One Human Family without Poverty and Hunger

Alay Kapwa is the Lenten Evangelization-Action Program of the Philippine Catholic Church created in 1975 by the Catholic bishops.

As social action ministry of the CBCP, the National Secretariat for Social Action, Justice and Peace (CBCP-NASSA) is committed to transform a society enlivened by the Gospel values of justice and peace, and love for our brothers and sisters in Christ with preferential option for the least marginalized.

Alay Kapwa means offering (alay) to our neighbor (kapwa) especially the poor and the oppressed who are and what we have as an expression of our solidarity in the plight towards integral salvation.  Christ death on the cross has been the guiding strength to offer oneself to others in sharing one’s time, talent and treasure.

Contributions to the Alay Kapwa are utitlized to support and sustain social action initiatives on peace advocacy, good governance, sustainable agriculture, women and children’s rights, disaster management and other developmental concerns.

For the past six years or less, contributions are almost exhausted to the victims of disasters especially typhoons.

In the Archdiocese of Davao, since the Archdiocesan Disaster Preparedness Program is being established this year, the education component of the campaign is much more to promote awareness and the need to deepen the preparation for disaster to start with the training this May.

ASAC Davao hopes that the fruits of the sacrifices from alms-giving be focused on the establishment of Disaster Funds at the level of GKKs, Schools, Parishes and the Archdiocese through the spirit of sharing and that prayer and reflection deepen our understanding that disasters are not wraths from God but mostly consequences of “not so good” stewards of God’s grace.

The theme, “One Human Family without Poverty and Hunger” is a call of the Caritas all over the world to respond the social issues regarding the scandal of poverty. It intends to awaken the faithful in their part of eradicating the continuing crisis of hunger and poverty that puts a monumental challenge to the Church (2014 National Campaign Facilitator’s Guide & Alay Kapwa Concept Paper).