SAINT JAMES’S CATHEDRAL CARITAS GROUP

What is ‘Caritas’?

‘Caritas’ is a volunteer service that provides support to those in need. Information about the items required by the ones in need and the necessary pastoral care is regularly collected and communicated to parish members, by displaying it on the parish ‘Caritas’ board and publishing it on the parish ‘Caritas’ Facebook page. Anyone of good will can join the ‘Caritas’ service.

How to contribute?

To contribute with material support or service, please contact the coordinator and pastoral consultant of the Saint James’s Cathedral ‘Caritas’ group, Anžella Roze-Jumiķe, at +371 26156406.

The Saint James’s Cathedral parish ‘Caritas’ thanks the parish and benefactors for their donations and invites to continue to support the most vulnerable members of our community, as the Holy Scriptures contain the following Lord’s promise: ‘Each of you should give what you have decided in your heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. And God is able to bless you abundantly, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work.’ (2 Corinthians 9:7-8).

Since the beginning of his pontificate, Pope Francis has paid particular attention to the poor and has, in one of his addresses, reminded us of essential questions we can ask ourselves: ‘Do I clothe them and know how to comfort them?’ He links these questions to listening to the Holy Spirit and purifying one’s inner temple [1]. Care for the poor has also been a focus of the Archbishop of Riga, Z. Stankiewicz, since he took office in 2010, thus aligning the perspectives of the pontiff and the archbishop.

By shifting the emphasis from scrupulous concern solely for individual moral purity—which is often misunderstood as isolating oneself from others—to reaching out to fellow human beings, the Pope highlights ancient divine commands recorded in the Old Testament, which Christ reaffirmed in the New Testament through His life, death, and resurrection. In Leviticus 19:13 and Deuteronomy 24:14-21, the Lord commands the timely payment of wages to workers and care for orphans and widows, so they do not cry out to heaven. Jesus clearly outlines the criteria by which each person’s deeds will be weighed on Judgment Day: ‘Then the King will reply, “Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me”’ (Matthew 25:40). The Lord mentions groups of people to whom we often approach reluctantly—prisoners, the sick, and the naked. One of the organizations in the Church that provides practical help to these people is ‘Caritas Internationalis,’ in Latvia known as ‘Caritas Latvija,’ which includes the Caritas group of Saint Jacob’s Cathedral.

For the Caritas group at Saint Jacob’s Cathedral in Riga, the Pope’s focus on the poor and their needs is very significant. His words, along with the support of the archbishop and parish clergy, provide spiritual strength and assurance that the chosen direction of work is correct. The Pope emphasizes the need for a balanced approach to aiding the poor, reminding us that ‘our duty is not only to give bread but also to share our faith with them,’ [2] including them in the life of the Church.

The Cathedral’s Caritas group has been active for several years, embodying this synthesis of material and spiritual care. They primarily care for individuals with special needs, providing not only for their daily needs but also offering a spiritual ‘table’ once a month, because as it is stated in the Old Testament: ‘… man shall not live by bread alone; but man lives by every word that proceeds from the mouth of the LORD’ (Deuteronomy 8:3).

During these meetings, the needy receive not only food and other essentials but also gather for Bible studies on various relevant topics such as Complaints, Fears, Anger, Suffering, and God’s Love, along with communal prayer and worship, Christian film screenings, and the opportunity to take home Bible verses—many say that the words of Scripture speak to them personally. Both the Caritas group’s beneficiaries and parish members can receive free pastoral counseling.

On November 19, 2017, in response to Pope Francis’s initiative, the parish celebrated the World Day of the Poor. The parish’s poor participated in the Holy Mass and received gifts from Caritas volunteers and other parish members. The beneficiaries overcame their shyness, were ready to sit in the front rows, and were able to bear witness. In 2018, the observance of World Day of the Poor at Saint Jacob’s Cathedral was combined with the centenary celebrations of the state—after the Holy Mass, caregivers and beneficiaries gathered for a festive meal with the archbishop and parish clergy to give thanks for what is a gift from God—our country, the opportunity to be together, and to pray. The Pope’s established Day of the Poor was also celebrated last year, thus establishing a tradition. One might question whether it is possible to celebrate poverty and need, or whether this is the goal of the Pope’s call. Neither the Holy Scriptures nor the Pope glorify poverty as a value to be celebrated, but this new tradition aims to awaken respect for those who have fallen into poverty and cannot manage their lives alone, reminding us that we all—rich and poor, healthy and sick—are created in the image and likeness of God.

The balanced approach to caring for the poor has already borne beautiful fruits—several of Caritas’s beneficiaries have received Church sacraments, and many have become diligent volunteers at parish events.

Prepared by:

Stella Jurgena