Caritas Calling! – August/September 2020

A Monthly Bulletin for our local parishes, charities and Catholic Agencies 1. We are strongest when we “share resources and information”

2. Staying Together While Apart - a new project to help the most vulnerable

3. Pope at General Audience launches new series of catechesis on Church's social teaching

4. Laudato si' Anniversary Year Plan 2020-2021

5. Climate Sunday

6. The God Who Speaks: The Year of the Word - Timeline August and September 2020:

7. The Pope’s Prayer intentions:

August – Universal prayer intention ‐ The Maritime World

September – Universal prayer intention ‐ Respect for the Planet’s Resources

8. The Cycle of Prayer

Throughout Ordinary Time: Summer - A Deeper Understanding between Christians and Jews; Those Who Suffer Persecution, Oppression and Denial of Human Rights; Human Life; Europe; Seafarers.

Throughout Ordinary Time: Autumn - The Harvest, the Fruits of Human Work, and the Reverent Use of Creation; Students and Teachers; The Spread of the Gospel; Justice and Peace in the World; Prisoners and their Families; All Victims of War; Young People.

9. ACTA Conference: The Post - Pandemic Church - Business as Usual?

10. Message of Pope Francis for the 106th World Day of Migrants and Refugees 27 September 2020

11. “Apply for settled status as soon as possible!”

12. Developing parish Caritas animators in community-based development work ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

1. We are strongest when we “share resources and information” Dedicated volunteers are the backbone of a project designed to reach out to people made vulnerable by the Covid-19 pandemic, allowing the Church to extend its sphere of evangelization in south-eastern Wales. Archbishop George Stack calls Cardiff a “Diocesan Family”. The Archdiocese recently received much-appreciated funding from the Welsh government for its ‘Staying Together While Apart’ project. In an interview with Vatican News on 1st August, the Archbishop explains why he uses the phrase “Diocesan Family” to describe his diocese, and tells us how the Welsh and Catholic identity are together contributing to extend this family to society at large. Welsh identity Archbishop Stack says he drew the image of Cardiff as a “Diocesan Family” from "the history and tradition of the Welsh nation because one of the identifying marks of Wales is the strength of local communities.” “There's a very strong community dimension to life here up in the valleys,” the Archbishop continues. He says that each village and town has a “very strong identity”. In addition, he says the Welsh people are “very, very friendly and interested in other and supportive of each other”. Catholic identity Along with this strength drawn from this Welsh historic identity, the second dimension that makes the Church particularly capable of reaching out is that it is present in “the most isolated places”, says the Archbishop. Yet, parishes go above and beyond in terms of community involvement. “So, building on the whole notion of the Church as community and communion, and the Body of Christ, this is language which is part and parcel of our identity as Catholics.” Part of the Catholic mentality is “caritas”, and the Church has an existing framework in which Catholics take care of others in their area. When Covid-19 hit, this led the parishes to “express in public ways what is already going on in local ways in the parishes so as to reach out to the wider community and use our resources”. Listen to the full interview with Archbishop Stack: https://www.vaticannews.va/en/church/news/2020-08/cardiff-archbishop-george-stack-interview-covid-19.html

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2. Staying Together While Apart - a new project to help the most vulnerable. A message from Klavdija Erzen STWA Project Manager, Archdiocese of Cardiff: The past few months have been incredibly difficult, and I wish to start with thanking you for all the work you have been doing responding to the crisis in your parish and church. At the same time, I would like to share some good news: we have been awarded a grant from the Welsh Government’s Voluntary Services Emergency Fund to expand the good work already taking place across the Archdiocese serving the wider community at this difficult time. The ‘Staying Together While Apart’ project will run for 6 months and has two specific objectives: First, to improve mental health and wellbeing of older and vulnerable adults, reduce feelings of isolation and loneliness, provide care to those suffering psychological distress, and foster a sense of belonging and community. We intend to use Zoom, Skype, live streaming, and YouTube podcasts along with the more traditional phone calls, letters, and even postcards to combat isolation and communicate messages of support to those in need. Secondly, we intend to expand, ‘shop and drop’ home deliveries of food, care packages, and prescriptions organised for the most vulnerable who are self-isolating. This is a fantastic project but can only be delivered with your help. Have you been involved in working with the elderly and vulnerable affected by the COVID-19? Then we wish to hear from you! Tell us about your experience and how we can assist you – please take a few moments and complete an online survey we created: https://www.surveymonkey.co.uk/r/8CW7DNR I am happy to answer any questions you have, so please do get in touch: klavdija.erzen@rcadc.org

