North Wales Winter 2012

North Wales is ‘Hungry for Change’

Witnesses to the light Tystion i’r goleuni

Jesus, our guide, Iesu, ein harweinydd You show us the path of goodness and love, Rwyt ti’n dangos i ni lwybr daioni a chariad, And call us to follow in your way. ac yn ein galw i ddilyn dy ffordd. Help us to make changes to our own lives Helpa ni i newid ein bywydau ni’n hunain So we may embody our faith. fel y gallwn ymgorffori dy ffydd. Fill us with the courage to speak out and take Llanw ni gyda’r dewrder i lefaru a gweithredu Action so peace and justice reign across the Fel bod heddwch a chyfiawnder yn teyrnasu dros y ddaear. earth. Cynnal ni wrth i ni adeiladu byd sy’n adlewyrchu dy deyr- Support us as we build a world that reflects your nas, byd o lawnder, tegwch a ffydd. kingdom, a world of plenty, fairness and faith. Ysbrydola ni i fod yn dystion i’r goleuni, Inspire us to be witnesses to the light, i adnewyddu dy Eglwys a’i phobl, To renew your Church and its people,

er mwyn i bawb, yn y Flwyddyn hon o Ffydd, So that in this Year of Faith, wybod ein bod yn ddisgyblion i Ti All people may know ac y bydd goleuni dy wirionedd That we are your disciples yn disgleirio trwyddom ni. And the light of your truth Amen May shine through us. Helen Moriarty/CAFOD

CAFOD is the official Catholic aid agency for England and Wales. UK reg. Charity no. 285776

Contents Page

From the Desk 3

‘Tax Dodging Hurts the Poor’ 4

CAFOD’s Great Generation 5

Peace One Day 6

Letter from America 7

Schools Volunteer 8

Dogellau College 9

Potato Day 10

Memorial Mass 11

Hungry for Change 12

Pantasaph Day 13

Fundraising for CAFOD 14

Chris Coyle runs for CAFOD 15

Feedback on ‘Thirst for Change’ 16

Live Simply Award 17

Reflection 18

Volunteering with CAFOD 19

Dates for your diary 20

From the desk

Croeso! Welcome to the Winter edition our North Wales Newsletter.

Message from Katja Jewell, Diocesan Manager:

A special year of celebrating Cafod's 50 anniversary comes to an end. In January some of our volunteers went to join the and many Priests and hundreds of supporters from all over England and Wales in a truly moving mass in Westminster .

Chris Bain commented: “ John Arnold’s sermon struck at the heart of what CAFOD is about and what our supporters have helped us achieve over the past 50 years. The day reaffirmed for me and I hope for the entire CAFOD community, that we are part of an organisation that lives out Gospel values every day as we reach out to the poorest people wherever they may be, alleviating suffering and tackling injustice wherever we encounter it.”

In May, Chris Bain our director, addressed over a hundred supporters on our annual Supporters day in Pantasaph. Chris was delighted to see so many young people participating in the different activities, like the Liturgical dance from St. Bridgid's school in Denbigh, Pupils from Ven Edward Morgan making golden heart and singing along the stations of the cross

Pantasaph day and our annual youth event 'Potato day' in October in Noddfa are central parts in our annual calendar. It's very uplifting to get facebook messages from young supporters to enquire about our next events.

Please do stay in touch with us, apart from our regular newsletters, we have a blog, facebook, and now also a twitter account . And we always want to hear from you: so why don't you join in the 50th Anniversary celebrations: what lit your flame? cafod.org.uk/whatlityourflame

Have a blessed Christmas And a happy and healthy 2013, Katja

And a message from Anne Fegan, Diocesan Officer:

Hello, I’m Anne and I have recently moved to Wales from Edinburgh to take the role of diocesan officer, having previously worked as a youth worker.

I am excited to be joining CAFOD in the year that it celebrates its 50th Birthday, and launches its latest campaign: ‘Hungry for Change’, which asks why nearly one billion people still do not have enough to eat despite no shortage of food being produced.

I have had a great few months visiting local schools, and meeting CAFOD supporters and volunteers. 2013 is set to be a busy year as the Hungry for Change campaign builds momentum, and I look forward to further opportunities to meet and work with CAFOD supporters in the new year.

Anne

CAFOD is the official Catholic aid agency for England and Wales. UK reg. Charity no. 285776 3

Tax Dodging Hurts the Poor

CAFOD’s vision and mission statement calls for the world to be transformed so that everyone can have a fair and equal access to the most basic of human rights. Blessed John Paul II said that: “everyone can make some contribution, no matter how small it may seem”. And so, in working to ensure that people in the poorest areas across the world are able to have access to these basic needs, everyone must be accountable.

