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Who is Caritas Mariana?
Caritas Mariana is a christian-based charitable organization that
was founded in September 2001 at Vienna Austria. The organization
was formed with sole purpose of helping the poor and the needy
around the world.
What is the meaning of "Caritas Mariana"?
The word Caritas means charity. Mariana means Mary, Mother of Christ
“Mary, the Mother of Christ, is the model of perfect Charity.
Our charitable engagement is an epitome of Mary´s life
of perfect charity. So we are called CARITAS MARIANA”!
Our Mission
Encouraging everyone to engage in activities that promote the eradication of poverty from the lives of the underprivileged
Providing slum dwellers with education and healthier alternatives to drug
abuse, prostitution, and other self-destructive activities
Encouraging everyone to develop the spirits of knowing and serving the only true God, our creator.
Equipping the poor in the third world with
skills that will help to ensure self-sustenance and self-development.
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There is an old proverb that says:
"Give a man a fish and you only feed him for a day.
Teach a man to fish and you feed him for the rest
of his life."
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Our Goals
In line with the above stated vision
and mission we intend to:
To construct orphanages and schools for
homeless and needy children
To build vocational training centers which
will provide the poor with practical skills for getting job
To operate health centers in areas
especially affected by HIV/AIDS, and to offer counseling on drug abuse,
responsible parenting and other health matters.
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Our strategy to implement each of
the goals stated above, will be to give priority to
those areas that are worst affected by the problems
of homelessness, unemployment and the HIV/AIDS epidemic. |
The Director General of Caritas Mariana
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| Father. Abdias (Bethrand Nwachukwu), was born in a poor Catholic family
in the remote village of Ekwerazu Town, Imo state, Nigeria.
After finishing secondary school, he
traveled to Spain where he began training for his Priestly
vocation. Before embarking on his religious mission, Nwachukwu
was a professional footballer in Africa. |
Three years after his ordination, he received the inspiration
to serve and care for the poor by living among them instead
of staying in the tranquility of a Closter. When seeking permission
from his superiors to carry out his mission, he was granted
permission only on the condition that he would have to proceed
alone without any help from the community. But his burning compassion
and strong determination to help those in need prompted him
to leave the community and place himself completely at the mercy
of Divine providence.
Father Abdias’s driving philosophy is, “WITH GOD,
ALL THINGS ARE POSSIBLE FOR THOSE WHO BELIEVE”. With this
deceptively simple conviction, he has been able to manifest
a number of social service and welfare developmental activities
that are nothing short of miraculous. In addition to this belief,
his strategy for achieving his aims is this: Working with one
or two persons with the same ideas and the right attitudes towards
the same goal, will enable one to attain more success than working
with many different persons, with diverse intentions and diverse
aims.
With his unshakeable faith in Divine Providence, he was led
to meet two key persons with the similar ambition and vision,
Burga and Tina from Austria. Later on Divine Providence sent
him two more persons who also possessed similar drives and passions:
Father Exystus and Mother Maria Fe. Together with his
initially small band of social crusaders, Father Abdias created
Caritas Mariana, an organization which is currently engaged
in the service of the poor and needy. Since then this organization
has swelled to become a group with more than 30 members from
different nationalities.
Since the foundation of Caritas Mariana there have been many
setbacks, but Father Abdias never allows himself the luxury
of depression. He remains a rock in his determination and carries
out his mission while boldly repeating his uncompromising and
mantra-like motto “FORWARD EVER, BACKWARD NEVER!”
From father Abdias’s view point, the most enthusiastic
and spirited supporters of Caritas Mariana are actually the
poor themselves. With his easy sense of humor he observes with
a laugh, “It’s just like the community of smokers.
They are very kind to each other when it comes to the business
of smoking. It does not matter who the smoker in need is, if
he can be helped with a cigarette or a light, he will be helped.
Immediately without delay! This is the situation in Caritas
Mariana. Our most effective supporters have themselves experienced
the condition of abject poverty. So they really understand in
a most intimate way, the misery of those who are now experiencing
such a state of existence.”
Notburga Fellner
Co-founder and Treasurer |
Headoffice Vienna
Wichtelgasse 45/1
1160 Wien
Austria
Tel: +43 1 905 97 21
Mobil: +43 650 260 0478
Mobil: +43 650 851 65 42
Email: office@caritasmariana.com
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Justina Leiner
Co-founder and secretary |
Robert Fuhs
Vice-President and secretary |
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Karin Dabsch
Public relations officer |
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Office Kenya
P.O. Box 3657
Thika/Kenya
Tel: +254 2080 33 178
Mobil: +254 710 757824
Mobil: +254 726 928460
Email: kenya@caritasmariana.com
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Mother Elisabeth Edior
Children's Overseer |
Caritas Mariana is open to anyone who has a desire to help
the poor achieve better standard of living. The only qualifications
necessary is an enthusiastic attitude and a developed social
consciousness. Get Involved!
Some members in Austria |
Back to the Beginning ...
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