Walking the World for CAFOD

Good Shepherd Catholic Primary School in Arnold, Nottingham held their annual sponsored walk for CAFOD in early October, when pupils and staff were sponsored to walk around the playground and large sports field.

Pupils at Good Shepherd School enjoy their sponsored walk.

This year’s event was extra special because they were joined by three visiting teachers from their link school, Szilagyi Erszebet Kereszteny Altalanos School, in Veszprem, central Hungary.  This was their first opportunity to see an English Catholic school in action and the visitors were fascinated by the concept of a sponsored walk!

The headteacher of the Hungarian school, Halmay Gyorgy, said “We too are a Christian School. Christianity shows itself in different ways in different countries. We would like to build everything that is good into our Christian lives and community, and because of this we are eager to learn from this experience of fund raising. We would like to be able to introduce a similar event into our school.”

Visitors from Erszebet Kereszteny Altalanos School, Hungary join in the fun.

Margaret Williams, RE Coordinator at Good Shepherd, who organised the walk, was delighted that the event went so well and also raised £1700 for CAFOD.  She said “It is a privilege to be able to welcome our Hungarian colleagues to our school and to share the different strengths that both cultures enjoy. It would be fantastic if, as a result of their visit, they too become fundraisers for CAFOD”

CAFOD remembered at 80th birthday celebration

Fr Tony Colebrook, based at Our Lady, Star of the Sea, Immingham, has recently celebrated his 80th birthday. The day was marked by a party at Corpus Christi Community Centre, Cleethorpes, where Fr Tony was joined by a packed hall of family, friends and parishioners. The party was a great event with a generous shared table so that everyone could eat their fill!

In true Catholic tradition, the celebration included a raffle. At Fr Tony’s suggestion, the proceeds were sent to CAFOD, his favourite charity, and will be used for the East Africa appeal. He said “CAFOD has been doing charitable work for as long as I can remember, doing magnificent work without any fuss or bother.”

Our thanks to Fr Tony for making CAFOD part of his 80th birthday celebration and to everyone who supported this event.

Fr Tony Colebrook at his 80th birthday celebration in Cleethorpes.

Lincoln painters supporting CAFOD

Lincoln watercolour painters supporting CAFOD

A CAFOD supporter at St Hugh’s, Lincoln has recently started a new watercolour painting group. The group brings together fourteen beginners (who have never painted before) and a few more experienced painters. Funds are raised for CAFOD from a small termly fee and donations for tea and coffee. As the group develops, they also hope to sell some of their artwork for CAFOD.

We would like to thank St Hugh’s for this initiative and hope that everyone involved finds it an enjoyable way of supporting CAFOD. There have already been a few enquiries for the next intake in September, so it looks like this is going to be a popular and successful group.

Green fingered CAFOD supporters host Gardener’s Question Time

CAFOD supporters at Our Lady of Good Counsel, Eastwood have joined with friends from St Mary’s Christian Aid group, Greasley for a Gardener’s Question Time event.

John Stirland, from BBC Radio Nottingham, and Marie Lowe take the stage

The evening was hosted by John Stirland, BBC Radio Nottingham’s gardening guru. He was joined on the platform by Marie Lowe, a local CAFOD supporter and keen flower arranger.  The funds raised from food and raffle prizes were shared by CAFOD and Christian Aid. The CAFOD donation will be used to support projects in Rwanda.

A great evening was had by all, and we hope that the gardens of Eastwood will be even brighter this year after the event!

Loughborough Young People supporting CAFOD

Young people at St Mary's tucking into their 'poor man's lunch'

Young people from St Mary’s Parish, Loughborough have been supporting CAFOD with a Poor Man’s lunch, organised by the parish youth group.  Our thanks to all the young people and to the youth leaders for their hard work in making the event a success!

Children sleep rough for CAFOD

Pupils at Good Shepherd Primary School, Arnold, Nottingham have spent a night sleeping rough to raise awareness of homelessness and raise money for CAFOD.  150 children, aged 5-11, gave up their beds in exchange for a cardboard box on the floor of the school hall. 