It is for this reason that ‘Christian Aid’ and ‘Church Action on Poverty’ have travelled across Britain and Ireland with a simple message: “tax dodging hurts the poor”. When a large corporate organisation avoids paying tax this means that it is the poorest people in that country, those on the margins of society, are the ones who suffer the most. It means that money, which should have been available to fund hospitals, schools and other infrastructure is not available. So when the ‘tax bus’ stopped at Glyndwr University in in September, the CAFOD North Wales team were one of the many different groups to show their support, telling large corporations who avoid paying tax that they must recognise their role in working to ensure that the world’s resources are more evenly distributed, so that no one is without an education, food or basic human needs.

Congratulations Zoe and Dom Lavery

A few years ago my colleague Zoe Lavery (nee Jones), who came originally from the parish of St Anne’s in Wrexham, went to visit CAFOD’s partners in Northern Kenya. James Girmes Galgallo, our colleague, showed her the work they did with the communities in the Deserts in Northern Kenya. Two tribes were competing for the scarce resources of water and food in a barren land. One of the pictures stuck particularly in my mind is that of a heavily pregnant young woman, lying in a simple hut with corrugated iron roof. Hardly the place were we dream to deliver our babies, and probably closer to the reality of Mary in the stable than our hospitals here in the West.

Zoe and Dom, just had their first child, Isaac Bede Iau, born on the day of the launch of CAFOD’s new food campaign, where CAFOD supporters urge the government to change the reality of 870 000 000 people in the world who go to bed hungry every day. James Girmes Galgaloo explained to the pupils he met on the visit in North Wales, that his names stands for chubby baby, born in the afternoon. How worried must have been his mother, how to feed him, how to keep him chubby.

Sometimes statistics are hard to grasp, yet all babies, may they be born into a world of plenty or scarcities have mothers (and fathers) who have dreams for their children, to reach their full potentials, to be healthy, happy and Katja with baby Isaac chubby. Congratulations Zoe and Dom.

CAFOD is the official Catholic aid agency for England and Wales. UK reg. Charity no. 285776 4

CAFOD’s ‘Great Generation’

At a ‘Make Poverty History’ gathering in London Nelson Mandela famously said:

“Sometimes it falls on a generation to be great. You can be that great generation. Let your greatness blossom.”

Martha Barnes is one of CAFOD’s ‘Great Generation’. From school presentations, office work, campaign launches and much more, Martha has done it all.

“The reason I’m so involved in CAFOD is definitely down to my mum because, for as long as I can remember, she has been organising and baking for CAFOD coffee mornings in my church (or “cadoff” coffee mornings, as it used to be when I was so young I couldn’t say CAFOD properly). I have done so many things for CAFOD before (like fundraising cake sales, and helping out at events), I can’t remember them all, but I can fairly say, thanks mainly to my mum, I’ve had a very active role in helping CAFOD.

At the end of July, I worked in CAFOD’s Wrexham office, with diocesan manager Katja Jewell. In school, we are permitted one week of work experience, and I thought this would be a good opportunity to learn more about the organisation.”

Not only did Martha work in the office she also gave a presentation at Blessed Edward Jones’ High School, and taught the students a game which originates from a slum called Korogocho in Kenya, where there is a sports society called St John’s that CAFOD supports. The activity is a game of handball with various twists that means it isn’t only a fun game, but also a way of learning about the poverty in Korogocho.

Reflecting on her week with CAFOD Martha said: “I would definitely love to do something like this again, which I’m sure I’ll be able to, and I’m so grateful to CAFOD’s Katja for giving me the opportunity to try it in the first place!”

There are many more ways what you too can be part of CAFOD’s Great Generation’. Look out for future opportunities over the coming year, and if you have any ideas we would love to hear from you. At the Hungry for Change Launch

CAFOD is the official Catholic aid agency for England and Wales. UK reg. Charity no. 285776 5

‘Peace One Day’

On Tuesday, 4th September this year we heard the sad news that Jordan Manda, the son of an Indigenous tribal leader was shot on his way to school.

