1. Church in the community Volunteering and faith Experiences from Caritas Germany Seoul, Korea, 7 th October 2015 Dr. Eugen Baldas, Freiburg / Germany

2. „Seek the welfare of the city where I have sent you into exile, and pray to the LORD on its behalf; for in its welfare you will have welfare“ (Jeremiah 29:7)

3. Church in the Community: Volunteering and Faith A Backgrounds BContribution of the German Caritas: - Caritas and Pastoral involved in the city - Broad based Community Organizing - Rural area: Pilgrimage with places for sharing CCurrent Challenge: Give Refugees hope 25 years reunification in Germany – role of the church

4. Pope Francis: Pastoral in large cities (Nov. 2014): Christianity needs a change in the mentality 1.The change in the pastoral: The courage to testify Jesus 2.The multicultural challenge: The courage of the Apostle Paulus to understand different cultures (Pantheon Rome) 3.The popular belief: Discover the authentic faith of the people 4.At all times: The Lord speaks to us by poor people! A Backgrounds

5. Goals of the German Caritas: Objectives and Tasks Objectives To protect each person in his and her dignity To live in solidarity with one another in a pluralistic world To fulfill obligations across borders Tasks The work of Caritas is help for people in need The German Caritas sees itself as advocate and partner of the disadvantaged As an association, Caritas helps shape social and societal politics The German Caritas contributes to the professionalization of social work A Backgrounds

6. Goals of the German Caritas Association Theological Foundations 1.A benevolent God: Caritas’ source of energy 2.Jesus Christ and His message: Goal and encouragement for Caritas 3.The Holy Spirit: Caritas’ source of strength 4.The prophetic Spirit – Caritas’ vision 5.The diaconal Church: Caritas’ sphere of activity and life 6.A great tradition: commitment to constant renewal http://www.caritas-germany.org/germancaritasassociation/ourgoals/goals A Backgrounds

7. Basics concerning the Community Civil society is the arena, outside the family, the state and the market where people associate to advance common interests [Policy Agenda on Volunteering in Europe, 2011]. Civil society is a product of human civilization – not a product of the wild. Its specific characteristics are plurality, autonomy, civility (status as a citizen), and public sociality [Lord Ralf Dahrendorf, +2009]. A functioning civil society does not spontaneously generate – it must be proactively organized [Alexis de Tocqueville:+1859]. A Backgrounds

8. Statisticts: Germany: 80 m inhabitants: 40 % Catholices, 40 % Protestants 20 % others, mostly without any religion Third Volunteer Survey (2009): 23 m Volunteers in Germany Persons with religion background are more voluntarily active Caritas-Volunteer Survey (2006): What is impotant? 81%: To help the poor and discriminated people 56%: I can realise being a Christian Current challenge: Thousands of refugees arriving daily

9. B Caritas Germany: Experiences 1.Caritas and Pastoral involved in the city - Context: Church in the civil society - Objective: A stronger involvement in the civil society: Cooperation staff & volunteers / impact in the district - Research: 22 projects social involved parishes - Promoting basic conditions - Hindering basic conditions Residents should become actors (Research with Prof. Dr.Udo Schmälzle, Münster, together with Caritas)

10. B Caritas Germany: Experiences Ecumenical project: Church meets city - Nationwide projects with different aspects Protestant and Catholic church - Supported by the German government - Focus: Developing areas with the resources of the church and the community: Management in the district - Agreement with the city council: the district

11. B Caritas Germany: Experiences Broad based Community organizing: How to bring diverse people from diverse peoples, groups and institutions to function conjointly in the public sphere?  Systematic citizens’ initiatives on a broad, societal basis.  Public awareness of correlating common interests.  Successful projects emerge from dedicated campaign implementation.

