The CAFOD group meets every Wednesday lunchtime. We are a small group but there are pupil members across Ks3 and Ks4.
The aim of the group is to look for ways to, ‘Put our faith into action’. Each week we keep updated as to what projects the CAFOD organisation is undertaking, and we look for ways to support and get involved. CAFOD has a special focus on Fairtrade, campaigning, prayer and fundraising. Each meeting begins with a prayer, and we discuss ways to fulfil our duty to ‘love our neighbour as ourselves’. and how we can live out the gospel. Currently, we are looking at the Pope’s encyclical ‘Laudato Si’ and discussing climate change issues. We have discussed our roles as ‘Stewards of God’s creation’, and how the Pope is encouraging each and every one of us to care for our ‘common home’ the environment.
Through CAFOD’s website, we have learned that climate change is affecting the world’s poorest people. Our fundraising efforts have supported some of these places affected such as Karuna Battambang in Cambodia. We have held numerous cake sales throughout the year that have been very well supported by the kindness and generosity of our staff and pupils. Pope Francis called for a ‘Year of Peace’, and we were inspired to write our own prayers for Peace that then been shared in Form time. At Easter we organised raffles and a variety of competitions as well as a sponsored run which was again supported by pupils and staff.
We are inspired by one of the founders of CAFOD who was questioned about the first every Family Fast day in 1960, and said
“We are just doing what we ought to do, remembering that we are all Gods Children”.
(Elspeth Orchard)