3. Pope at General Audience launches new series of catechesis on Church's social teaching Resuming his weekly general audience after the July recess, Pope Francis says that the Christian virtues of faith, hope and charity enable us to heal the physical, social and spiritual infirmities of our times, such as those revealed by the pandemic, writes Robin Gomes on Vatican News, 5 August 2020. In a catechesis live-streamed from the Apostolic Library, Pope Francis assures Christians that despite the Covid-19 pandemic continuing to infect and kill people, with many, especially the poor, going through uncertain times because of socio-economic problems, God’s Kingdom of healing and of salvation is present, as Jesus assures us in Luke’s Gospel. In his message Pope Francis says: In the next few weeks, I invite you to tackle together the pressing questions that the pandemic has brought to the fore, social ills above all. And we will do it in the light of the Gospel, of the theological virtues and of the principles of the Church’s social doctrine. We will explore together how our Catholic social tradition can help the human family heal this world that suffers from serious illnesses. It is my desire that everyone reflect and work together, as followers of Jesus who heals, to construct a better world, full of hope for future generations (see Apostolic Exhortation, Evangelii gaudium, 24, November 2013, no. 183). Thank you.

During the General Audience, the Pope gives a catechesis on the Christian faith. Short summaries of these catecheses are translated into 7 languages: French, English, German, Spanish, Portuguese, Arabic and Polish. Longer summaries of these catecheses are published on Vatican News and full texts can be found on the official Vatican web portal. The General Audiences can be viewed live with playback available on the various language channels of the Vatican Media YouTube channel.

4. Laudato si' Anniversary Year Plan 2020-2021

A year of celebrations of the Encyclical Letter of Pope Francis on the care of our Common Home. The Dicastery for Promoting Integral Human Development is happy to announce a Special Laudato Si’ Anniversary Year from 24th May 2020 – 24th May 2021. We hope that the anniversary year and the ensuing decade will indeed be a time of grace, a true Kairos experience and “Jubilee” time for the Earth, and for humanity, and for all God’s creatures… …The urgency of the situation calls for immediate, holistic and unified responses at all levels - local, regional, national and international. We need, above all, “a peoples’ movement” from below, an alliance of all people of good will. As Pope Francis reminds us, “All of us can cooperate as instruments of God for the care of creation, each according to his or her own culture, experience, involvements and talents.”(LS, 14) Link to Laudato si' Anniversary Year Plan 2020-2021 - program

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5. Climate Sunday Climate Sunday has been organised by Churches Together in Britain and Ireland (CTBI) with support from charities including CAFOD, Christian Aid, Tearfund, A Rocha UK, and Operation Noah. Local churches are encouraged to hold a local Climate Sunday any time during a one-year period starting on 6th September (the first Sunday in the annual season of Creation Time/Season of Creation). Bishop of Salford, Bishop John Arnold, the bishop responsible for the environment for the Catholic Bishops of England and Wales, said: “We need to recognise the damage we’re doing to the environment and our failure to look after our brothers and sisters in our common home. “In a post-pandemic world, the Climate Sunday project is an excellent opportunity for Catholic parishes in England and Wales, as well as our ecumenical brothers and sisters, to understand responsibility to heal our planet and to pray and act in response to the climate emergency.” Free resources will be provided to suit every tradition and style of worship. Register Climate Sunday website During their local Climate Sunday, churches are invited to do one or more of three things:

1. Climate service: Hold a climate-focused service, to explore the theological and scientific basis of creation care and action on climate, to pray, and to commit to action.

2. Commit: Make a commitment as a local church community to taking long term action to reduce its own greenhouse gas emissions.

3. Call: Join with other churches and wider society by adding its name to a common call for the UK government to take much bolder action on climate change in this country in advance of COP26, and to strengthen its credibility to lead the international community to adopt a step change in action at COP26. The culmination of the campaign will be a national Climate Sunday event on Sunday 5th September 2021, to share church commitments and pray for bold action and courageous leadership at COP26.

