Ursuline Convent High School, Brentwood, World Gift wonders!

Volunteer Peter Jones was delighted to be invited to collect a cheque for £1395 from students at Ursuline Convent High School. Money was raised during the summer term to buy World Gifts

One fundraiser, Katherine (15), hoped to raise enough money to buy and cow or train a midwife and challenged her school friends to a fundraising challenge. Fellow students accepted the challenge and raised a total of £1395!

When interviewed for the local newspaper, the Brentwood Gazette, Katherine said:

“I thought it would be good to raise enough money to buy a CAFOD gift.

I was aiming for £100, so I stood up in the Year 7 assembly, explained the plan and asked forms to come up with a simple fundraising idea. It then became quite competitive with forms seeing which could raise the most cash.”

Students made cakes and bracelets to sell, organised a sponsored run, and held a non-uniform day.

Katherine is part of the schools Justice & Peace group and as well as fundraising does all it can to highlight the problems faced by people living in poorer nations.

Image: Brentwood Gazette

Brentwood Diocese Celebrates 50 years of CAFOD’s work

Over 100 CAFOD supporters from across the Diocese came together on Sunday 21st October for a Mass of thanks giving celebrated by Mgr John Armitage. The Mass was a celebration of CAFOD’s work over 50 years and a thank you to those who have helped and continue to work on CAFOD’s behalf.

The service began with the presentation of a number of giftsby students from The Ursuline Academy, Ilford to symbolise the work of CAFOD. The gifts included:

An icon of Mary of the Magnificat; Mother of the Poor, commissioned for CAFOD in 2000 and symbolising love for the poor

• Romero crucifix from El Salvador symbolising the hope of a better and more peaceful world, free from poverty and injustice
• Yams symbolising the work of CAFOD in helping communities achieve a sustainable future
• A paddle representing CAFOD’s work in disaster prone areas
• Book of Remembrance containing the names of deceased CAFOD supporters from our Diocese

Ursuline Procession

The wonderfully uplifting and musical liturgy was kindly prepared and led by Joan Wood. It involved members of the Convent Chapel choir and was enjoyed by all.

Many volunteers took part in the Mass starting with Desiree Howells who read the First Reading. Des is a long term speaker and school volunteer for CAFOD.

After the Gospel, Mgr Armitage delivered an inspiring homily and said ‘today is about generously opening our hearts in prayer and the service of others and that’s what we are celebrating’.

The prayers of intercession were read by volunteers – Doreen Burns, Parish Contact from St. Therese in Laindon, Tim Campbell, Parish Contact from Our Lady and St. George in Walthamstow, David Underwood, Office volunteer and Parish Contact for St. Thomas of Canterbury in Woodford Green, Grace a Student from Ilford Ursuline and Jessica a keen fundraiser and supporter and student at Brentwood Ursuline

Joanna Jarvis, Denise Grierson and Mary Matthews from the CAFOD diocesan team brought up the offertory which included a Globe to symbolise we are ‘Just One World’.

Before Mgr Armitage gave us his final Blessing, Geoff O’Donaghue, International Division Director, gave a short talk and led the congregation in a Renewal of Commitmentto make a lasting difference to some of the poorest and most marginalised people in the world by continuing to work alongside CAFOD in the future. Volunteers Peter Jones, Mike Evans and Angela Bow read the prayers and through their responses, all present renewed their resolve to act justly, love tenderly and walk humbly so that all may know the joy of God’s love

Special guest – Joseph Mansaray then spoke to us about his work as an Emergency Response Officer basedin Freetown, Sierra Leone giving details of how CAFOD and its volunteers and supporters really make a difference.

Joe Mansaray with Schools Volunteer Peter Jones

Following Mass a cream teawas served in the Convent dining room along with a surprise array of cakes baked by the convent. Denise cut the delicious celebration cake – made and iced by herself.

Geoff spoke briefly about the progress made through HIV/AIDS programmesand how now our work has moved on from helping people to die with dignity to reintegrating them back into society with the help of retroviral drugs, nutrition and awareness programmes.

There was an exhibition in the Conference Centre featuring the ’50 years of CAFOD’ display, telling stories and quotes from our history – and pictures from events around the Brentwood Diocese – supporters had fun finding pictures of themselves taken over several years!

A Display of the 50 years of CAFOD’s work

Denise said ‘It was a thoroughly enjoyable afternoon and lovely to have the chance to talk to and celebrate CAFOD’s work with supporters and volunteers who do so much for us.’

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Denise, Joanna and Mary would like to thank all those who helped in any way to make the celebration so enjoyable and uplifting.

Taking the Hungry for Change message to V2012 in Chelmsford

A team of 16 spent the weekend at V2012 in Chelmsford. They were asking festival goers to sign a petition to David Cameron saying it’s a scandal that a billion people don’t have enough to eat, when the world produces enough food to feed everyone.

As well as rovers – volunteers taking the petition out into the crowds – the stall had one of the busiest years for a long time with the coconut shy proving to be a favourite for encouraging people to visit the stall.

Temperatures soared into the 30s making this year’s VFest the hottest yet but the volunteers continued to gather signatures for the petition.

