You can’t lock a good CAFOD group down says Jane  

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You can’t lock a good CAFOD group down says Jane  

After their summer parish lunch was cancelled because of Covid-19, the CAFOD group from St George’s parish in Norwich cooked up the idea of a takeaway. Jane Crone from CAFOD reports.


For many years, parishioners at St George’s in Norwich have looked forward to their summer parish lunch, in aid of the international development charity CAFOD.  After this year’s was cancelled, they came up with the idea of ‘click and collect’ lunches for a socially distanced get together.  

Representative Gloria Irons explained how parishioners could put in their orders online. Colin, her husband, cooked them and they were collected from her garden a socially safe distance.

The menu featured chicken mayonnaise, mushroom pate, quiches and flans, new potatoes, chickpeas in tomato sauce, salads and bread rolls; followed by cabinet pudding and fresh fruit salad.

In total, the event raised £820.  

The parish priest, Fr Sean, was first in line to collect his meal. “I’m so proud of the way the St George’s CAFOD Group fundraise so creatively,” he said “not even letting lockdown get in the way.  

“The idea of substituting what would have been a sit-down meal with takeaways is just one example.”

During lockdown members of the group have kept busy making homemade marmalade and face masks. One member, Gill Bannon, has made an impressive total of 56 masks. Masks and marmalade are for now for sale in the church foyer and selling fast, all the proceeds going to CAFOD.

Fr Sean continued: “I’m so grateful for the way they continue to challenge all of us in the parish to keep the world’s needy and poor in our hearts and minds.”  

The group’s challenge is part of CAFOD’s Summer of Hope. The campaign aims to inspire the nation to remain hopeful this summer through recreating cancelled events virtually – while also supporting communities in developing countries through fundraising.    

Donations will go towards CAFOD’s coronavirus appeal, which is currently scaling up its support to local aid experts. These local experts are providing food to vulnerable families, as well as improving handwashing and sanitation facilities across communities. 

Find out more about CAFOD’s work at cafod.org.uk/coronavirus

Pictured above is Fr Sean Connolly

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