Indonesian Caritas-the Archdiocese of Semarang

To respond to the Yogyakarta and Central Javan earthquake, on May 28, 2006, at 6:30pm, Mgr. Ignatius Suharyo, the archbishop of Semarang Archdiocese, invited Vicar General, Economat, the Director of JRS, Fr. Budi Susanto, SJ, Catholic Relief Service (CRS), Caritas Germany, Vicaris Episcopal, and Fr. Riana Prapdi, Pr to the High Seminary of Kentungan in order to response the earthquake impact. Other Catholic agencies such as Caritas Germany, Jesuit Refugee Service (JRS), Catholics Relief Service (CRS), and Karitas Indonesia were also in the meeting.

It was decided that Vicariate of Yogyakarta woulf become the coordinator of the emergency center. The coordination line would cover all parishes of Daerah Istimewa Yogyakarta (DIY), some parishes of Solo, and Klaten, especially Wedi, Gondang, Jombor. In the coordination meeting at Bintaran Parish, the Karitas Indonesia Keuskupan Agung Semarang (Karina Kas) was established to name the emergency center of Yogyakarta and Central Java’s earthquake.

June 12, 2006, the archbishop formally established Karitas-Indonesia or KARINA-KAS. The short name of “Karitas Indonesia”, borrowing Caritas Indonesia, but in fact it is different. Therefore, it is called Karina. Karina-KAS, a charitable service (see "Deus Caritas") established by the Archdiocese of Semarang in order to take part directly in handling humanity and nature issues (SK No. 464/A/VIII/17-06, June 12, 2006).

Objectives

1. Taking part in the process of “liberating people from all oppression”(EN 1975).2. Empowering people, especially little people, the poor, the weak, oppressed people and people with different ability. 3. Developing companionship and care to all mankind.4. Respecting people’s dignity and the unity of creation.