Over 1500 festival goers signed the petition – a fantastic result for all the hard work.

There was also plenty of time to see the bands, with Stone Roses, David Guetta and The Killers leading the way – whilst a few of us sneaked off for a sing-along with Tom Jones earlier in the day!

The Hungry for Change campaign launches on 1st September – more information shortly!

See a short video of CAFOD’s presence at the V Festival, featuring volunteer Siobhan here >>

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Brentwood Ursuline School – Olympic session

CAFOD Brentwood was invited to run sessions with Yr 12 as part of the school’s Olympic themed day. The session included various Olympic themed activities including Run the Good Race based on Olympic and CAFOD values. The Olympic and Paralympic Games are about much more than sporting excellence. Pierre de Coubertin, the founder of the modern Olympic Movement, saw in the Games an ideal opportunity to develop a set of universal principles – or values – that could be applied not only to sport, but to education and to society.

Students also made peace cranes and wrote raps and poems on the theme of peace. This year CAFOD is starting a big, online relay, passing messages of friendship and peace to young people all around the world. Many young people, who have had to live with or leave their homes because of fighting, will not be at peace in 2012. Join us and let them know we are standing together with them for the Olympic values of equality and inclusion: Pass It On

Thank you to volunteers Peter Jones and Joan Risby for running the sessions and to Head of RE, Margaret Doe, for inviting us.

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CAFOD Brentwood out and about during June

Our Lady & St George parish, Walthamstow, Quiz Night

Joanna and Denise and their families made up a table and took part in the quiz night, held to raise funds for the parish Connect2 Brazil project.

Joe (pictured), who can only be called “question master extraordinaire”, kept the questions and jokes coming throughout the evening – even ending with an all singing, all dancing rendition of “singing in the rain”!

The winning team was “Team Uruguay” and we finished a (fairly) respectable fourth. Well done to the parish J&P group, including Tim and Jonathan for organising the evening.

Knights of St Columba, Chelmsford Council 302 75th Anniversary

The following Friday saw Joanna, Denise and Mary in Chelmsford to take part in a “Songs of Praise” event at Our Lady Immaculate Church to celebrate the 75th anniversary of the local Knights of St Columba.

Denise, Mary and Joanna

Several people and organisations had been invited to choose a hymn for the evening, including the CAFOD Brentwood office. Others were: the Very Ref Fr Hugh Allen, Superior and parish priest of the linked parishes of Our Lady Immaculate and Holy Name, the Right Rev Stephen Cottrell, Bishop of Chelmsford, Rev Fr Paul Dynan, parish priest of Our Lady and St Joseph’s, Stanford Le Hope (and Brother of Council 302), Councillor Christopher Kingsley, Mayor of Chelmsford, Bro Raymond Kirkham, Rev Kevin Lyons, Chaplain to Council 302, Bro Doug Mongan, KSC Provincial Grand Knight of Province 10, Rev Sisters Moira O’Sullivan and Pauline Crowther, Canonesses of the Holy Sepulchre, Antony Schular, Headmaster of St John Payne School and Bro Steven Webb, Chief Executive of Brentwood Catholic Children’s Society.

Fr Hugh Allen with Joanna, Denise and Mary

Accompanied by Fr Stephen, the organist for the evening, the congregation thoroughly enjoyed the chosen hymns.

There was a reception afterwards, including cutting the anniversary cake.

Thank you to Bro Peter Webster for inviting CAFOD Brentwood to take part. Peter’s wife, Eileen, is CAFOD parish contact for Blessed Sacrament parish in Chelmsford.

Peter and Eileen Webster with Mary, Denise and Joanna

Olympic Values at Woodlands School in Basildon

Schools volunteer Joan Risby writes:

Yesterday, 30 pupils from Woodlands School Gifted & Talented group took part in an off timetable Olympics themed conference. During the morning the pupils from Years 7-10 explored the history of the Olympics and the 100 Days of Peace initiative. They took part in a challenge during which they had to incorporate the 7 Olympic and Paralympic values of respect, excellence, friendship, courage, determination, inspiration and equality into a new Classroom Code Of Conduct or a rap or a new school badge.

During another session on 100 Days of Peace, students were invited to make an Origami crane. They heard about the events in Hiroshima and the symbolism of the crane, a symbol of peace in Japan.

They are now looking forward to the main event!

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Newsletter now online!

We walked for water … we abseiled for water … we signed up for water … and we fundraised for water! We ran marathons, listened to Lemlem from Ethiopia, attended quiz nights and so much more – all can be found in the June 2012 newsletter

Find out how our parishes and schools joined together to make Lent 2012 the most successful Lenten appeal ever. Children washed cars, wore their pyjamas to school, carried buckets of water – while parishioners held lunches, ate pancakes, baked cakes and in secondary schools, students made water filters, wrote poetry and walked for water – all to support the work of CAFOD.

Thirteen people took part in the Harlow abseil and 35 joined the bike ride through Lee Valley. But fundraising doesn’t stop here, find out how supporters are spending their summer holidays – cycling from Southend to St Petersburg, walking 60 miles along the Stour Valley and walking from Lourdes to Santiago Compostela!

