Step By Step
29 May 2009
Birthdays and anniversaries are good opportunities to consider what’s gone before, and then dream for the future. The CAFOD (Catholic Agency for Overseas Development) presentation to Bristol North West Deanery fulfilled just this purpose.
All the work that CAFOD engages in, is rooted in our Catholic faith, so the evening began with scriptural quotes to set the scene.
It came as a surprise to me to think that this is the 20th year since CAFOD began working in Clifton Diocese. As someone commented: “The beauty of CAFOD is its low key, but reliable.” And in a way that description encapsulates the report that Tony and Gill Vassallo gave at the Newman Hall in Westbury-on-Trym.
It is astounding to think that when first appointed, in 1989, Tony was responsible for Plymouth and Portsmouth dioceses in addition to the Clifton Diocese. To cover a territory stretching from Penzance to Windsor, and from Tewkesbury to the Channel Islands, would have daunted many. Over the intervening decades, parish representatives have been identified, deanery coordinators agreed and school liaisons established, so that today 73% of parishes have direct CAFOD links.
To explain the excellent and internationally respected work of this Catholic agency, Gill shared her feelings after visiting Nicaragua and El Salvador. The statistics showed the need for CAFOD, the pictures illustrated the hardships faced by the communities, while the stories underlined CAFOD’s focus and strategy.
In the homily at his installation as the new Archbishop of Westminster, Vincent Nicholls said: “Faith builds in action.” Over the last 20 years, as a diocese we’ve spent energy and shown commitment through a variety of campaigns. To show appreciation for the support they have received, Tony presented our Dean, Father Tom Finnegan, with a CAFOD candle and an icon, which will be rotated round the parishes.
But the work is not finished: Albania may now be able to survive independently without CAFOD assistance, but humanitarian crises like Darfur and the HIV / Aids tragedy of sub-Saharan Africa continue to cause concern. The excellent presentation by Tony and Gill helped me realise how much CAFOD needs my support in time, in prayer and financially.
A quote from St Ambrose could be a good ‘thought for today’ - “Earth at its beginning was for all in common, it was meant for rich and poor alike; what right have you to monopolise the soil? Nature knows nothing of the rich; all are poor when she brings them forth.”
Judy Gunthorpe
Birthdays and anniversaries are good opportunities to consider what’s gone before, and then dream for the future. The CAFOD (Catholic Agency for Overseas Development) presentation to Bristol North West Deanery fulfilled just this purpose.
All the work that CAFOD engages in, is rooted in our Catholic faith, so the evening began with scriptural quotes to set the scene.
It came as a surprise to me to think that this is the 20th year since CAFOD began working in Clifton Diocese. As someone commented: “The beauty of CAFOD is its low key, but reliable.” And in a way that description encapsulates the report that Tony and Gill Vassallo gave at the Newman Hall in Westbury-on-Trym.
It is astounding to think that when first appointed, in 1989, Tony was responsible for Plymouth and Portsmouth dioceses in addition to the Clifton Diocese. To cover a territory stretching from Penzance to Windsor, and from Tewkesbury to the Channel Islands, would have daunted many. Over the intervening decades, parish representatives have been identified, deanery coordinators agreed and school liaisons established, so that today 73% of parishes have direct CAFOD links.
To explain the excellent and internationally respected work of this Catholic agency, Gill shared her feelings after visiting Nicaragua and El Salvador. The statistics showed the need for CAFOD, the pictures illustrated the hardships faced by the communities, while the stories underlined CAFOD’s focus and strategy.
In the homily at his installation as the new Archbishop of Westminster, Vincent Nicholls said: “Faith builds in action.” Over the last 20 years, as a diocese we’ve spent energy and shown commitment through a variety of campaigns. To show appreciation for the support they have received, Tony presented our Dean, Father Tom Finnegan, with a CAFOD candle and an icon, which will be rotated round the parishes.
But the work is not finished: Albania may now be able to survive independently without CAFOD assistance, but humanitarian crises like Darfur and the HIV / Aids tragedy of sub-Saharan Africa continue to cause concern. The excellent presentation by Tony and Gill helped me realise how much CAFOD needs my support in time, in prayer and financially.
A quote from St Ambrose could be a good ‘thought for today’ - “Earth at its beginning was for all in common, it was meant for rich and poor alike; what right have you to monopolise the soil? Nature knows nothing of the rich; all are poor when she brings them forth.”
Judy Gunthorpe
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