12. Successful projects emerge from well-implemented action campaigns Establish a strong, “workable we”. Recognize that a significant number of active individuals actually form the “face of the community”. Actively engaged individuals implement initiatives in the public eye and they collaborate openly with state and economic entities. Positive neighborhood improvements can be achieved with dedicated action and effective campaigns. B Caritas Germany: Experiences Broad based Community oganizing

13. What the Citizen Initiatives aim to achieve: Berlin-Wedding – “WE ARE HERE”: The park in front of the church should serve as a children’s playground and recreation area for everyone, rather than as a rendezvous for drug addicts. 1,000 people at Foundation 40 Associations /

14. ImPuls, Central Hamburg: Remove the barriers that block the Subway exit to the city so that wheelchairs and strollers (push-chairs) may gain access without assistance. 15 institutions, 200 persons founded the citizens’ initiative in Hamburg. Many residents helped identify the issues. 50 discussions, each with a “panel” of 10, produced 7 issues in 3 weeks;; Catholic parishes and protestant church and mosque are doing good together for better living standards in the community 100 Key Personnel in weekend seminars and 2 organizers were trained. Seminars were held in Berlin, Esslingen, London, and the United States. B Caritas Germany: Experiences Broad based Community oganizing

15. Who are the participants in the Citizen’s Initiative? Residents, immigrants, the newly moved, locals – all have a voice, and anyone can join. Social classes and social strata are irrelevant. Institutions: parishes, mosques, schools, companies, stores, building cooperatives, etc. can join. Associations: not just their “representatives” – their actual members are far more important. It can be difficult to motivate and mobilize associations. What binds divergent interest groups together? A common purpose. B Caritas Germany: Experiences Broad based Community oganizing https://www.youtube.com/wat ch?v=NHIqTKMAZNM

16. The Pilgrimage – an Expression of faith  Making a pilgrimage is an important expression of devotion for many Buddhists, Christians, Hindus, Jews and Moslems  The Hajj – an obligatory religious observance for Moslems  Many Christians revere Jerusalem, Rome and Santiago de Compostela as holy sites worthy of pilgrimage The most pilgrims have similar Necessities Room and board for every day Risks en route: illness, lost luggage and sore feet Probably funds 240 million pilgrims per year all over the world BExperiences: Pligrimage Involved in the society

17. People in modern pilgrimage, from all over the world... … want a real break, time to themselves, quickest way: “on foot” … sense the spiritual power along the way and in the holy places... are open to see the need and act on it – cultural of sharing The Way of St. James is “the Way to know yourself” In former times, religious orders tended to itinerant travellers. Nowadays, volunteers have taken their place and render different kinds of compassionate service. Such volunteers are a bridge between the ancient and the new ages. The Way of Saint James, more than just a journey: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TJr2FzPnn1A https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TJr2FzPnn1A BExperiences: Pligrimage Involved in the society

18. . There are St.James‘ way s all over Europe. Pilgrims still wend their way to Santiago d.C. from all over the world – to the tomb of the Apostle James. BExperiences: Pligrimage Involved in the society

19. The St. Martin of Tours Way or the Via Sancti Martini Saint Martin of Tours has been in Europe's collective consciousness since the 4 th C. He was a tireless traveller around Europe throughout his entire life, a European ahead of his time, a man who symbolised the universal value of sharing.  Born in 316 in Pannonia (Hungary), to pagan parents  Raised in Pavia, Italy; his father served in the Roman army  337: Stationed in Amiens, France, Martin reputedly cut his cloak in twain and gave half to a poor man, who was dying of cold. His faith revealed to him, he became a Christian.  354: Martin stopped serving in the Roman Army  371 – 397: Bishop of Tours: Founded parishes, visited sick and imprisoned, pleaded to spare life  Buried on 11 th November 397 in Tours BExperiences: Pligrimage Involved in the society