CAFOD had been working closely with Jordan’s father, Timuay Manda and his community in Bayog, Mindanao. His community are doing all they can to protect their land, to ensure that a sustainable future is possible for their people. Death threats and intimidation are part of Timuay Manda’s community’s struggle to preserve their land. This brave community have been receiving death threats for the past three years, but Timuay has vowed to continue this fight: St Christopher's School, Wrexham

“In my effort to assert our rights and to protect our people and ancestral domain, my beloved son was sacrificed. It is very painful and I thirst for justice. I vow to continue my struggle to ensure my son didn’t die in vain. I need your support in this most trying time of my life as a father and a leader.”

When a story such as this is heard it makes it very real for the people in the UK to understand just how extreme these struggles are.

This tragic event coincided with ‘Peace One Day’, which takes place every year in Wrexham. On this occasion St Christopher’s school in Wrexham opened it’s doors to 9 other local schools for a great day of learning about global events. The CAFOD gave a presentation about it’s partners in the Philippines, and young children from the schools wrote prayers and messages to the Manda family on peace doves, encouraging them and urging them not to lose hope. Many of the children wrote beautiful notes expressing their sorrow at hearing this sad news, about Jordan.

Tom and Mary Lloyd from North Wales

Additionally, it was not only local school children who showed their support for the Manda family. Mary and Tom Lloyd from North Wales, in the photograph above, were just two of the many people in the local community who wrote messages on peace doves, which were sent out to the Manda family.

CAFOD is the official Catholic aid agency for England and Wales. UK reg. Charity no. 285776 6

Letter from America

“When you meet your Maker and He asks, ‘Have you fed the hungry, given drink to the thirsty, and cared for the lonely?’ You can answer, ‘Yes.’

– Pope John XXIII to George McGovern Director of Food for Peace, in Rome 1962.

I have been in the States now for 6 months, and a lot has happened in that time. But the work of CAFOD and the people of North Wales remain in my thoughts constantly. None more so than this last October. I have been volunteering at a museum and theatre called The Washington Pavil- ion, in Sioux Falls, which is akin to Theatre Clwyd. In October the Pavilion hosted the funeral of former Senator George McGovern, a South Dakota native who ran for President in 1972 only to lose in historic fashion to President Nixon. I had not planned on attending the funeral, which was public, as I knew very little about the man. That was until I walked through our lobby and caught sight of the program which featured the quote above, and I wanted to attend to learn more about the man and honour one so committed to the living out the creed which informs my own faith.

I learnt he was a man of humble nature, whose unshakeable integrity made him a determined soldier of jus- tice, and a committed advocate for the poor and the hungry. As the service continued my thoughts turned to CAFOD’s ‘Hungry for Change’ campaign, and I was thankful for the legacy left by Sen. McGovern and those like him who lit the fires in campaigners across the globe who continue to fight for justice for all. I could almost hear Katja speaking as dignitary after dignitary referred to Sen. McGovern as a voice of the people, as the conscience of a nation: A prophet.

So it is with thanks that I write this message to you all. Thanks for the life and work of Sen. McGovern. And thanks for the life, works and commitment to justice that lives within you all. I know that the ‘Hungry for Change’ campaign will capture the minds and hearts of North Wales and together I am confident that a fair food system is not only possible, but an essential component of bringing about God’s Kingdom here on Earth. - Jamie Lennon (former diocesan officer)

Hellos and Goodbyes

We would like to say a very warm welcome to the newly appointed , Bishop , and say farewell to our former Bishop, Edwin Reagan who leaves us after 17 years of service. We thank him for his steadfast support of CAFOD over the years.

Additionally, we say farewell to Jamie Lennon, who was the CAFOD officer until April of this year. Jamie worked exceptionally hard on the ‘Thirst for Change’ campaign, and we wish him well in his new life as a married man in America.

And a massive hello to Anne. A brave step to move from Edinburgh to Wrexham, but we are delighted that she has friends in the diocese already. Please do invite her to your parish.

CAFOD is the official Catholic aid agency for England and Wales. UK reg. Charity no. 285776 7

School Volunteers

Clodagh Cherry is the newest member of our schools volunteer team. Clodagh comes to us with a wealth of experience working with children, and has shown so much enthusiasm in her new role. She recently visited St. School where the children played the ‘Drain Grain Game’, which explores the global inequalities between rich and poor countries. We asked Clodagh a few questions about why she got involved with CAFOD, this is what she said:

Why CAFOD? I wanted to volunteer for one of the overseas agencies and when trawling the web was struck by the CAFOD values and in particular the materials for use with schools.

