CAFOD: Catholic Agency for Overseas Development

CAFOD is the official international development charity who reach out to people living in poverty with practical help, whatever their religion or culture. CAFOD is the official aid agency of the Catholic Church in England and Wales and part of Caritas (Registered Charity No: 1160384).

CAFOD originated in our St. Elizabeth’s church in Cookham in 1960, when funds from the Family Fast Day were used to support a project in Dominica. This then extended into Maidenhead and through our global church network, is now one of the largest in the world,

CAFOD has the potential to reach everyone. And they campaign for global justice, so that every woman, man and child can live a full and dignified life.

CAFOD raises money from the Lent and Harvest Fast Days and through other fundraising events during the year, such as the Big Lent Walk.

The money raised will enable CAFOD to continue fighting global poverty and working through expert local partners to bring real life change to communities overseas.

More about CAFOD and St.Elizabeth’s

CAFOD was born when a team led by Jacquie Stuyt, and including Evelyn White, Nora Warmington and Elspeth Orchard, came together with others from the National Board of Catholic Women, the Catholic Women’s League and the Union of Catholic Mothers to organise the first Family Fast Day in 1960.

The Orchard family were members of Saint Elizabeth’s parish living in the White House at Cookham village and Elspeth was a UCM member. The original four were so overwhelmed by the response that they asked the Bishops Conference to take over the project.

Elspeth later moved to Marlow joining their Catholic Women’s League as there was no UCM in their parish. For many years the two groups held joint meetings.

The Catholic women who organised the first Family Fast Day in 1960 with Sister Alicia.

HOW TO JOIN US

To find out more, contact

Paddy at St. Joseph’s and St. Elizabeth’s via the parish office office@stjosephsparish.co.uk

Lyndsey Branchesi at St. Edmund Campion via the parish office office@stedmundcampion.org.uk

John Allinson at St. Thomas More via the parish office stmtwyford@portsmouthdiocese.org.uk

Learn more about CAFOD here:

CAFOD

1 Peter 3:8

“Finally, all of you, be like-minded, be sympathetic, love one another, be compassionate and humble.”