I would like to say a special word of thanks to everyone who made a special effort and got very creative with their efforts to raise funds for CAFOD on Lent Fast Day and during the period of matched funding. At the time of going to print, the total amount received from Middlesbrough was around £160,000 which is an incredible amount! Thank you so much for showing such concern and wanting to make a lasting difference in the lives of so many people who need access to clean water supplies and safe sanitation facilities. They will be eternally grateful to you.
Also, thanks to all the people who have taken part in our Thirst for Change campaign which ran alongside our Lent theme and signed campaign cards, more than 32,000 have been returned and will be handed into 10 Downing Street on 15th May, where hopefully they will convince David Cameron to use his influence with world leaders at the G8 meeting in May and the G20 summit in Rio in June.
CAFOD Partner Lemlem Berhe, a water and irrigation engineer who is making a brief visit to the Diocese, writes: “I am Lemlem Berhe, 26 years old and live in Adigrat in Ethiopia. I’ve wanted to be an engineer ever since I was a kid. At high school, I focused on maths and drawing and got good results in the university entrance exam. My first choice was engineering – and the government sponsored me to take the course. Twenty-one women started engineering in my class at university, but only four of them graduated. The rest failed their exams. I was the only woman from Tigray province to graduate in engineering in my year from that university. In my opinion, engineering is not just a job for men; it’s for anyone who is hard-working and interested in the job. I now work for the Adigrat Diocese Catholic Secretariat (ADCS), a CAFOD partner, as a water and irrigation engineer. I design and build different structures to improve water supply and tackle problems with irrigation. This includes developing cisterns, ponds, clean water sources and irrigation canals”. By the time you read this, Lemlem will have taken part in the 30th Humber Bridge Cross, a joint event organised by Christian Aid and CAFOD, where she will meet some of the supporters who have been active on our Thirst for Change campaign.
Day of Reflection: Bishop John Crowley has regretfully had to inform me that he will be unable to give a keynote address at the CAFOD Day of Reflection planned for 15th September. He requires further surgery on his knee which he expects to have in July and will then require a period of recovery for the following few months. He was deeply apologetic to have to cancel the arrangement but said he would be happy to rearrange another date, when he is well again. I’m sure you will join me in wishing him well and not be too disappointed by this development! I am presently trying to organise an alternative arrangement for the same date and will provide more details as soon as I have them.
Dates for your diary:
9th June: Events Training Day at St Wilfrid’s Parish Upper Room, York for people who would like to know more about organising events for CAFOD from 10.00 am – 4.00 pm with CAFOD’s Community Fundraising Team.
7th July: Campaign Energiser Day at the Bar Convent, Blossom Street, York for CAFOD campaign volunteers, new and old, with CAFOD’s Campaign Team. Anyone wishing to come along, please contact the CAFOD Middlesbrough Office on (01904) 671767 or e-mail middlesbrough@cafod.org.uk
15th September: Day of Reflection/Quiet Day – details later.
4th November: CAFOD 50th Anniversary Memorial Mass, 10.00 am at St Mary’s Cathedral with Bishop Drainey and CAFOD’s Advocacy Director, Neil Thorns.
25th November: Hull Advent Service, 3.00 pm at St Charles Church, Hull with Bishop Drainey, Richard Frith, Anglican Bishop of Hull, Councillor Danny Brown and ecumenical leaders from Hull, and Jackie Heaney, CAFOD’s Director of Organisational Development and People.
Thanks again for all the support you give to CAFOD and for the concern you have for others who are in need.
Carol Cross
CAFOD Diocesan Manager