How and why did you decide the role of the school volunteer was for you? Katja Jewell as diocesan manager and I discussed what would be the best fit of what she needed and what I could offer. As with volunteers generally we looked at how much time I could offer and what ‘shape’ it was – would it be regular hours, a regular task, odd hours or a fixed day. Next we looked at the skills and relevant experience that I could offer – I come from the heritage sector and have worked on events with volunteers and have also been a teacher.

And then? Well that was back to me – what did I want. I wanted an active role in CAFOD and to be part of a team, use my existing skills and learn something new. We decided that I would train as an education volunteer, going into schools delivering assemblies and classroom sessions using the CAFOD materials that I had admired initially. I finished the CAFOD education volunteer training which was great fun and I am starting to get to know local schools.

How can a school book a session? Just ring the diocesan office to either fix a date or for a general chat about what is on offer, such as a school assembly, year group talk or for a particular class, both in primary or secondary school.

Thanks Clodagh!

If you would like to hear more about the role of the volunteer please contact the office for a chat. If you are a trainee teacher, retired, parent or other and would like to take some time to volunteer with CAFOD then get in touch. (Training will be provided)

CAFOD is the official Catholic aid agency for England and Wales. UK reg. Charity no. 285776 8

Dolgellau College

CAFOD visited Dolgellau College in October to speak about Hungry for Change, This is what Jack Rendell, a student at the college had to say about the visit:

Being a young person in today’s society, you hear about a vast quantity of different charities. Although I knew about a similar charity ( Christian Aid) CAFOD was new to me, so I found it interesting to hear about the work they do.

Overseas poverty is one of the biggest problems to face this world today, so it is good to see a charity like CAFOD able to help in so many different ways; be it long term development, emergency relief or campaigning for change. Building water storage so poor countries can grow crops, discouraging violence in the slums, combating HIV and AIDs and teaching people what rights they should have are just some of the steps CAFOD takes to make a better world. After all, if you accumulate bricks over the years, eventually you’ll be able to build a sturdy wall.

It is the partnerships with countries that CAFOD forms that are most remarkable – people born and raised on opposite sides of the globe work together to strive for change. That is what provides a foundation for a better future.

With one seventh of the world’s population undernourished there is no better time for striving for change. We in the West should be able to share our loaves and fishes, so that everybody can have enough to eat. Even if you are not religious, this is an idea that everybody can connect with.

Jack Rendell.

AS Level student at Coleg Meirion-Dwyfor, Dolgellau.

CAFOD is the official Catholic aid agency for England and Wales. UK reg. Charity no. 285776 9

Potato Day Our Annual Youth Event

When Katja Jewell, CAFOD’s Manager for the North Wales region, visited Bolivia in 2007, she learned that 80% of the food eaten there is potatoes. So upon her return to the UK Katja decided to name a CAFOD North Wales Youth Conference, ‘Potato Day’. Five years on, this now annual event is still proving popular as ever with young people eager to take part in workshops, and learn about the latest CAFOD campaigns.

Katja says: “We’ve always launched our new campaign at this event, so people are generally delighted to be the first to get involved in the campaign. This time the name actually links to the campaign, which is great!”

This year’s ‘Potato Day’ was held on Sunday, 21st October in Noddfa, a centre run by the Sisters of the Sacred Heart of Mary in Penmaenmawr. Noddfa is a Welsh word meaning refuge, and it was in this idyllic setting that Rachel McCarthy from the Campaigns team introduced the latest CAFOD campaign: ‘Hungry for Change’. The campaign questions why one in eight people do not have enough to eat, despite there being no shortage of food produced. Much discussion followed this presentation, with Anna Jane Evans from Christian Aid also speaking of the importance of unity and working together on this issue. After a shared lunch, this included potatoes, of course! This very enthusiastic group gathered in the afternoon to identify how they could work in their own communities to support CAFOD and the ‘Hungry for Change’ campaign.

Lots of eager discussion followed as the young people identified how they wanted to get involved in the campaign, and what they wanted to do in their communities to support this. CAFOD’s work is rooted in Catholic Social Teaching, and this day was no different. Matthew’s Gospel of the Feeding of the 5000 was at the centre of this day, and in the concluding prayers the young people inspired by the day’s events lit candles to show their support for the ‘Hungry for Change’ campaign and all the people throughout the world who do not have enough to eat.

This is what Bethany Mawdsley from Holyhead said about the day:

“I thought the potato day was really good. It really inspired me to do more for cafod and similar organisations that are doing so much to help the poorest people in our world. I enjoyed hearing about the new cafod campaign and I would like to do a talk in my parish about the potato day and to encourage people to do their bit for the campaign. I liked meeting all the people there and overall I thought it was a really informative and fun day and I would love to come next year.”