6. The God Who Speaks: The Year of the Word - Timeline August and September 2020: In the Archdiocese of Cardiff, Scripture Champions, Kate Duffin and Madeleine Walters, promote the ‘Year of The God Who Speaks’ and for regular Newsletters contact Madeleine at madeleine.walters@rcadc.org. Fr. Jerome Ituah OCD has the same role for the Diocese of Menevia; contact: pkr@menevia.org

7. The Pope’s Prayer intentions:

August – Universal prayer intention ‐ The Maritime World “We pray for all those who work and live from the sea, among them sailors, fishermen and their families.” In the 100th anniversary year of the Apostleship of the Sea/Stella Maris, the new “Pope Video” focuses on sailors, fishermen and their families, whose lives are afflicted with many difficulties and challenges. See also: https://www.vaticannews.va/en/pope/news/2020-08/pope-francis-prayer-intention-august-2020-video-message.html

September – Universal prayer intention ‐ Respect for the Planet’s Resources “We pray that the planet’s resources will not be plundered, but shared in a just and respectful manner.” Visit: www.thepopevideo.org during September.

8. The Cycle of Prayer Summer - Visit: http://www.liturgyoffice.org.uk/Calendar/Cycle/SummerCP.shtml Throughout Ordinary Time: Summer we are asked to pray for the following intentions: A Deeper Understanding between Christians and Jews; Those Who Suffer Persecution, Oppression and Denial of Human Rights; Human Life; Europe; Seafarers: Links - Apostleship of the Sea Autumn - Visit: http://www.liturgyoffice.org.uk/Calendar/Cycle/AutumnCP.shtml Throughout Ordinary Time: Autumn we are asked to pray for the following intentions: The Harvest, the Fruits of Human Work, and the Reverent Use of Creation especially on World Day of prayer for the Care of Creation (1 September) and on last Sunday in September or whenever Harvest Festivals are held. Links:

Letter of Pope Francis for the Establishment of the World day of Prayer for the Care of Creation.

Laudato si' — Encyclical letter of Pope Francis on care of our common home.

CAFOD – Live Simply Award - https://cafod.org.uk/Campaign/Livesimply-award

Consider how this intention links with the intention: Justice and Peace in the World

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Students and Teachers especially on Education day: Sunday 13 Sept. Link: http://www.catholiceducation.org.uk/ The Spread of the Gospel especially on Home Mission Day: 3rd Sunday in September & World Mission Day: the penultimate Sunday in October Justice and Peace in the World especially on Harvest Fast Day: 1st Friday in October Prisoners and their Families especially on Prisoners Sunday (2nd Sunday in October) and in Prisons Week (2nd Week in October); Links: Prisons Week; Prison Advice and Care Trust - Faith Zone All Victims of War especially on Remembrance Sunday (2nd Sunday in November) Young People especially on Christ the King: 34th Sunday in Ordinary Time. Links: https://cymfed.org.uk/; http://www.ycwimpact.com/

9. ACTA Conference: The Post - Pandemic Church - Business as Usual? Covid-19 has caused changes in the way that society operates. Almost nothing of the life we knew in 2018-19 has remained unaffected. In our life of faith, too, we are adapting to change – churches have been closed for three months and more. Spiritual needs are difficult to meet at a time of social distancing. The charitable work of society has had to meet new challenges and new demands.

What kind of Church are we becoming? What kind of Church will we be in the future? Pope Francis has established a Covid-19 Commission to examine the global issues associated with the pandemic. At a diocesan level, ACTA is setting up a sequence of online Conference meetings to debate where the Church is and will be as a result of Covid-19.

On the dates set out below there will be an online Zoom meeting with Introduction of a key speaker 20-25 minutes presentation by an invited speaker Breakout rooms- Discussion – 30 minutes - Facilitated Question and Answer Session with the invited speaker – 30 minutes

All sessions will start at 7.00pm prompt. Registration is essential and the form is available at : https://www.acalltoaction.org.uk/ While there is no charge for accessing these sessions, a small voluntary donation to defray expenses and to support the charitable work of our speakers would be gratefully received. Wednesday 23rd September 2020– Prof Tom O’ Loughlin University of Nottingham: Eucharist and Community in a Digital Age Wednesday 7th October 2020- Fr Gerry Proctor MBE – Archdiocese of Liverpool: Ministering in the Field Hospital Wednesday 21st October 2020- Dr Philip McCarthy – Chief Executive, Caritas Social Action Network: Hearing the Cry of the Poor and Disadvantaged Wednesday 4th November 2020- Dr Clare Watkins, Reader, Roehampton Institute: A Vision for the Church of the Future

10. Message of Pope Francis for the 106th World Day of Migrants and Refugees 27 September 2020

Like Jesus Christ, forced to flee. Welcoming, protecting, promoting and integrating

internally displaced persons

At the beginning of this year, in my Address to the members of the Diplomatic Corps accredited to the Holy See, I pointed to the tragedy of internally displaced people as one of the challenges of our contemporary world: “Situations of conflict and humanitarian emergencies, aggravated by climate change, are increasing the numbers of displaced persons and affecting people already living in a state of dire poverty. Many of the countries experiencing these situations lack adequate structures for meeting the needs of the displaced” (9 January 2020). The Migrants and Refugees Section of the Dicastery for Promoting Integral Human Development has issued the document “Pastoral Orientations on Internally Displaced People” (Vatican City, 5 May 2020), which aims to inspire and encourage the pastoral work of the Church in this specific area.

