During this anniversary year, CAFOD would like to hear from its volunteers and supporters who are willing to share their stories – need some inspiration? click on the link and start sharing….

“As many of you will know, we have here in the Cathedral Parish a collection bowl into which people place their donations to help our brothers and sisters in need. A year ago, the parishioners decided that those funds would be shared between a local and an international cause. The causes they chose were the Middlesbrough Catholic Handicapped Fellowship and a project run by CAFOD helping people in Rwanda.

You will hear shortly from a member of the Handicapped Fellowship about the valuable work they do, but I’d like to give you some insight and feedback about the CAFOD project we have been supporting in a village called Musha in Rwanda .

The world has largely forgotten the Rwandan genocide in 1994, when one million people were killed in 100 days. But 17 years on, Rwandan women live with the scars of war. Around 50,000 were widowed as a result of the genocide.

CAFOD has worked in Rwanda since 1994. In Musha, a village in eastern Rwanda, they are still helping women rebuild their lives after losing loved ones, homes, livestock and belongings.

Despite the traumas they have faced, the strength of the women in Musha is tangible. How else could they raise children, care for orphans, live alongside the released prisoners who killed their loved ones, and find the strength to forgive?

Over the last year, your donations have helped in this work and I’d like to read for you a letter which explains in the words of two of the ladies of the village of Musha just what that help means, in practical terms.

He then read from a letter sent by Steve Tassie – CAFOD’s  Head of Supporter Services. ‘In Musha, we are helping women widowed by genocide to feed their children and earn some much needed money. Recently our local partner gave cows to Musha’s poorest families to help boost nutrition levels’ Berina describes her cow as a ‘God send’.

“Giving my children milk to drink and cheese to eat makes me proud” she says ” In the future I hope to rear some calves and sell them at market. In Rwanda, a cow is like a status symbol. It means you have money and you are someone important. Before the genocide we had five cows but we lost them all. This is my chance to start again.”

As the basics of life improve, people have more time and energy to focus on the future. Take Feza, a mother and community leader ” People come to me for counselling, help and advice. I want to help my fellow women start small businesses such as basket weaving and selling goods at market. Because of the counselling, our outlook is changing. We are focussing on the future now, not on the pain of our pasts” Simon, from CAFOD’s Rwanda office wants to pass on this message to you -” When people start caring about each other, the world seems smaller. Please believe me when I say your support is making all the difference.”

Later we heard from some very brave asylum seekers and refugees from the Democratic Republic of the Congo who shared the pain of being seperated from their loved ones and of the difficulties they faced and fled from. They shared their hopes and very powerful prayers, which gave a lot of ‘food for thought’ at this particular time of year.

Laurie also provided the musical accompaniement to the evening, with the support of his wife and daughter.

More than 120 people from across the city and beyond joined us for the very moving ecumenical service on the theme of “Who is my neighbour”? The service showcased some actual lived experiences of CAFOD’s overseas partners from Bangladesh, Rwanda and Kenya. This annual event involved participants from many faith traditions who took part in the service. The young junior choir, led by Mrs. Gabriel Awre and soloists Rosa Bate and Naomi Awre provided the musical accompaniment with some outstanding individual performances which lifted the spirits of everyone.

It was a wonderful start to the season of Advent. Welcome refreshments were enjoyed afterwards, provided by the courtesy of the Hull Circle of the Catenian Association. Many thanks to all concerned – you know who you are!

On Monday 17 October, the International Day for the Eradication of Poverty, Our Lady Queen of Martyrs joined thousands of other schools, charities, groups and individuals throughout the country and around the world in singing the Count on Us Song,   The song was sung throughout the day in countless school halls throughout the country, Count on Us was specially arranged by Hugh Gibbons from the charity Just 1 to help school children show their solidarity in the fights against poverty and injustice.

Derek Sutherland, headmaster of Our Lady Queen of Martyrs, was delighted with his pupils. “Both sites sang it at morning assembly,” he explained. “It is part of our ethos to ensure that our students are very much aware of the difficulties faced in other parts of the world and they are always eager to play their part by supporting agencies such as CAFOD. The Count on Us song was a joyful way of celebrating their commitment to social justice – and an exuberant way of starting the week.”

For children at the school, their commitment to ending world poverty goes way beyond lip service. Students at the two sites have raised over £3000 in the last year for overseas development agency, CAFOD and pupils on the former English Martyrs site were thrilled to receive certificates for each class from the agency, marking their great achievement. Well done to all!

The first launch takes place at Fudge, Princess Avenue, Hull,at 7.30pm on Friday 4th November  and a second launch will take place at the Endsleigh Centre on Beverley Road at 2.00pm on Saturday 5th November. This multi-talented lady expresses her thoughts and feelings on many aspects of life in her book. Norah is described as ‘one of Hull’s most important modern poets’ and ’Love letters and children’s drawings’, is described as poetry at its very best - insightful, compelling and essential!

Copies are available from Waterstone’s and online on Amazon.

I can’t wait to read it!

Ensure the UK provides it fair share of finance to help people to adapt over the longer term and specifically to ensure a plan is adopted at the next UN talks to mobilise the money needed;

Champion the setting up of a new Green Climate Fund in Durban next month and to

Commit to channel the UK’s contribution through this fund.

There were some colourful characters among the signatories, including a dragon and some vampires!

You can still support the campaign online by visiting cafod.org.uk/dontdroptheball

Year 7 students were delighted to participate in the Sing out against Poverty event on October 17^th 2011. Beverley Jennings, Subject Leader for Music, orchestrated the event, which included several preparation lessons in the lead up to themain challenge, raising awareness of the plight of those living in poverty.

Ebony  and Chloe Year 7 pupils,  reworked the melody and taught it to the rest of the Year group and Year 10 musicians, Jonathan  and Josh, who supported.

Normal timetable arrangements were suspended to allow all Year 7 students to participate in an inter-house singing competition, performing the Sing out against Poverty theme song, ‘We’ll stand up for you’.

Head Teacher, Pamela Hanrahan and History teacher, Dave Watson judged the performances, awarding St. Bede House
first place.

The finale was a rendition of the song by everyone! Mrs. Hanrahan was so impressed, she invited the students to open the bill at this year’s prestigious ACES awards evening to be held in the summer.

Come and join us for a walk of prayer and reflection at the beautiful surroundings of Pocklington Canal.Our prayer walk will begin at Canal Head (A1079 near Pocklington) Distance is approximately 3½ miles. We will pause along the route to reflect on and pray for the needs of our sisters and brothers in developing countries and for our own needs. Scripture and the experiences of some of CAFOD’s and Christian Aid’s partners from around the world will be used to guide us in our reflections. We will be joined by Catherine Ogollo, CAFOD’s Regional Programme Manager for East Africa.

Bring your family and friends along too!

For more details contact the CAFOD Middlesbrough office 01904 671767 or Christian Aid office, Leeds 0113 244 4764