CAFOD is the official Catholic aid agency for England and Wales. UK reg. Charity no. 285776 10

Memorial Mass

Sister Vianney, who has volunteered in the office for nearly 25 years shares her thoughts about CAFOD’s Memorial Mass, and some of the people we remembered on this day.

On the eleventh of the eleventh month our thoughts turn each year to the dead, particularly to those who have laid down their lives for their country. “It’s a holy and wholesome thought to pray for the dead” we’re reminded in the Old Testament Book of Maccabees so it was no surprise to find a goodly crowd of people in Wrexham Cathedral for Mass at 7pm on Remembrance Sunday 2012. Mass was being celebrated by Bishop Peter for all deceased Cafod supporters and Staff. It’s so good to remember that :

“We are standing on the shoulders of the ones who came before us, They are saints and they are humans, they are angels, they are friends.”

Vivid memories of some of these, especially those who had died in the past 12 months, flooded my mind as two extra prayers of Intercession followed those chosen by the local parish community. Bob and Johanna Aubert- after years of working in Zimbabwe- had arrived practically penniless in Wrexham. A loving couple, Johanna straight and tall, Bob short, once their money was released were most generous in their support of Cafod.

Frail Anne Davies, whose crippled, deformed hands took beautiful photos on Pantasaph Days for several years before the deterioration of her spine made her housebound. My last memories of Anne were of her in hospital, lips and tongue crusted with dryness, but no complaining-just warm words and and laughing eyes!

Judith Rees who had been like a rock for years-a presence in the Accounts department in London-transparent and true; someone who made accounts simple! A friend in need. And now they all had gone to their reward. Instead of seeing Christ in the face of the poor they were seeing him face to face! May they put in a word for us now.

This special evening for us had actually begun in the Cathedral Hall with homemade soup and sandwiches, followed by an enjoyable session with Beth Brook, one of Cafod’s staff from London. Beth deals with the legacies left to Cafod by supporters and she outlined for us some of the great good that is achieved by legacy money. So much good lives on, transforming lives Beth Brook from the Legacy Team continually.

CAFOD is the official Catholic aid agency for England and Wales. UK reg. Charity no. 285776 11

Hungry for Change “Today is an opportunity to get hungry again.” (Clare Lyons)

On Saturday, 10th November 2012, CAFOD officially launched ‘Hungry for Change’.

This campaign calls for changes to be made in the global food system so that there is a greater balance of power between the rich and the poor, and so that everyone has access to food. This can be achieved through empowering aid for small scale farmers, especially women, helping them to access markets and have a greater say in decision making. Additionally, by having more checks on global food companies, to ensure that all the workers in the global supply chains receive a fair deal.

At present enough food is produced to feed the world, yet nearly one billion people still do not have enough food to eat. With hunger killing more people each year than AIDS, malaria and tuberculosis combined, with one in eight people going to bed each hungry each night.

It was for this reason that 5 young people, Katja and I journeyed from North Wales to London for this launch. 250 people gathered at the launch to listen to the key speakers, Fr Joe Komakoma, David McLoughlin and head of campaigns, Clare Lyons; and participate in workshops to learn how to make this campaign a success. As the campaigners departed from the launch they did so with determination for this campaign to be achieved.

Personally, this campaign means so much to me. Before I started working for CAFOD I was part of a small team of volunteers who travelled to Zimbabwe for a month with the Missionary Oblates of Mary Immaculate. During my time there I met some wonderful people, whose faith and courage amazed me. I heard such harrowing stories of the struggles they endured during the Zimbabwe food crisis in 2007, and upon a visit to a paediatric malnutrition unit, which admits about 25 babies each month, I saw for myself the devastating effects of hungry. What shocked me the most was that these babies did not have incurable diseases; they simply did not have enough to eat. So I urge everyone to sign a campaign card, telling David Cameron that the way that food is produced, sold and shared out is far from equal, and that this injustice must change. I ask that you support this campaign in whatever way you are able.

Anne Fegan

CAFOD is the official Catholic aid agency for England and Wales. UK reg. Charity no. 285776 12

Pantasaph Day 2012

Pantasaph Day is CAFOD North Wales’ biggest supporter event, which takes place in May each year. This year as CAFOD celebrated its 50th Anniversary, over 100 people came along to Pantasaph day where CAFOD’s Director, Chris Bain, thanked supporters and volunteers for their tireless commitment to CAFOD over these years. He emphasised his thanks to volunteers in parishes, schools, parish priests and the many groups and individuals that support CAFOD, as without them CAFOD would not be able to support the poorest people across the world.