The night began with supper from the school “soup kitchen”.  After watching a film together, the children took part in a Liturgy for the homeless led by headteacher, Mr Whittle. Later in the evening, their Parish Priest, Fr John Sherrington, said bedtime prayers. 

After a busy and fun evening, the children settle down for the night

There was a lovely atmosphere as the children helped each another to settle down – laughing, chatting and enjoying  their torch lights together.  One 5 year old boy, when asked what he had enjoyed most, merely said “When can we be homeless again?”

Margaret Williams, RE co-ordinator at the school said “This was a very enjoyable and worthwhile event where the whole community worked together to make it successful.”

Alf Lees on CAFOD’s ‘Get Down to Business’ Campaign

CAFOD Supporters Alf and Lynda Lees, who are also keen ballroom dancers!

This Lent, CAFOD’s ‘Get Down to Business’ Campaign is focusing on small business in developing countries and the tremendous opportunity they provide for development.  Funds from this year’s Lent Fast Day will support people starting small businesses, for example by providing a small loan or equipment such as seeds or livestock. 

Local businessman Alf Lees, who runs Henry Lees Environmental Services in Breaston with his wife, Lynda, explains why the campaign is so important: ““To start a business people need confidence. They need a mentor to help them start and develop. CAFOD provides expertise and technical know-how. It provides people with the means to help themselves. Money alone is never a solution”.

CAFOD’s message this Lent is that small businesses can give men and women, living in poverty, an opportunity for dignity, self-respect and security for the future. The can also provide a safety net during tough economic times – such as the global financial crisis.

Supporters can take action by signing a campaign card calling on Andrew Mitchell MP, Secretary of State for International Development, to ‘Get Down to Business’ this Lent and back small businesses in the developing world.

Briars Visitors Build World Gifts Village

Young people at the Briars give their spare change to CAFOD

Generous young people going on retreat to the Diocesan Youth Centre in Crich have been supporting CAFOD’s World Gifts programme.

The team at Crich have created a village scene in the Tuck Shop and are encouraging young people to put their spare change in the CAFOD tin.  At the end of their retreat, the young people vote for what they want to buy from the World Gifts catalogue. These items are then added to the village  with a label showing the name of their group.  They have had great fun making model pigs and goats etc!

Thanks to these secondary schools and parish groups for taking part so far:-

St Martin’s School – Stoke Golding, De Lisle School – Loughborough, Our Lady’s Convent School – Loughborough, St Francis Parish Confirmation Group – Long Eaton, All Saints School – Mansfield, The Becket School – Nottingham, The Trinity School, – Nottingham, Christ the King School – Nottingham, St Bede’s School – Scunthorpe, St Benedict School – Derby, St John Houghton School – Ilkeston,

 The village is filling up nicely and we are grateful to all the visitors to Crich for their generosity!

Pakistan: Facing mudslides (via CAFOD blog)

Donate to our Pakistan appeal Donate to the DEC Pakistan Floods appeal We faced the first mudslide that blocked the road just two miles from the Catholic Relief Services (CRS) office in Besham, Pakistan.  After this we started our journey to Dubair on foot. On the way we passed six big landslides and many small ones. The local community made a temporary bridge from electrical utility poles which is only for walking, not cars. During our journey w … Read More

via CAFOD blog

Budget response from CAFOD director Chris Bain – Aid: not goodwill, but a moral imperative

Within George Osborne’s Emergency Budget, was some good news. The UK is sticking to its targets on aid, with the Chancellor honouring commitments to the world’s poorest people.

CAFOD Director, Chris Bain

The domino effect of the recession is hitting the poorest countries hard, robbing people of their ability to progress and in some cases survive. Those who are least to blame for the economic crisis are suffering most because of it – and find it harder than ever to earn a living as they feel the effects of climate change. In these circumstances, giving aid is not a question of goodwill – it is a moral imperative.

These are difficult times and the economic storm continues, but Britain has held its nerve. Now it needs to get its wealthy peers, France, Italy and other members of the G8 meeting this weekend in Muskoka, Canada, to do likewise, and proudly support the poorest at their time of greatest need.