Torrential rainstorms didn’t deter CAFOD Middlesbrough supporters who turned out in great numbers to celebrate the 50th Anniversary of Family Fast Day at St Mary’s Cathedral in Coulby Newham, Middlesbrough on Sunday 3rd October with Bishop Terence Patrick Drainey.
Among the hardy souls were some who had made long and arduous journeys from Hull and Humberside, East Yorkshire and the coast, from up hill and down dale and across moors in horrendous weather in an amazing display of dedication and support to ensure the occasion was not a total washout, including more than 10 parish priests who concelebrated.
In her introduction, Elizabeth Rodgers, Secretary of the Catholic Women’s League, recounted the Austrian origins that had sown the idea of helping under-developed peoples among Catholic Women’s Organisations and proudly ended by saying ‘today the Mothers of CAFOD are delighted with their child’. Ladies from the Union of Catholic Mothers, who had taken part in the very first Family Fast Day, also made the trek from English Martyrs Church in York. Eileen Harris, aged 91 years, and eighty-something’s, Mary Wright and Kitty Heslop, recalled handing out leaflets and counting the collection over 50 years ago. Mary said ‘We didn’t have (walking) sticks then, of course!’ The remarkable trio still support Fast Day in their parish and are members of the Union to this day.
Kitty, who was married in Ireland and came to live in York in 1951, said ‘The reason we were there in the beginning was that the UCM were asked to help with the counting. English Martyrs Church had a branch of the UCM and came under the Diocese of Leeds. There were hundreds of members at that time. We used to go to a church in Leeds four times a year for our meetings. It was 1s/6d for our tea! The old ladies used to do everything in the parish, they were wonderful! We were brought up with the idea that we should give up something every year for Fast Day.’ Kitty also remembered meeting a younger Fr Jim O’Keefe in 1982 when he and Fr Roche, now Bishop of Leeds, were preparing for the Papal Visit of John Paul II to York. ‘But he had dark hair then!’
Fr Jim gave an uplifting and inspiring homily based around the day’s readings. He used a challenging quote from James Forbes, the pastor of the amazing Riverside Drive Church in New York, who said ‘No one will get into heaven without a letter of reference from the poor!’ As he acknowledged the veterans from the UCM, he challenged the young people in the congregation to keep the flame burning for the next 50 years and come together in 2060 to celebrate 100 years of Fast Day, giving his apologies in advance as he would be 112 years old then!
Young representatives from the Diocesan Youth Ministry Team, St Clare’s Primary School, Middlesbrough and St Peter’s Maths and Computing College, South Bank also braved the storm, showing their youthful support. One inspiring young man, Thomas from St Peter’s, had recently organised a sponsored silence to raise funds, so there are signs of hope for the future. The celebrations were enhanced by the musical talents of the Diocesan Choir under the direction of Mr Tim Harrison, for whose presence we were extremely grateful. We also extend our thanks to Bishop Drainey, Fr Gerard Robinson and the lovely ladies who supplied the refreshments afterwards!
Carol Cross, Diocesan Officer