Fr. Hagos Hayish, the Secretary General of Caritas Ethiopia has been coming to North Wales for visits for nearly ten years, after he was asked to cover St Anne’s parish in Wrexham when one of the priests was away. It was great that his visit coincided with Pantasaph Day, and so he happily joined Chris Bain in a question and answer session, speaking about the projects in Ethiopia. He also commented that both Ethiopia and North Wales both have a town called Abergele!

Thankfully the sun shone throughout the day, which concluded with Mass in St David’s church, and as the group departed the knights of St Columba were quick to provide hotdogs for the journey home.

Fr Hagos with Chris Bain, Director of CAFOD Katja with an Olympic Torch and children from St Anne’s.

CAFOD at Bangor University

Clare O’Connor, a third year student at Bangor University is busy with essays, exams and all the normal university life. However, Clare also finds time to run the Catholic Chaplaincy and is a CAFOD contact also. Quite a task for anyone to juggle! She is taking a break from it and travelling out to Brazil with CAFOD for World Youth Day this summer.

If you are able to help her out as she fundraises for this trip you can do so at her Just giving page.

CAFOD is the official Catholic aid agency for England and Wales. UK reg. Charity no. 285776 13

Fundraising for CAFOD

Michael Richards and Amy Davies are two young people from Rhyl who are Hungry for Change. Michael explains why:

“When I went back to the Potato Day this year I thought to myself why should people be going hungry when I sit at home every night eating a nice tea? I thought I’m going to try my best to help the poor now and to spread CAFOD’s campaign, ‘Hungry For Change’ and the interesting facts we learned about how our government is failing the poorer countries.

So upon leaving this year’s Potato Day, me and Amy Davies got straight to thinking of ideas of how we can fundraise for the poorer countries. We decided on doing a 10 mile sponsored walk from Colwyn Bay to Rhyl, this was arranged I think for a month or two after potato day. We spoke in Mass in St Mary’s Church in Rhyl to let the Church goers know about our walk and what they can do to support CAFOD. On the 25th November we took to the challenge of walking the 10 mile stretch from Colwyn Bay to Rhyl along the coastal path. Along the way we met many other Christians from other areas, one from Wigan. By doing this walk for CAFOD we let more people know about the amazing work that they do and we raised £250.00.

We are currently thinking of more ideas on how to fundraise for CAFOD in the months to come.”

St Mary’s Church in Ruabon, Wrexham is unique in the sense that it is a shared church, and for the last 40 years the church has been used by two religious denominations: Catholics and Anglicans for Masses and Services. For the Harvest Festival in October these two communities came together to celebrate one service, with both CAFOD and Christian Aid receiving a share of the donations given on this day.

St Mary’s used their donation to purchase a CAFOD World Gift, choosing a ‘Brilliant Bicycle’, which can enable a community worker to travel to remote parts, bringing with them life saving medical treatment, and vital support and counselling to people who would otherwise not have access to this. World Gifts start from just £7 for a ‘School starter pack’, which means that a child in a developing country is provided with a school uniform, stationary, school fees and a daily meal. This small gift can make a huge impact in the life of a child who would otherwise be unable to go to school.

If you would like to order a world gift you can do so by ordering online at:

www.worldgifts.cafod.org.uk.

CAFOD is the official Catholic aid agency for England and Wales. UK reg. Charity no. 285776 14

Chris Coyle Runs for CAFOD

When Chris Coyle from Rhyl, North Wales decided to run in the Royal Parks 1/2 Marathon in London on 7th October this year we asked him to tell us why he runs for CAFOD. This is what he said:

From as far back as I can remember our family have been involved with CAFOD so I heard about their projects from a very early age. They sent us literature about their various targets in underdeveloped countries and also about the emergency help whenever there was a famine or crisis. Therefore I was always well aware of what CAFOD were involved in and how they were trying to help to improve the lives and living standards of people who lived such different lives to us in the western world. We realised that by supporting CAFOD we were able to help in some small way to ease the burden for people, who through no fault of their own were struggling to survive. Since those early days I have had much more experience of what poverty and bad luck can do to devastate people's lives. I have worked with the homeless in London and also worked in Vietnam, where I saw so much poverty. It didn't seem fair to me why so many people had to live such poor and degrading lives. Only by getting to know some of the homeless did I hear the stories of their past and how circumstances had reduced them to a life of poverty and dependency on others. Most of them were ashamed to have to live such miserable lives and wanted to be able to turn their lives around and start again. I wanted to be able to help those kinds of people.

