not-for-profit social welfare and humanitarian relief organisation in Lithuania. It is a service of the Episcopal Conference of Lithuania. It operated from 1926 to 1940, when it was forbidden by the Soviet authorities, and was restored in 1989.
Caritas Lithuania is a member of both Caritas Europa and Caritas Internationalis.
Lithuanian Caritas was established in 1926, bringing together nearly all Catholic educational and charitable organisations. It operated throughout the 1930s until the Soviets banned the organisation and all other Church activities following their occupation of Lithuania in 1940. [1]
In 1988, an underground Catholic women's group named Caritas was formed in Kaunas, with the nun Albina Pajarskaitė of the Convent of the Sisters of the Poor being one of the organisers. It was officially registered on 15 April 1989. The founding convention that took place in the Kaunas Sports Hall for two days and was attended by hundreds of representatives from women's group from all over the country and thousands of guests. [1] [2]
In 1991, following expanded operational opportunities, the "Lithuanian Caritas Federation" (Lietuvos Caritas federacija) was established during an extraordinary congress on June 2, adopting new statutes and the new name. Membership was opened to both men and women. The federation, uniting clergy and laity, aimed to educate society religiously and ethically while addressing social issues and promoting charitable activities. That same year, it became a member organisation of Caritas Internationalis. [3] [2]
In 1992, the Federation initiated the establishment of the Center for Professional Studies in Social Care at Vytautas Magnus University of Kaunas. The organisation's structure was slightly adjusted in July 1994 to encourage greater involvement of Catholic laypeople in charity work. A major reorganization occurred during the 1997 congress, fully integrating Caritas into the structure of the Lithuanian Catholic Church, operating from that point on under the Lithuanian Bishops' Conference. The name was also changed to "Lithuanian Caritas" (Lietuvos Caritas), with priest Robertas Grigas appointed as general director. [3]
At its founding congress, Caritas outlined its long-term activity directions: human upbringing and education, alleviating suffering, and promoting spiritual values. Recognising the most pressing societal issues, Caritas established various initiatives to address them, including charity canteens, nursing homes for the elderly and children, family support centres, nursing hospitals, and a pharmacy. [1] [2]
The organisation offers a wide range of social, medical, and consulting services for socially disadvantaged individuals. It runs public canteens, pharmacies, and nursing, treatment, and care facilities. Since 2005, it has provided food to approximately 180,000 people in need. By 2020, its operations were supported by 250 employees and over 3,000 volunteers. [1] [4] With the start of the Russian invasion of Ukraine in 2022, Caritas Lithuania become active in providing support to Ukrainian refugees arriving in Lithuania, and collecting funds for Caritas projects in Ukraine. [5] [6]
Caritas Lithuania consists of a national office and of seven regional, autonomous Caritas organisations in Lithuania. They implement social projects locally. The 7 local organisations are:
Simnas is small town on the river Dovinė between Simnas and Giluitis lakes, in Alytus district, Alytus county, in the south of Lithuania. It lies on the 131 a national primary road from Alytus to Kalvarija. Simnas is located within the ethnographical region Dzūkija. According to the 2022 data, 1209 people live in the town with 3148 in Simnas eldership. It is most populous settlement in Alytus district.
Caritas Europa is a European confederation of Catholic social service providers and international development and humanitarian relief organisations operating in Europe. It is one of the seven regions of Caritas Internationalis.
The Catholic Church operates numerous charitable organizations.
Caritas Internationalis is a confederation of 162 national Catholic relief, development and social service organisations operating in over 200 countries and territories worldwide. The name Caritas Internationalis refers to both the global network of Caritas organisations and to its general secretariat based in the Vatican City in Rome, Italy.
Caritas Austria is an Austrian social aid organisation of the Roman Catholic Church, founded in 1903. It consists of a national office and nine regional diocesan Caritas organisations, all of which are legally independent.
Christian Union is a minor political party in Lithuania. It held its constituent congress on 8 February 2020.
Caritas Ukraine is a Ukrainian Catholic not-for-profit and humanitarian relief organisation.
Caritas Poland is a Polish Catholic not-for-profit social welfare and humanitarian relief organisation. It is a service of the Polish Bishops' Conference and the largest social welfare and charitable organisation in the country.
Caritas Czech Republic is a Czech Catholic not-for-profit social welfare and humanitarian relief organisation. It is a service of the Czech Bishops' Conference and is the largest social welfare and charitable organisation in the country. Caritas Czech Republic is a member of both Caritas Europa and Caritas Internationalis.
Caritas Slovenia is a Slovenian Catholic charity organisation. It operates nationally by providing social welfare services, and internationally by supporting the relief and development efforts of partner organisations.
Caritas Sweden is a Catholic aid organisation from Sweden. It is part of the European network of Caritas organisations Caritas Europa, as well of the global confederation Caritas Internationalis.
Caritas Croatia, sometimes also translated as Croatian Caritas, is a Catholic not-for-profit social welfare and humanitarian relief organisation in Croatia. It is a service of the Episcopal Conference of Croatia.
Caritas Moldova is a Catholic not-for-profit social welfare and humanitarian relief organisation in Moldova. Caritas Moldova is a member of both the Caritas Europa and the Caritas Internationalis networks.
Caritas Slovakia is a not-for-profit social welfare organisation in Slovakia. It is a service of the Catholic Church in Slovakia.
Caritas Georgia is a not-for-profit social welfare organisation in Georgia. It is a service of the Catholic Church in Georgia.
Caritas Hellas is a not-for-profit social welfare and humanitarian organisation in Greece. It is a service of the Catholic Church in Greece and a member of both Caritas Europa and Caritas Internationalis.
Caritas-Spes or Caritas-Spes Ukraine is a not-for-profit social welfare and humanitarian relief organisation in Ukraine. It is a service of the Roman Catholic Church in Ukraine.
Caritas Bulgaria or officially the National Catholic Federation Caritas - Bulgaria is a not-for-profit social welfare organisation in Bulgaria. It implements social activities in support of vulnerable people in society and is a service of the Bulgarian Catholic Church.
Caritas Social Action Network or CSAN is a British not-for-profit social welfare and social justice organisation. It is a service of the Catholic Church in England and Wales and a member of both Caritas Internationalis and Caritas Europa.
Caritas Hungary is a not-for-profit social welfare organisation in Hungary. It is a service of the Catholic Church in Hungary.