Singapore

Caritas encourages people to make legacy donations to support the needy and vulnerable in the city-state

Theresa Foo believes that when devout Christians like her leave the world, they find a place with Christ.

And, before the last call, Christians must leave a legacy filled with love for the sake of others who are left behind. “When I return to the Lord, I want to leave a legacy of love,” she says.

A Catholic from St. Ignatius Church in Singapore, the retired woman served as a host in the church’s hospitality ministry before the Covid-19 pandemic hit two years ago, Catholic News of the Archdiocese of Singapore reported on April 20.

She is now a board member of Caritas Singapore, the social service agency of the Catholic Church in Singapore. She regularly donates to charities and non-profit organizations in the city-state.

Foo, 78, says as a Catholic she inherits a family tradition of leaving a legacy to the Church before returning to God.

“I grew up in a Catholic family and faith is important to us. My parents left a testamentary legacy to the Catholic Church. Now it’s my turn to follow in their footsteps and continue their legacy of support,” she said.

“As we live, we receive abundant blessings through the love of our Heavenly Father. When we leave, these gifts that came from him can be entrusted to our loved ones and to his other children to make the love of God live.

“After all, we are all beneficiaries of an ancient inheritance – the inheritance of our parents and that of our Heavenly Father, who most mercifully bestowed on us his love and blessings.”

Foo’s legacy donation is one of many examples of charitable donations that Caritas Singapore is collecting during Charities Week from March 12 to May 22.

This annual fundraising campaign, with the slogan “Let’s be God’s love in action”, aims to encourage people to donate to support the work of 26 Catholic charities and member organizations in the city-state and around the world. -of the.

This year, the agency has received donations worth $2 million and by the end of the campaign, it hopes to reach the goal of raising $8 million, the agency said in a message. on Facebook.

A bequest is a special type of fundraising for Caritas Singapore. He receives inherited gifts in the form of cash, marketable assets like real estate, art, antiques, jewelry, marketable securities (bonds, stocks, exchange-traded mutual funds), insurance policies, etc. insurance and the funds of the Central Retirement Fund.

“As we live, we receive abundant blessings through the love of our Heavenly Father. When we leave, these gifts that come from him can be entrusted to our loved ones and his other children to help God’s love live on,” Caritas Singapore said in a message for Charities Week.

Inheritance is the redemption of God’s resources bestowed upon us to serve our neighbors and nourish our communities for generations to come, he said.

“By making a bequest to Caritas Singapore, the official social and community arm of the Catholic Church in Singapore, you can help support the work of our family of charities in the future and bring hope and renewal to our brothers and sisters in need,” the post read.

Caritas Singapore says it ensures judicious allocation of funds to charities after assessing their needs and ranking the highest priority causes. It provides regular reports to the donor’s family on how the bequest is being used. Each year, an independent auditor carries out an audit to ensure the proper use of all donations.

Although Singapore is one of the wealthiest countries in Asia, one in 10 people in the country live in poverty, according to the Borgen Project

Donations such as those from Legacy Gifts have become valuable resources in overcoming the disastrous socio-economic impacts of the Covid-19 pandemic.

“When Covid-19 started, some parents lost their jobs. Their families are struggling financially. More issues evolve and more violent cases can be seen,” Sandy Ang, head of student care services at Infant Jesus Homes and Children Centers in Singapore, said in a video posted by Caritas.

The centers, founded on the inspiration of the nuns of the Child Jesus, are aimed at children and young people at risk from disadvantaged and financially disadvantaged families.

Ang said Caritas sponsors the centers, while children and young people residing there receive academic, social and emotional support.

This assistance is crucial for many people. Although Singapore is one of the wealthiest countries in Asia, one in 10 people in the country live in poverty, according to the Borgen Project, a global nonprofit fighting poverty and hunger.

Archbishop William Goh of Singapore said that as followers of Jesus, Christians are called to be inclusive and support those in need and marginalized.

“Jesus as a leader is always inclusive. He came for the poor, for those who are marginalized, and for those who are seen as nobody in society. Jesus was one with them. Anyone involved in humanitarian organizations, even if she is not involved, should take an inclusive approach in her approach, especially supporting those who are weak in society, those who are vulnerable,” the Prelate said in his message for Charities Week 2022.

With the life and teaching of Jesus in mind, Theresa Foo decided to make a legacy donation to Caritas Singapore, which she believes will help provide love, care and support to those in need.

“As a Catholic, I feel it is only fitting for me to leave my legacy to a charity that cares for the poor, marginalized and disadvantaged in our society,” she said.

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