June 2012 newsletter

A huge thank you to all our supporters and volunteers for giving their time and money to make Lent 2012 so successful! Joanna, Denise and Mary, CAFOD Brentwood (pictured here with Lemlem)

Sacred Heart Yr 7 “All to play for”

As part of the school’s enrichment week, CAFOD led a session around the Olympics for Yr 7 students.

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During the Olympic Games, teams from 205 countries around the world are expected to challenge each other in more than 300 events. But beyond the Games there is a much bigger challenge to tackle: the reasons why people are poor. “All to Play For” looks at the causes of poverty and is based on the experiences of talented young people who live in the very poor community of Korogocho in Kenya.

After hearing about the community of Korogocho, students have to make the balls they will play with. Sports balls are not always easy to find in Korogocho. But the players know they are quick and easy to make, by re-using plastic bags!

Volunteers Peter Jones and John Birbeck commented “The students were very receptive and interested, they asked questions and joined in fully with the activities”. Peter also mentioned “it was quite the most exhausting CAFOD presentation I have done – particularly as it was such a hot day! … it was a very rewarding and satisfying day, especially with regard to some excellent debriefing sessions with the girls after the game”.

Well done Sacred Heart Yr 7s!

St John’s Sports Society, an organisation supported by CAFOD, helps young people to change their lives through sport. Basketball, volleyball, football, athletics and many other teams meet three days a week to play, talk and pray. Sport is a great way to learn skills like team work and leadership: people work together to achieve their goals. Many of the St John’s players are extremely talented and now play for Kenyan national sports teams.

Pedal against Povery was hot, hot, hot

Over 200 riders enjoyed a great day out cycling through the Lee Valley Country Park with over 35 supporters from the Brentwood Diocese who chose from two routes: the full 18 mile return route commencing from Ponders End Lock, or a shorter 10 mile return route beginning in Cheshunt.

After last year’s cold and wet cycle we were blessed with lovely weather to Pedal against Poverty and raise money for CAFOD.

Riders came from across the Diocese – Gidea Park, Witham, Woodford Green, Buckhurst Hill, Canning Town and the largest contingent from Loughton.

Hans De Vrind from Christ the Eternal High Priest, Gidea Park parish is completing 3 fundraising events for CAFOD and 2 other charities this year – he started with the Harlow Abseil at the beginning of the month, chose the 18 mile bike ride and is finishing with a sky dive later in the year – and on Sunday Joanna was delighted to receive cheques totalling £400 with the promise of more to follow – thanks Hans!

Stefan Gillies from Witham enjoyed the ride so much last year he came back again and was joined by first timers Naomi and Nicholas Allen from Buckhurst Hill and Sisa, Daniela and Lindi aged 9 from Canning town.

From St Edmunds Parish in Loughton, Joanna’s home parish, we welcomed parishioners Mark, John, Nick, and Tom who with Gill and Ed were Group Leaders and Stewards, the Mulhollland , Waterfield and Sheehy families and Scouts Paul, Joseph and Ciaran from the 7th Epping Forest Scout Troop who were completing their fitness Challenge badge with the 18 mile cycle. Aidan aged 9 was also one of the youngest riders taking part in the 18 mile cycle.

This was the 6th annual cycle organised by the Westminster Diocese and Brentwood Diocese CAFOD offices and all those that took part were glad to be part of it and looking forward to next year!

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We Walked for Water – more photos added!

A lucky break in the weather greeted us as at Hanningfield Reservoir near Billericay.

The sun shone for around eighty people as we walked in solidarity with the millions of people around the world without access to clean water.

Everyone was invited to take part in the campaign, Thirst for Change, and you too can take action here >>

Young and old took part in the walk, with a trail for younger visitors highlighting water facts and figures – and all appreciated the chocolates and Geobars half-way round! It was a lovely afternoon in wonderful surroundings. We were also joined by Walter the water droplet!

Younger walkers received a certificate at the end of the walk, together with a children’s prayer card, and everyone received a prayer card marking CAFOD’s 50th anniversary.

Malcolm Duncan with Stephen and Suzanne

On our walk we were joined by Malcolm Duncan who was walking in memory of his late wife Marcel whose birthday it would have been on the 13th April. He was joined by his children Stephen and Suzanne. Marcel was a keen supporter of CAFOD and fundraised for many years in Shoeburyness parish and the family held a regular BBQ which raised thousands of pounds over the years.

Thank you to everyone who came along and supported us – people from the surrounding areas – Chelmsford, Billericay, Stock and Basildon and from slightly further afield such as Thorpe Bay, Westcliff, Woodford, and Wanstead.

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The walk couldn’t have taken place without the support of Gayle in the Hanningfield Reservoir Visitor Centre and a really big “thank you” to her and the staff and volunteers for their assistance before and on the day.

We would also like the thank the Co-operative Society for their donation of bottled water for the walk.

Finally, thank you to Tom (Walter the water droplet), Luke. Stuart and Josh for volunteering during the afternoon.