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For these reasons, I have decided to devote this Message to the drama of internally displaced persons, an often unseen tragedy that the global crisis caused by the COVID-19 pandemic has only exacerbated. In fact, due to its virulence, severity and geographical extent, this crisis has impacted on many other humanitarian emergencies that affect millions of people, which has relegated to the bottom of national political agendas those urgent international efforts essential to saving lives. But “this is not a time for forgetfulness. The crisis we are facing should not make us forget the many other crises that bring suffering to so many people” (Urbi et Orbi Message, 12 April 2020). In the light of the tragic events that have marked 2020, I would like this Message, although concerned with internally displaced persons, to embrace all those who are experiencing situations of precariousness, abandonment, marginalization and rejection as a result of COVID-19.

11. “Apply for settled status as soon as possible!” Bishop urges European citizens who have made their homes in the UK Exactly a year before the government’s deadline for EU, EEA and Swiss citizens living in the UK to apply for Settled Status, a bishop who has gone through the process is urging people not to delay in making their application. Bishop William Kenney, auxiliary Bishop of Birmingham and himself a Swedish national, says those who are eligible should apply well ahead of 30 June 2021. https://tinyurl.com/y4frzb5w The government requires European citizens who have made their homes in the UK to make an application or risk losing their fundamental rights to live and work here. Everyone including children needs to go through the process. Bishop Kenney warned that while many people have found it straightforward, others have faced unexpected obstacles navigating the government’s system or don’t even realise they’re required to apply. He’s therefore urging people to get their applications in early and encouraging parishioners to look out for others who might need some support. Check your eligibility and make an application; Get help applying; More information from the European Commission; More information from Settled – [Includes many languages]

12. Developing parish Caritas animators in community-based development work The Bishop ‘must encourage the creation in each parish of Caritas or similar organisations that should play among others the pedagogical (animation) role in the parish community (Cf. Intima Ecclesiae Natura art.9). …Caritas favours and encourages voluntary work. In fact many Caritas organisations rely on the commitment of so many men and women who offer their services as volunteers in the name of their faith. Most of them are highly qualified persons and have a valuable professional background in different fields, like management, social work, logistics, etc. Many Caritas wouldn’t do much without the support of those volunteers. In fact, volunteer work within Caritas is one of the pillars of this organisation worldwide and at all levels. Volunteering opportunities at Caritas vary from occasional support at events to activities in offices and spaces of daily living.1 Caritas volunteers2 (for example):

• Are people and teams committed to engage in favour of people in situations of vulnerability and social exclusion; • Are people who work in a joint effort, in communities where people really experience the difficulties of everyday life: coexist in solidarity, seeking unity, respecting and valuing differences; challenged for living relationships of equality, dialogue and goodwill;… • Are people who work and encourage their group, using a liberating methodology;… • Take an ecumenical position, open to coexistence with other cultures and religious sources and welcoming values and beliefs that contribute to the dedication of life for the liberation of impoverished people;… • Are a driving force as animators of processes of organisation and mobilisation towards social transformation.

Parish Caritas base their work on integral human development, carry out local needs assessments, implement programmes of learning and development based on community needs, develop strategic plans and animate local communities.3 For details of how you and your parish can develop a Parish Caritas Service, contact:

Jim Barnaville, Coordinator, Caritas Archdiocese of Cardiff. Email: caritas@rcadc.org

1 Serving Out of Love. FAQ 11. What is the Place and Role of Volunteers in Caritas? https://tinyurl.com/ybz2vt5x 2 Ibid. 3 Cf. CI, Caritas Partnership: A Caritas Internationalis Handbook for Reflection and Action, 15.2 Tool 2 Roles and Responsibilities of Caritas at Different Levels https://www.caritas.org/wordpress/wp-ontent/uploads/2017/06/partnershipGuidingPrinciples.pdf

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