CAFOD walk, Jubilee street party, painting competition

Latest news from the Diocese of East Anglia includes the CAFOD Walk Against Hunger, a Jubilee give-away for the homeless and the winners of a painting competition.

Fenella Ford from Our Lady’s in Stowmarket has raised £1,200 by walking 270km as part of CAFOD’s Walk against Hunger.

“I am a retired teacher, and the welfare of children is very close to my heart,” said Fenella. “I wanted to do something positive to help the poorest and most vulnerable.”

Fenella received great support from Fr Simon Leworthy and from her fellow parishioners, as well as from her husband David who accompanied her on a good deal of the walk. She was for many years head of the RE Department at St Alban’s School, Ipswich.

The Norwich based ‘Pax et Bonum’ fraternity of the  Secular Franciscans, together with SVP friends from North Norfolk, celebrated the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee by providing hot drinks, soup, sandwiches, fruit, biscuits and cakes for the homeless and disadvantaged at the Haymarket in Norwich.  

In addition to the usual fare the group had chocolate biscuits (chocolate is always a welcome addition) and suitably decorated cakes.  It also did party bags for everyone and assorted chocolates in a bag or nuts and raisins for diabetics.

Armed with Union Jack flags and a banner they went to their usual spot. The weather was quite warm so not all the soup went but the cakes and chocolate were a big hit.

“Sadly, the numbers attending weekly are quite constant,” writes Frances Taylor from the group, “and, if anything, increasing.  We are only a small group and would welcome anyone who would like to join us in bringing a little cheer onto the streets of Norwich.”

The East Anglian Knights of St Columba visited local participating Catholic Primary Schools in May to present the winning pupils with their competition awards, certificates and money prizes. Brother Christopher Brooks, PPGK East Anglia who promoted the Easter Scene and Prayer Writing competitions in the Diocese, arranged and attended presentations at St Augustine’s Primary at Costessey, at St Edmund’s Primary at Bungay with Lowestoft Grand Knight Bro George Slaughter and at St Nicholas church Lowestoft for Mass with Year 4, at St Mary’s Primary with Deputy PGK Bro Jason Wickard, and Members of Honour Fr Stephen Bould and Deacon Stephen Pomeroy.

The three winning entries in each competition were sent to the KSC Head Office for a final round of adjudication that will attract further certificates and possible money prizes.

Pictured above is Fenella Ford and below are the Secular Franciscans sharing food with the homeless. Bottom are St Edmund’s painting winners including Juniper Timberlake (right) and 1st school and Provincial winner Lyra Agura-West (left).

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