I also realised that CAFOD works to help people to rebuild their lives in underdeveloped countries and to give them the opportunity to become independent and more in control of their own lives. They help them to grow their own crops and try to make sure that they have access to clean water, which is vital for their survival. My parents always made us aware of this through the Christmas World gifts, which we gave as presents to people for Christmas. We felt that we were buying certain articles which would help these people to improve their lives. When CAFOD wanted people to volunteer for the London half marathon I realised that I could use my running skills to raise money for their current projects. I enjoy running and do this most days for exercise so I am usually fully fit. I have run in three full marathons before and raised money for CAFOD as well as other charities. This time a half marathon around the London Parks seemed a good way to raise more money for CAFOD. The 7th October was a lovely day weather wise and along with another eleven thousand seven hundred people I took part in the race around Hyde Park, Green Park, St. James' Park and Kensington Gardens. Everyone was there to raise money for different charities. It should have been easy for me to run these 20 Kms. but as I was suffering with a cold and chest infection I wasn't able to complete it in the time which I would have liked. I managed to complete the race in one hour forty five minutes. minutes.

Beforehand CAFOD had sent me a comprehensive pack which helped me to set up a website for people to contribute online and also everything else which was needed for fundraising. CAFOD North Wales also sent me a "Good Luck" card, which I appreciated too. My parents did the fund raising in their Parish of St. Mary's Rhyl, St. Beuno's Spirituality Centre and amongst their relatives and friends. I am very grateful to all who supported me in this event and pleased that we managed to raise over £600 for CAFOD. I am surprised at the generosity of people who always seem to be willing to help my fundraising events, no matter how many times they are asked.

CAFOD is the official Catholic aid agency for England and Wales. UK reg. Charity no. 285776 15

Feedback on Thirst for Change

Thirst for change feedback

Prime Minister David Cameron could be left in no doubt about the need for urgent action on water and sanitation, after receiving over 60,000 actions as part of our Thirst for change campaign which ended in May 2012. You showed the UK government how much you care about the water and sanitation crisis. “I received a huge amount of correspondence from CAFOD supporters, particularly from school children,” wrote DFID minister Andrew Mitchell in a letter to CAFOD.

The government listened and alerted us in April, when they doubled their commitment to water and sanitation to benefit over 60 million people -the equivalent of the entire UK population- over the next three years.

Your actions also gave hope to communities that we work with overseas: “I have been inspired by the determination and dedication of CAFOD supporters. I have never seen such generosity,” said CAFOD partner Lemlem Berhe Tsegay from Ethiopia, who visited Catholic schools and parishes across England.

Your actions have shown the creativity, commitment and influence of the Catholic community in England and Wales. Father Rob Esdaile from Surrey was part of a small group who delivered the 60,421 actions to Downing Street. “This campaign is an example of what CAFOD does so well,” he said. “Uniting different generations and very different life-settings around a shared faith and a commitment to work with people in poverty to build a better future.”

Thank you for everything you did to thirst for change.

Rio +20 Conference

At the Rio+20 conference in June this year Mark Tami met with constituents in Buckley, and was happy to sign the declaration which called for the Mp’s and AM’s to push the UK government to take a lead at a local, national and international level. Campaigners from Mold Mark Tami MP with Buckley youth

The ‘Rio Declaration’, stipulates that commitments to the UK Climate Act are upheld whilst international action is taken to help the world’s poorest communities adapt to climate change, invest in clean energy and protect the rainforests .

CAFOD is the official Catholic aid agency for England and Wales. UK reg. Charity no. 285776 16

Live Simply Award Scheme

Live Simply so that others may simply live.

That you may live simply, sustainably and in solidarity with the poor.

There are a number of steps you and your parish can take in order to celebrate a more simple Christmas in your community. Why not try a few of the following ideas so that your parish can ‘Live Simply’ as you celebrate the birth of Christ.

1.Communal Christmas message board. With millions of Christmas cards discarded after the Christmas period we suggest that perhaps your parish may wish to offer Christmas greetings to one another by opting to display a communal Christmas message board which would allow members of your parish to write messages on a white board to wish all members of the parish a blessed Christmas. This would save postage and paper and give your parish a pleasant decoration for display.

2. Lighting a parish can sometimes cause a great expense to the utilities, and also expends a great deal of energy. You may wish to opt for more sustainable lighting such as LED lighting which is cost effective, or at this Advent time you may suggest using candlelight to light your services, this will not only conserve energy but will give your services a simple and solemn space for worship.