20. 2016 will see the 1,700th anniversary of St. Martin’s birth. By then, various opportunities for sharing will be set up all along the Cultural Route of St. Martin. Caritas is even involving refugees, people of lesser means, the disabled, the older generation and those who are homeless. “Way Stations of Sharing” along the Green Route are in the planning stage. Volunteer assignments for the St. Martin’s Routes include:  On-the-spot Sharing: “Dividing your Cloak Today”  Establishing and signposting the route  Active groups: St. Martin’s parishes, kindergartens, Caritas and others...  In Germany: 600 churches, 500 Caritas … many streets, places, schools and at least many persons named Martin Towards a “Culture of Sharing” in Europe. BExperiences: Pligrimage Involved in the society

21. Church in the Community: Volunteering and Faith A Backgrounds BContribution of the German Caritas: - Caritas and Pastoral involved in the city - Broad based Community Organizing - Rural area: Pilgrimage with places for sharing CCurrent Challenge: Give Refugees hope 25 years reunification in Germany – role of the church

22. C Current Challenge: Give Refugees hope Statistics: Refugees in Europe and Germany Refuges in Berlin: Average per day: in August: 173 Jan – August: 86 Total: 24.100 Refuges In Munich: 12th Sept: 2000 refuges that day! Refuges to Germany: 155.000 Jan –June 2015

23. C Current Challenge: Refugees in Europe

24. 4. Churches and Volunteers in the district together: A wave of solidarity in Germany Walking from Hungary to Austria: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BLGe96aX9qE Welcome in Munich: http://youtu.be/dvNEg8NNOc4http://youtu.be/dvNEg8NNOc4 Kloster Weingarten: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p5u-0_wrAqQ Volunteers: http://www.refugees-welcome.net C Current Challenge: Welcome Refugees

25. 4. Churches and Volunteers: Culture of welcome “I was a stranger and you received me in your home” (Math 25:35) - Spontaneous help: See the need and act on it! - Continuous commitment of parishes and Caritas to refugees - Social consultation / Networking - Regular voluntary help: Language training, daily support… - Offer a place to stay in the parish (in a monastery / convent) - To support finding a job, support with translations - Offering voluntary activity – doing something together - Invitation to events, making excursions … Open questions concerning the future. C Current Challenge: Welcome Refugees

26. Broad-based Community Organizing The Role of the churches in peaceful revolution in Germany: Pastor Christian Führer, Nikolai-Church Leipzig, - Prayers for peace each Monday evening, from Sept. 1989 - There followed demonstrations in the streets - non violent - Each Monday more people joined the peace prayer - 7 th October 1989: 40 th anniversary of the DDR – a demonstration was knocked down by police violence - 9 th October: 70,000 people came - the beginning of the end https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YcTemZiEwXg - 11 th November 1989: 500,000 attended Monday Demo Leipzig

27. Pope Francis: Pastoral in large cities (Nov. 2014): Christianity needs a change in the mentality 1.The change in the pastoral: The courage to testify Jesus 2.The multicultural challenge: The courage of the Apostle Paulus to understand different cultures (Patheon Rome) 3.The popular belief: Discover the authentic faith of the people 4.At all times: The Lord speaks to us by poor people! What about Korea? Does Christianity needs a change? A Backgrounds

28. Final word “I would like to express my deep gratitude … to the millions of Catholic volunteers who contribute, regularly and generously, to the Church’s charitable mission throughout the world.” At the present time, marked as it is by crises and uncertainty, your commitment is a reason for confidence, since it shows that goodness exists and that it is growing in our midst. The faith of all Catholics is surely strengthened when they see the good that is being done in the name of Christ (cf. Philem 6).” (Pope Bendedict XVI, Address to Cor Unum, EYV 2011 )

29. Broad-based Community Organizing Many thanks for your attention! For further information: Book: Volunteer. Make a difference. Momentum from 2001+10! (Ed. E.Baldas, J.Nuño M, R.Roth, Freiburg 2012) Goals of the German Caritas Association, 1996 http://www.caritas-germany.org/germancaritasassociation/ourgoals/goals Questions: eugen.baldas@iave.org