The Fraternity Campaign (in Portuguese: Campanha da Fraternidade) is an annual Lenten initiative of the Catholic Church in Brazil, organized by the National Conference of Bishops of Brazil (CNBB). Every five years, it is conducted ecumenically in partnership with other Christian denominations. Its primary objective is to raise awareness and foster solidarity among the faithful and society at large regarding a specific social issue affecting Brazil, while seeking pathways toward solutions. Each year, a theme is selected to define the concrete reality to be addressed, accompanied by a motto that outlines the desired direction for transformation.
The Campaign aims to educate for a life of fraternity, grounded in justice and love as central Gospel principles, and to renew collective responsibility for the Church's evangelizing and human promotion mission toward a just and supportive society. A tangible expression of the Campaign is the solidarity collection held on Palm Sunday, implemented nationwide across Catholic and ecumenical Christian communities. The funds raised constitute the National Solidarity Fund and Diocesan Solidarity Funds; 60% is allocated to social projects within the donating diocese, while the remaining 40% forms the National Fund, which strengthens solidarity initiatives across different regions of the country.
History In 1961, three priests responsible for Caritas Brazil conceived a campaign to raise funds for charitable activities. This initiative, named the Fraternity Campaign, was first held during Lent in 1962 in Natal, Rio Grande do Norte. The following year, it was adopted by sixteen dioceses in the Northeast. While not financially successful, this initial effort became the embryo of an annual project for the National Organizations of the CNBB and the Particular Churches in Brazil, conducted in light of the General Guidelines for the Pastoral (Evangelizing) Action of the Church in the country.
The campaign's early development was significantly influenced by the National Secretariat for Social Action of the CNBB, under which Caritas Brazil, founded in 1957, operated. At the time, the Secretariat was headed by Bishop Eugênio de Araújo Sales, who also served as President of Caritas Brazil. His role as the Apostolic Administrator of Natal explains why the campaign was first launched in that ecclesiastical jurisdiction and throughout the state of Rio Grande do Norte.
Launched nationally on December 26, 1962, under the renewing spirit of the Second Vatican Council, the campaign was first held across Brazil during Lent in 1964. The council period was fundamental for conceiving and structuring the Fraternity Campaign, alongside the Emergency Pastoral Plan and the Joint Pastoral Plan, ultimately contributing to the launch of Organic Pastoral work and other initiatives of ecclesial renewal. Over four consecutive years, during extended periods, Brazilian bishops residing together in Rome while attending Council sessions engaged in meetings, study, and exchange of experiences, which provided the fertile context for the campaign's birth and growth.
On December 20, 1964, the bishops approved the campaign's foundational document. In 1965, both Caritas and the Fraternity Campaign were transferred from the National Secretariat for Social Action to be directly linked to the CNBB's General Secretariat, marking the CNBB's full assumption of the campaign. This transition established its basic structure. By 1967, the preparation of more comprehensive annual planning materials began, and national meetings for its coordination were initiated. From 1971, the CNBB Presidency and the Episcopal Pastoral Commission also participated in these meetings. A significant milestone was reached in 1970 when the pope began delivering a message for its launch on Ash Wednesday, a practice that continues to enrich the campaign's opening.
From 1962 to the present, the Fraternity Campaign has been a broad evangelization activity developed during Lent. It aims to help Christians and people of good will live out fraternity through concrete commitments, transforming society by addressing a specific problem that requires everyone's participation in its solution. It has become a distinctive expression of liberating evangelization, simultaneously fostering the renewal of the Church's life and the transformation of society. The 2023 campaign, under the motto "Give them something to eat yourselves," faced criticism from conservative Catholic groups, such as the Centro Dom Bosco, which alleged communist influences in its foundational text.
Campaigns In the history of the Fraternity Campaign's development, several phases can be identified, which also intertwine with the history of the Catholic Church and the recent history of Brazilian society.
