Dear East Grinstead Catholic Parish
Thank you for your support this year especially most recently with the Harvest Fast Day Appeal. We know that it has been a difficult time for our churches, and we are truly grateful that our brothers and sisters across the world were remembered.
The need this year has been huge and challenging across the world. But thanks to you we have been able to continue our international work. Through CAFOD you have supported some of poorest communities most impacted by the virus. You have reached people in more than 33 countries, with over six million people receiving health and prevention advice and more than half a million people receiving safe hygiene supplies and services to prevent and reduce infection. Many more poor and vulnerable families have been supported with food supplies when there was no way to earn a living in the face of lockdown.
Your care for others meant that we were able to continue support in countries like Yemen, Syria, Sudan, Democratic Republic of Congo, Brazil where communities were already facing the toughest of challenges before the arrival of the virus.
To pass our heartfelt thanks on to your parishioners, Kayode Akintola, who works for CAFOD in Sierra Leone, West Africa, recorded a message of thanks to all of our supporters. Kayode will also be speaking directly to people in the Arundel and Brighton Diocese early next year at a planned event.
CAFOD UPDATES.
They include Advent prayer cards (one for each week), a series of daily Advent reflections, online prayer events, an online carol service guide with a carol sheet, a chance to join or organise a fun run and other social events. For more information on all of these, please see cafod.org.uk/parishes
We have had an increase in requests for details of Christmas gifts which also make a practical difference to struggling communities around the world. Consequently, we’ll soon be sending parishes a fewer than usual number of World Gift catalogues. These can be used for Christmas and other special moments such as birthdays or baptisms until Autumn 2021. We would be grateful if they can be made available in your church.
Finally, I would like to wish you a holy and happy Advent and a very joyful Christmas.
In Christ,
Jenny Finlayson
CAFOD in Arundel and Brighton
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