Gill Tarpey, Community Development Worker, writes … Headteacher Miss McStay and Mrs Bolton provided the group with some wonderful crafts for making Christmas cards. We were spoilt for choice. The school children supported and helped our members in making beautiful cards. We all enjoyed a cup of tea and some home-baked goodies. We look forward to another visit in the New Year.

Caritas Social Action Network supports the call by Pope Francis for an immediate ceasefire in the Israeli-Gaza conflict. In his comments after the Angelus on 29 October, Pope Francis said, “… in Gaza, may space be opened to guarantee humanitarian aid, and may the hostages be released right away. Let no one abandon the possibility that the weapons might be silenced – let there be a ceasefire”.

We deplore the atrocities carried out by Hamas on 7 October and we agree with our sister Caritas agency CAFOD that “responding to the atrocities committed by Hamas with what amounts to a collective punishment of civilians living in the occupied Palestinian territory is leading to unimaginable levels of death and suffering”.

We urge the Catholic community in England and Wales to pray for peace and reconciliation and to learn more about the background to this conflict, including the role played by Britian during the period of the Mandate (1920-1948). We urge Catholics to raise the voice of peace and justice in their communities with their elected representatives.

In particular, we urge all Catholics to take a stand against antisemitic and Islamophobic hate crimes in their own communities. We share the concern of Cardinal Vincent Nichols, who has appealed for “restraint and the total avoidance of hateful language and action, as the impact of this conflict is felt in communities here”.

Catholics in England and Wales can also respond in charity to the worsening situation by donating to the CAFOD appeal. Donations to the Crisis Appeal will support those affected and get funds to local trusted experts who have been working alongside communities helping those most in need to receive urgent humanitarian aid including food, water and emergency shelter.

Raymond Friel, CEO, Caritas Social Action Network
13 November 2023

The Royal Air Force and Royal Navy defended the United Kingdom against large-scale attacks by Nazi Germany’s air force, the Luftwaffe.

This major event of the Second World War was commemorated by the Friendship Group at St. Joseph’s Church in Harrogate on 12th September.

Gill Tarpey, Community Development Worker, writes …

The group at St. Joseph’s enjoy marking special occasions. Some members dressed in uniforms, and we decorated the hall to match the occasion. We enjoyed activities and a themed quiz on ‘all things Battle of Britain’. Some members recalled relatives who had served in the military or the Home Guard, and we listened to their stories. Home-baked cakes were shared, and a game of boccia (indoor bowls).

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It is an occasion to express support and concern for vulnerable people forced to flee their homes; to encourage Christians and others to remember and pray for those displaced by conflict and persecution; and to increase awareness about the opportunities and challenges that migration offers.

Each year the pope choses a theme for the Day. For this year Pope Francis has chosen “Free to choose whether to migrate or to stay”. You can download the Pope’s message here. Below you can find information about Catholic Care’s work with migrants and refugees, as well as resources from the wider Church.

In 2012 the pope asked every diocese in the world to establish a ‘Caritas’ service if they didn’t already have one. The word caritas is Latin for love, and Caritas services coordinate the Church’s works of charity which concretely express our love for God and neighbour.

Every country and diocese organises its Caritas service differently according to local circumstances. In 2017 Bishop Marcus launched ‘Caritas Leeds’ as an umbrella forum bringing together many different groups providing charitable outreach to the poor in our diocese.

Thanks to the good work done by the coordinator for Caritas Leeds, Rev. Dr. Joseph Cortis (a deacon of the diocese and Catholic Care trustee) the service developed to the point where Bishop Marcus has decided it needs additional support to make it even more effective.

So, from August 2023, Bishop Marcus has designated our charity, Catholic Care, as ‘Caritas Leeds’. That means we will provide the organisational structure to support social mission in the diocese. We will be incorporating ‘Caritas Leeds’ into our name, logo, and identity.

With 160 years’ experience of caring for those in need, Catholic Care is in a strong position to undertake the responsibility of coordinating the Church’s service among the marginalised.

We’re now charged by Bishop Marcus with the task of supporting and enhancing – not replacing or taking over – the charitable work already being done by many Catholic groups and parish projects. We’re blessed with professionally-qualified staff and the infrastructure to grow the Caritas service, and we’re excited to work with and learn from friends old and new.

It will take time to see exactly how this new collaboration will work. Bishop Marcus has suggested we convene a regular forum where representatives from groups and parishes come together to identify needs, discuss collaborative projects, and grow in understanding and living-out of Catholic Social Teaching. Working together we’ll be able to encourage good care practice, provide guidance and training, and support charitable initiatives.

Director of Catholic Care, Carol Hill, said: ‘Our charity’s values, based on Catholic Social Teaching principles, are at the heart of everything we do, giving expression to our faith through works of charity. As the diocese’s Caritas agency, Catholic Care will continue showing God’s love in action. Pope Francis says charity – caritas – is our very life, “it makes us be what we are”. This is an exciting time for the Catholic community in Leeds, and our many supporters of all faiths and none, to be love in action across Yorkshire.’

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