Saturday was an incredible day. We have been working towards this day for many months. But it still felt pretty surreal, standing in Hyde Park, the Big IF G8 Rally *finally* happening.
About the author: Eilidh Macpherson is a campaigner working in London
Watch the highlights of the Big IF G8 Rally.
If you like the film, please share far and wide!
On Saturday morning 8th June I woke early and realised I had laryngitis and had lost my voice. Needed to rely on my great colleague James to do all the verbal communications when we met up with our supporters to travel to London. Undeterred this didn’t stop me making lots of noise in Hyde Park. I had my wonderful whistle. This has travelled to many rallies including of course Make Poverty History and The Wave. It was bought on the 16th May 1998 from a small stall as we left our coach and headed off into Birmingham city centre to join the rally for the Drop the Debt Jubilee Campaign . I remember thinking “ probably won’t use it” and popped it into my bag. How wrong I was. We joined thousands of people making a nine mile human chain banging pots and pans, blowing hooters and waving klaxtons, rattling chains and old wooden footy rattles ! Birmingham evokes very precious memories of the joy of uniting with like minded friends who work tirelessly for justice. Last Saturday it happened again. There was a deep well of love for humanity that united over 45,000 people in London’s Hyde Park. It gives us great hope and encouragement as we continue to dream for a world without hunger. We have enough food for everyone, yet one in eight people go to bed hungry each night.
IF we all speak out together in 2013 we can make our world leaders change the future.
A favourite hymn of mine is Breathe on me breath of God … that I may love what Thou does love, And do what Thou wouldst do…..
Even though I didn’t have a voice for the voiceless on Saturday it didn’t matter I had my breath and the wonderful whistle worked it’s magic once again !
Chris Lappine
The CAFOD Support Shop opened on Monday 1st June 1993. It poured with rain all day but business was steady and the takings totalled £160.00!
The official opening was performed by CAFOD Director Julian Filochowski on Saturday 12th June 1993. In a short ceremony, which concluded with the cutting of a CAFOD cake, Mgr George Mooney gave the shop a special blessing. MP Joe Benton, Fr Dave Gamble, Deacon Peter Callaghan, Cllr Paul Cummins and CAFOD Regional Organiser Vin McMullen.
were also present.
Julian’s message was that the shop was truly a pioneering venture, one that would be watched closely by many people in the months ahead.
20 years on the shop continues to flourish and bear great fruit for CAFOD’s family throughout the world.
At the present time Harry Wallace one of the pioneers back in 1993 pictured here with CAFOD’s Director Chris Bain isn’t too well and we would ask you to remember him in your prayers.
Pictured here Margaret and Frances part of the Tuesday Team.
Unfortunately due to illness Jan Grafius is unable to visit Our Lady’s Mayfield Avenue Widnes on Thursday 21st March.
Jan is the Curator of relics at Stoneyhurst College and has visited El Salvador three times to work on the conservation of the relics of Archbishop Romero
and the murdered Jesuits.On her first visit to San Salvador in 2007, Jan began the delicate task of examining the vestments worn by the 20th century
martyr whenhe was assassinated while celebrating Mass. She spent many hours working in the three small rooms at the Cancer Hospital of the Carmelite Sisters
where Archbishop Romero lived in great simplicity. Close by is the chapel where he was murdered on 24 March 1980.
Hopefully Jan will be able to come later in the year.
We wish her well !
Looking to refresh your wardrobe? Please come along to a “Vintage & Nearly New Clothes Fayre”
at Holy Family Parish Hall (behind Holy Family Church, Chaddock Lane, Boothstown, Manchester)
on Sunday 3rd March between 10am and 2pm and grab a bargain dress or some new accessories.
Men’s clothing will also be on sale.
All proceeds go to CAFOD.
Christ the King Church, Queens Drive, Liverpool L15 6YQ
You are warmly invited to our Mass of Thanksgiving on Thursday 12th July at 7.30pm. The Celebrants will be Archbishop Patrick Kelly and Fr Michael Fitzsimons. Music will be provided by students from Notre Dame Catholic College for the Arts.
A Mass to Celebrate 50 Years of CAFOD took place at Sts Peter & Paul Crosby on the 2nd March. The Celebrant was Fr John Furnival who was assisted by Fr John Cullen. The CAFOD Speaker was Volunteer Pierre Ngendakuma and here is what he had to say.
Thank you Fr John and to you all for the opportunity to speak with you briefly this evening about the work of CAFOD, the aid and development agency of our Catholic Community in England and Wales.
My name is Pierre Ngendakumana. I was born in Africa in a country called Burundi. This evening I’m here as a volunteer of CAFOD.
For the last fifty years, the Catholic community here in St Peter and Paul and throughout Englandand Waleshas supported CAFOD through prayer, by taking part in campaigns and by giving generously even when times were tough.
For all of this thank you. This “thank you” is coming from someone who owes most of his upbringing, his education from the early age to the work of many organisations including CAFOD and your generosity. So it is not just a CAFOD’s thanks but my own thanks as well coming from my heart.
Your support over fifty years has helped reduce the number of children dying each year before the age of five, and enabled more children to attend primary school throughout the world. However, as well as being grateful for these achievements we must remember the reality of the world in which we live.
Just one example: Water. One in eight people in the world still does not have access to clean water, and every twenty seconds a child dies from dirty water. As you can understand I’m one of the lucky ones thanks to your support through CAFOD.
The symbolism of water is used in many religions and traditions. It is believed to be the substance that all things were made from and the Bible seems to agree.
We do know how we feel when we’re thirsty. Well that feeling which is temporary if you live in countries likeEnglandand and Wales, can last days, weeks and months if you live in some of the poorest countries. In those countries water is just a dream and when it becomes a reality rather than saving lives, it kills them because it is dirty.
In this time of Lent there is a widespread Christian tradition to give up things as a physical reminder of our preparation to Easter, inspired by the Gospel account of Jesus temptation in the desert.
I’m here to thank you for the sacrifice you made for the last fifty years by: going without something on Fast Days (a meal, a treat…) in order to support others. In doing so you have saved lives of those who are forced to live without the basic necessities of every day life.
This Lent, the generosity of the Catholic community is being recognised by theUK government. Under their UK Aid Match Scheme, they will match pound for pound every donation given to CAFOD. So for every pound you’re able to give, CAFOD will receive an extra pound to help thousands more people in the poorest communities in the global south, to live sustainably and with dignity by having access to essential services and resources.
Once more thank you for your ongoing support of CAFOD’ s work.
Many thanks to the Music Group and Deacon Ernest Diggory for helping too and not forgetting those who provided the refresments !
St Mary’s Catholic Primary School in the Isle of Man had a ‘dream day’ were some of the children dressed up as what they dream to be when they are older. There were doctors, vets, singers, jockeys, boxers and cricketers. They raised a whopping £455 for Connect2: Brazil. The children are also writing Christmas cards, some even in Portuguese, for the children living in Brazil wishing them a ‘Feliz Natal’ (which means a happy Christmas)!
