Fidesco International
Jean Luc Moens, President of Fidesco International
We are especially grateful to the
Holy Father for proclaiming a day of reflection on the occasion of the
European Year of Voluntary Service with the collaboration of the
Pontifical Council “Cor Unum”. In effect, it is very important to
emphasize that many Catholics dedicate themselves to voluntary service
in our society, with discretion and often in places of great suffering.
On our part, as an organization that sends volunteers trained for
international solidarity, we consider that such an event can give rise
to new vocations of self-giving and service, especially among young
people who have a great
potential
for generosity and who try to live up to their ideals. Pope Benedict XVI
has placed his pontificate under the sign of charity by publishing his
Encyclical “Deus Caritas Est” in 2005. The Audience of November 11
coincides with this priority of the Pope, which is to promote an
authentic charity, rooted in the heart of God. We hope that the appeal,
which he will make on that occasion may touch the heart of many young
people, helping them to fulfill their choice of voluntary service, of
service to the poor, of sharing the talents that they have received and
in this way, they may discover that “there is more joy in giving than
receiving” (Act 20,35). This is the reason why the presence of young
volunteers with the Pope on the occasion of this event seems especially
important.
Food Bank Foundation
Marco Lucchini, President of Food Bank
In the Encyclical “Spe Salvi”, the
Holy Father enlightens us with these words: “First of all, we must
acknowledge that incremental progress is possible only in the material
sphere. [...] Yet in the field of ethical awareness and moral
decision-making, there is no similar possibility of accumulation for the
simple reason that man's freedom is always new and he must always make
his decisions anew. [...] Freedom presupposes that in fundamental
decisions, every person and every generation is a new beginning.” 24
I think that volunteering service is one of the most meaningful human
expresions of freedom. In this period of social crisis, I find it
necessary to deepen the reasons of my commitment towards the suffering,
in order not to end up drifted by cynism and disappointment since all my
effort does not seem to serve any purpose. I am looking
forward
to this important event and especially to the words of the Holy Father
as the possibility for a new beginning to strengthen my faith in Christ
in my daily behavior, in a time where it seems that the fundamental law
of human life is “Carpe Diem” and not Charity.