3. You may like to consider hosting a Christmas fayre at your parish. This could be the perfect opportunity to buy handcrafted gifts and homemake cakes, and you may consider donating the proceeds to CAFOD’s Advent appeal to act in solidarity with those whom we serve.

4. Hold an Advent service in honour of our brothers and sisters in the Global South. The time of Advent offers us an ideal time to reflect upon the presence of our Lord Jesus on Earth as we lead up to the celebration of his birth. We call upon you to bear witness to his presence in all men and women by holding a service in honour of our brothers and sisters in the Global South this advent. You can find resources for your advent service by visiting: www.cafod.org.uk/Pray.

5. Host a Christmas festival. You may wish to consider hosting a Christmas festival within your parish, and invite members of your community and beyond to celebrate with you by bringing a dish from that is symbolic of their Christmas culture, you may also invite them to share Advent or Christmas songs from their Christmas culture or stories which are of their heritage. This could a perfect opportunity to share the Christmas cultures of your community and act in solidarity with all people everywhere celebrating the birth of Jesus Christ.

17 CAFOD is the official Catholic aid agency for England and Wales. UK reg. Charity no. 285776 Oscar Romero’s Christmas

Reflection, 1979.

“We must not seek the child Jesus in the pretty figures of our Christmas cribs. We must seek him among the undernourished children who have gone to bed at night with nothing to eat, among the poor newsboys who will sleep covered with newspapers in doorways.”

-Oscar Romero

Connect 2 El Salvador

Eliza who is from the village of Puentecitos in El Salvador, which is part of the Connect2 scheme sends this message :

“I would like to give the boys and girls in England and Wales a message. That although there are difficulties in life, we mustn't give up, but always continue forward and face the difficulties so that we can make progress in life. And we must trust in God and the people who love us and also believe in ourselves because we have great challenges ahead."

To find out more about Connect 2 visit: http://www.cafod.org.uk/Fundraise/Our-favourite- fundraisers/Connect2 Picture: A Christmas Crib from El Salvador

CAFOD is the official Catholic aid agency for England and Wales. UK reg. Charity no. 285776 18

Volunteering with CAFOD

It is through the continued support and hard work of CAFOD volunteers who give their time and energy that so much good work is able to take place with CAFOD partners all over the world. There are lots of different ways that you can get involved in supporting CAFOD, and even if you can only give a small amount of time, or would prefer to help on Fast Days or specific events we would still love to hear from you.

Office Volunteers Working in the CAFOD office for a few hours during the week is a great way of using your skills and talents to further CAFOD’s work. This could be using your computer and media skills to promote CAFOD campaigns, and also general office work such as filing.

Campaigning Campaigning is essential to bringing about change and social justice. Helping out at local events, talking to people about CAFOD campaigns, encouraging MPs or AMs to take action, and helping to plan local events are just some of the ways you can support CAFOD.

School Volunteers Going into schools to talk to children and young people about how they can make a difference. Giving workshops, assemblies or promoting CAFOD materials means that young people understand the important work that CAFOD and its partners do and it encourages them to get involved also.

Parish Contacts A vital link for the CAFOD office and local parishes. Parish contacts support CAFOD during Fast Days in the parish and also over the year promoting campaigns, activities and fundraising initiative.

If you would like to get involved or find out more information about volunteering with CAFOD in North Wales please contact the North Wales office on: 01978 355 084 or email: [email protected]

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Dates for your diary 2013:

23rd January– Official Launch of the joint ‘Hunger Campaign’

20-26th January – Christian Unity Week

13th February– Ash Wednesday

17th February– Family Commission Day

22nd February – CAFOD Lent Fast Day

25th February-10th March– Fairtrade Fortnight

4th-10th March– Climate Change Week

12-13th March– CAFOD Partners Visiting

11th May– Pantasaph Day

We are currently in the process of putting together a more detailed calendar of events for the New Year, which we will post on our blog.

To Keep up to date with CAFOD North Wales follow us on :

Facebook: www.facebook.com/cafodnw Twitter: www.twitter.com/CAFODNorthWales Our Blog: www.cafodnorthwales.wordpress.com

CAFOD North Wales Peace and Justice Centre 37 Kingsmills Road Wrexham LL13 8NH Tel: 01978 355 084 Email: [email protected]

CAFOD is the official Catholic aid agency for England and Wales. UK reg. Charity no. 285776