CARITAS @ PARISH 

Vision : Laity of the parish is involved in charity. (love thy neighbour)

Mission :To promote active participation in works of mercy and to practise the Catholic preference for the poor and marginalised.

PARISH OFFICE FOR HUMAN DEVELOPMENT (CARITAS POHD / *SSVP)

Function :  (in any parish where there is only SSVP then SSVP will also perform these functions)

1. To coordinate the activities of the different organisations / ministries / societies at the parish level towards a continual involvement in  Integral Human Development and social awareness in serving the poor and doing justice.

2. To deepen the understanding of the vision, goals and objectives of the Diocesan Pastoral Plan with regards to Integral Human Development within the parish.

3. To study and look at matters related to the pastoral priorities of the parish in  Integral Human Development and to make proposals to the Parish Office that will meet the needs of the basic communities.

4. To raise social awareness, promote justice and alleviate suffering as a constitutive part of evangelization through education, formation programmes and social communication.

5. To initiate projects that will be at the service of the needy.

6. To implement and help the Parish with the Lenten Campaign during Lent and to carry out the related evaluations.

7. To set up the relevant structures/sub-committees to review project applications and to monitor their implementation and progress.

8. To prepare and present an annual budget to the Parish Pastoral Council and Caritas MJD for the running of the Parish Office for Human Development by  30 September of each and every year.

9. To assist the poor and marginalised within the parish.

Structure of POHD: 

1. The POHD shall be formed with the approval of the Parish Priest after his consultation with the Parish Pastoral Council. The Parish priest will be the Presider.

2. All organisations in the Parish involved in the area of Charity, Human Development and Social Justice shall send a representative to help in the formation of the POHD and to be a representative of the POHD.

3. The Parish Priest in consultation with the Parish Pastoral Council shall appoint the Chairperson and the members of the POHD.

4. The Chairperson of the POHD and one other member of the POHD shall sit on the Vicariate (District) coordinating body.

Determination of membership of the POHD :

1. On the expiry of the term of appointment which is for two years.

2. On a member submitting his/her letter of resignation to and being accepted by the Parish Priest.

3. The Parish Priest can, after consultation with the Diocesan Bishop remove a member with just cause, by requesting the member to resign. Should the member fail to comply with the request, his/her appointment shall be terminated by the Parish Priest.

4. If the member fails to attend three (3) POHD meetings consecutively without giving reasonable reasons for such absence.

Change of Parish Priest :

The in-coming Parish Priest shall be under no obligation to retain the existing members of the POHD. Subject to the approval of the Diocesan Bishop/Delegate, he may determine the members of the existing POHD and subsequently thereto appoint new.

Duties of the Chairperson, Secretary and Treasurer of the POHD :

1. The Chairperson shall chair meetings

2. The members of the POHD shall elect one of their members to stand-in for the Chairperson in the event of the latter’s absence at any meeting.

3. The Secretary shall keep a written record of all POHD meetings and shall be responsible for all correspondence, the minutes of all meetings and shall prepare the Annual Report of the POHD.

4. The Treasurer shall maintain and keep the books of accounts of the POHD; shall issue authorised payments only and shall prepare the reports on the finances of the POHD.

5. One member shall be appointed to represent the Parish at the Caritas Vicariate Coordinators meeting.

Meetings :

1. The POHD shall meet once a month or as frequently as may be deemed necessary.

2. The POHD shall hold its Annual General Meeting before the Annual General Meeting of Caritas MJD. It should be on a date to be determined by its members.

3. The POHD should work towards presenting its annual budget for the running of the POHD to the Parish Pastoral Council and to the Caritas MJD Board of Management in September in each and every year.

Quorum and Voting Power :

1. One third of the POHD membership present shall constitute a quorum.

2. Decisions taken by the POHD shall be by a simple majority. In the event of a tie, the Chairperson shall have the casting vote.

3. The limit of the POHD to grant financial aid is RM 600 /- per month per family. Any sum exceeding this amount needs the approval of the parish priest.

Annual Report and Accounts :

       The POHD shall, not later than two weeks after its Annual General Meeting, submit a copy of its Annual Report and Statement of Accounts / Audited Accounts to the Caritas MJD Board of Management.

Spiritual Advisor :

     The Parish Priest shall be the Spiritual Advisor of the POHD and shall advise and guide its members in the activities of the POHD.