REMEMBERING THE FOUNDING OF CAFOD

The Catholic Agency for Overseas Development was born when members of the National Board of Catholic Women organised the first Family Fast Day in 1960, in response to a devastating hurricane in the Caribbean. Two years later, CAFOD was officially registered.    On Saturday 28 January 2012, on a grey winter afternoon, Westminster Cathedral was packed to capacity with vibrancy and joyful voices for a special Mass of Thanksgiving for the work of  CAFOD over the past 50 years.     Among the 1,500 strong congregation were CAFOD workers and supporters from the UK and beyond, together with representatives of international Caritas agencies. The Catholic Women's League was nationally represented, including 100 members of the Portsmouth Diocese branch. Of these, 15 ladies, including Ellen and Joan, had braved the chill to travel up from the Lymington Section.

The principal celebrant was the Archbishop of Westminster, Vincent Nichols, with more than 18 bishops and 30 priests concelebrating. Among them were the Archbishop of Birmingham, the Anglican Bishop of Winchester and the Apostolic Nuncio to Great Britain, Archbishop Antonio Mennini. Our leader Margaret also spotted Portsmouth's own much loved Bishop Crispian Hollis; it's reassuring to see him out and about in spite of recent ill health.   The service was inspiring both in tradition and innovation. The homily was given by the Auxiliary Bishop of Westminster John Arnold, Chair of CAFOD Trustees. He told us that the work of CAFOD is founded on the Gospel, based on core values of Compassion, Dignity, Hope, Partnership, Solidarity, Sustainability and Stewardship. A procession of photos accompanied stories from places such as South Africa, Mozambique, Brazil, Ethiopia, Cambodia. The voices were those inspired by and involved with CAFOD, including Cardinal Basil Hume; and ordinary people from disadvantaged areas stricken by poverty, war and HIV. The presentation was simple but incredibly moving.

The Mass ended with a Rite of Recommitment, with colourful Nigerian hymns of thanksgiving from the Saint Ignatius African choir. We were addressed by Margaret Mwaniki from Kenya, a CAFOD trustee and partner. She spoke with humour and passion, emphasising that in supporting CAFOD we are not donating but sharing: we do not help the poor because they are poor but because we see one humanity; we do not give because we are rich but because we are sharing the fruits of one world. The Lymington ladies left Westminster warmed and cheered in spite of the cold journey home.

                                                                          photos and report by Gigi

"In recognition of the generosity of CAFOD  supporters the British Government has agreed, that through UK Aid Match funding, it will match a pound for pound every donation given to CAFOD during this years Lent Fast Day to help some of the poorest and most disadvantaged people in the world."