East Anglia Deanery Caritas Festival set for Costessey

St Walstan Church, Costessey will host the Norwich Deanery Caritas Festival for the Norwich Deanery on Saturday November 30, with a Mass led by Bishop Peter Collins.

Caritas Festivals celebrate the many ways in which the Catholic community puts its faith into action through social outreach, encouraging new volunteers to get involved with local organisations that help meet the needs of their communities. Accordingly, after Mass, there will be refreshments and opportunities to learn more about the organisations active in the local area, until the Festival closes with prayer and reflection at 12 noon.

Participants at previous Festivals have said:

“Good to have involvement of secular groups and those of other faiths – this must continue!”

“We were surprised at how many people had not heard of our organisation, so this was a good opportunity to address that.”

“The good point about the Festival is that the attendees were mostly from the local parishes and people who pray and understand that prayers are an important part of our Christian faith. We believe that God answers prayers.”

“It was also good to share with other charities, learn about their work and how we all work together for the less privileged.”

The local activities covered by the organisations present on November 30 at Costessey will range across befriending the lonely, bereavement support, homelessness, mentorship for prisoners, raising awareness about modern slavery, settling migrants and refugees into their new lives, support for seafarers, and work experience for the unemployed. Organisations, such as CAFOD, which address the needs of those in other countries, will also be well represented, including St Walstan’s twin parish of St Joseph’s, Tahen in Cambodia.

It is also hoped that local young people concerned about social issues will advocate at the Festival for a particular social action project. Their participation could serve as preparation for their entry in the Columbans Schools Competition – Jubilee: Pilgrims of Hope, where young people are invited to highlight one community or group bringing hope in the world today. This might be a group they are part of or one that inspires them. The community or group chosen should act in some way for the common good, responding to the Cry of the Earth and the Cry of the Poor (Laudato Si’ #49).

Event details: St Walstan Church, Townhouse Road, Costessey will host the Norwich Deanery Caritas Festival on Saturday November 30, starting at 9:30am with Mass.

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