1st Phase: In Search of the Church's Internal Renewal
Renewal of the Church +YearThemeMotto1964Church in RenewalRemember: You are also the Church1965Parish in RenewalMake your parish a community of faith, worship, and love
Renewal of the Christian +YearThemeMotto1966FraternityWe are responsible for each other1967Co-responsibilityWe are all equal, we are all brothers1968DonationBelieve with your hands!1969FraternityFor the other person, you're next1970ParticipationTo be a Christian is to participate1971ReconciliationReconcile1972Service and VocationDiscover the joy of serving
2nd Phase: The Church is concerned with the social reality of the people, denouncing social sin and promoting justice YearThemeMotto1973Fraternity and LiberationSelfishness enslaves, love liberates1974Rebuilding LifeWhere is your brother?1975Fraternity is SharingShare the Bread1976Fraternity and CommunityWalk Together1977Fraternity in the FamilyStart in Your Home1978Fraternity in the World of WorkWork and Justice for All1979For a More Humane WorldPreserve What Belongs to Everyone1980Fraternity in the World of MigrationsWhere Are You Going?1981Health and FraternityHealth for All1982Education and FraternityThe Truth Shall Set You Free1983Fraternity and ViolenceFraternity Yes, Violence No1984Fraternity and LifeSo That All May Have Life
3rd Phase: The Church turns to the existential situations of the Brazilian people YearThemeMotto1985Fraternity and HungerBread for Those Who Are Hungry1986Fraternity and LandGod's Land, Land of Brothers1987Fraternity and the MinorWhoever Welcomes the Minor, Welcomes Me1988Fraternity and the Black PersonHear the Cry of This People!1989Fraternity and CommunicationCommunication for Truth and Peace1990Fraternity and WomenWoman and Man: Image of God1991Fraternity and the World of WorkUnited in the Dignity of Work1992Fraternity and YouthYouth – An Open Path1993Fraternity and HousingWhere Do You Live?1994Fraternity and the FamilyFamily, How Are You?1995Fraternity and the ExcludedWas It You, Lord?!1996Fraternity and PoliticsJustice and Peace Shall Embrace!1997Fraternity and the ImprisonedChrist Frees from All Prisons1998Fraternity and EducationAt the Service of Life and Hope1999Fraternity and the UnemployedWithout Work... Why?2000Human Dignity and Peace (Ecumenical)New Millennium Without Exclusions2001Fraternity and DrugsLife Yes, Drugs No!2002Fraternity and Indigenous PeoplesFor a Land Without Evils2003Fraternity and Elderly PeopleLife, Dignity, and Hope2004Fraternity and WaterWater, Source of Life2005Solidarity and Peace (Ecumenical)"Blessed are the peacemakers" (Mt 5:9)2006Fraternity and Persons with Disabilities"Stand up, come into the middle!" (Mk 3:3)2007Fraternity and the AmazonLife and Mission on This Land2008Fraternity and Defense of Life"Therefore choose life" (Dt 30:19)2009Fraternity and Public Security"Peace is the fruit of justice" (Is 32:17)2010Economy and Life (Ecumenical)"You cannot serve both God and money" (Mt 6:24)2011Fraternity and Life on the Planet"The creation groans in labor pains" (Rom 8:22)2012Fraternity and Public Health"Let health spread over the earth!" (cf. Sir 38:8)2013Fraternity and Youth"Here I am, send me!" (Is 6:8)2014Fraternity and Human Trafficking"It is for freedom that Christ has set us free" (Gal 5:1)2015Fraternity: Church and Society"I came to serve" (Mk 10:45)2016Common Home, Our Responsibility (Ecumenical)"Let justice roll on like a river, righteousness like a never-failing stream!" (Amos 5:24)2017Fraternity: Brazilian Biomes and Defense of Life"Cultivate and care for creation" (Gen 2:15)2018Fraternity and Overcoming Violence"You are all brothers" (Mt 23:8)2019Fraternity and Public Policies"You will be redeemed by justice and right" (Is 1:27)2020Fraternity and Life: Gift and Commitment"He saw him, took pity, and cared for him" (cf. Lk 10:33-34)2021Fraternity and Dialogue: Commitment of Love (Ecumenical)"Christ is our peace. He made the two groups one." (Eph 2:14)2022Fraternity and Education"Speak with wisdom, teach with love." (cf. Pr 31:26)2023Fraternity and Hunger“You give them something to eat” (Mt 14:16)2024Fraternity and Social Friendship"You are all brothers and sisters" (Mt 23:8)2025Fraternity and Integral Ecology"God saw all that he had made, and it was very good!" (Gen 1:31)2026Fraternity and Housing"And he made his dwelling among us!" (Jn 1:14) See also
Catholic Church in Brazil Social issues in Brazil
References
External links
Fraternity Campaign on the CNBB website (in Portuguese)