Secours Catholique is a humanitarian association of the Catholic Church which acts in France and internationally to fight against poverty and exclusion. It engages in health, food aid or emergency aid in the event of war or natural disasters.
Secours Catholique is a French humanitarian association of the Catholic Church created in 1946 for fight against poverty and exclusion to uphold social justice. It bases its action on the Gospel and the social doctrine of the Church. Secours Catholique acts in various fields in France and abroad (access to housing, education, food aid, women’s rights, war, natural disasters, etc.). What is Secours Catholique? What are his actions? Who is entitled to Secours Catholique? How donate or pledge with Secours Catholique? What differences with the Secours populaire?
History: what is Secours Catholique?
Secours Catholique France is a association of the Catholic Church fighting against poverty, inequality and exclusion. It is founded on 8 September 1946 by the Assembly of Cardinals and Archbishops (ACA) during the pilgrimage of the return of the prisoners of the Second World War to Lourdes. The responsibility is entrusted to the father John Rodhain (died February 1, 1977). Secours Catholique was recognized as a public utility in 1962 and declared Great national cause in 1988 (official label awarded each year by the Prime Minister to a non-profit organization). Secours Catholique France has three branches in Paris, Jerusalem and Lourdes. Since June 2021, Véronique Devise chairs Secours Catholique.
► In 1951, Secours Catholique took part in the creation of the Caritas Internationalis confederation which today brings together 165 organizations on all continents.
► Secours Catholique created, on April 30, 2009, the Caritas France Foundation.
What are the actions of Secours Catholique?
Secours Catholique aims to fight against poverty, social inequalities and exclusion. The association mobilizes for actions in France (housing, food aid, health, women’s rights, education etc) and abroad (wars, conflicts and natural disasters). At the same time, Secours Catholique calls on elected officials and institutions through citizen action groups, demonstrations, campaigns mobilization to improve access to fundamental rights for all people in precarious situations. The areas of action of Secours Catholique in France include:
- housing and fuel poverty
- isolation and mobility
- children’s education and leisure
- reintegration of former prisoners
- the social connection
- migrants and their rights
- the social rights of precarious households
- access to employment and training
- food aid
Some examples of missions and interventions of Secours Catholique since its creation:
► In March 1947, Secours Catholique collected clothes, food, games, etc. for concentration camp survivors, prisoners and children.
► In December 1947, Jean Rodhain surrendered in Egypt to help in the fight against cholera. It’s here Secours Catholique’s first international mission.
► In November 1948, foster care (now AFV Family Holiday Home) allow children from poor families to go on vacation.
► In March 1948, Secours Catholique launched the “Cradles Campaign” : donations of baby bottles, milk, cradles etc. to the poorest families.
► In April 1952, Secours Catholique launched the “Home campaign“: renovations of housing for the homeless and creation of construction funds.
► In December 1954, Secours Catholique created the first Relief City to welcome the homeless in the 7th arrondissement of Paris.
► In 1969, Secours Catholique took part in the airlift set up in Biafra (Nigeria) in the midst of war in order to send food to populations in a situation of famine.
► In 1989, Secours Catholique campaigned for the establishment of the Minimum integration income (RMI).
► From 1992 to 1995, Secours Catholique welcomed in France the refugees from the city of Sarajevo, victims of the war in Bosnia and Herzegovina. The association’s volunteers also provide assistance on site.
► In September 2001, the AZF factory in Toulouse explodes. Secours Catholique sets up an emergency unit for victims (psychological support and assistance with rehousing).
► On December 26, 2004, a tsunami hits Indonesia, Sri Lanka, India and Thailand. Secours Catholique organizes a reconstruction site and emergency projects. 38 million euros are collected.
► In 2009, Secours Catholique took part in the Solidarity night for accommodation in Place de la République.
► On January 12, 2010, an earthquake hits Haiti. Secours Catholique is mobilized on the spot.
► Secours Catholique is mobilizing in the “Jungle of Calaisto help migrants in France.
► In October 2015, the regions around Nice are hit by floods. Secours Catholique intervened in an emergency and continued its mobilization for 3 months.
► In 2020: from the start of the Covid-19 epidemic, Secours Catholique is mobilizing to help the poorest (food collection, distribution of parcels, hotline, etc.).
► February 24, 2022, start of the war in Ukraine. Secours Catholique distributes blankets, drinking water, food, care and renovates housing.
► In February 2023, several earthquakes ravage cities in Syria and Turkey. Secours Catholique is mobilized (donations of food and water, medicines, renovation of housing) to provide emergency aid to the populations affected by these earthquakes.
Who is entitled to Secours Catholique?
Anyone in a situation of precariousness and/or exclusionany victim of a natural disaster, all refugees (climatic or war) can benefit from the help of Secours Catholique which comes to the aid of the most deprived “without distinction of race, religion or nationality“.
There are different ways to help Secours Catholique:
- Become volunteer by filling in the form online (desired missions, availability, etc.)
- Disseminate commitments Secours Catholique (gatherings and demonstrations, social networks, etc.)
- Buy products on the solidarity shop of Secours Catholique, Good morning.
There are several ways to help Secours Catholique financially.
► By doing a donation
- a one-time donation by credit card, Paypal or check
- a regular donation by direct debit
- A online donation
► By transmitting part of your heritage
- legacy
- life insurance
- donations
► By becoming patron through a company
- with financial support
- by making staff available for specific missions
What is the Secours Catholique logo?
In 2013, Secours Catholique adopted its new logo. The square format and white on blue is more readable to highlight the “Caritas Internationalis” network and the Caritas Foundation.
What is the difference between Secours Populaire and Secours Catholique?
The Secours Populaire is a French non-profit association created in 1945 whose objective is to fight against poverty and exclusion and to promote solidarity. The missions concern the same areas as those of Secours Catholique, the difference residing in the fact that Secours Catholique depends on the Church. (the Secours Populaire no).
Sources:
– website of Catholic Relief
– website of People Relief