Leeds School girl Lois, is a shining example of Live Simply

Lois is a student from Holy Name Catholic Primary school in Leeds, and is taking direct action campaigning to make sure Leeds schools use less single use plastic, all in her bid to become the next Children’s Lord Mayor or Leeds.

                                      Lois’ campaign message on single use plastic

Lois gets support and advice from her local MP Alex Sobel, inspiring others to ‘Live Simply’

Holy Name Primary school have been involved with CAFODs Live Simply award (one of two primary schools from the parish of Our Lady of Kirkstal)

Lois is raising awareness of how to reduce single use plastic in her school and the message has spread across social media and on local radio broadcasts.

Lois has been visiting other Catholic Primary schools across the deanery and met her local MP Alex Sobel to make sure this issue of reducing single use plastic is heard by the widest audience possible

Lois said “I hope this campaign as part of my bid to become Children’s Lord Mayor, will encourage schools in Leeds to reduce their use of single use plastic and stop creating such a polluting impact on our oceans.”

CAFOD representative, Bronagh Daly said “Lois is such an inspiration for our school children, her actions can inspire more people in our Diocese to do more to reduce their dependency on single use plastic, and care for our common home. We wish Lois all the very best of luck for her campaign to become the next Children’s Lord Mayor of Leeds.”

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For more information on the voting process for the Children’s Lord Mayor of Leeds, click here (voting closes 19 September 2018

For more information on how your parish can become a Live Simply click here.

Sat 10th Nov: CAFOD retreat ‘Countering Comsumerism’ Book your place

What does it mean to be holy?
How can we find holiness given our busy modern lives?

Pope Francis offers some ideas in his new letter, Gaudete et Exsultate (Rejoice and Be Glad). He encourages us to open our eyes, ears and hearts, to be unsettled by the words of the Gospel and expand our often limited horizons.

Book your place on the retreat

We are invited to be disturbed by faith, challenge the culture of consumerism and respond to the Pope’s profound invitation to care for our common home. Pope Francis asks us to find time for our own holiness.

So this autumn, take time out of your everyday life to explore Scripture and Church teaching together and be inspired by one another and CAFOD’s campaigning and work overseas.

The retreats are free of charge and all are welcome, whether or not you have been involved in CAFODs campaigns

Saturday 10th November
Leeds retreat: Hinsley Hall, 62 Headingly Lane, Leeds, LS6 2BX, 10-4pm. Lunch will be provided. Book your place here

If you are not able to attend the Leeds retreat, have a look at the alternative dates across England and Wales and choose a date that suits you best. Booking is essential.

For more information contact Joanne or Bronagh on (0113) 275 9302 or leeds@cafod.org.uk

Skipton walkers add one hundred miles to around the world refugee solidarity walk

Skipton walkers add one hundred miles to around the world charity challenge

A group of Skipton locals have joined thousands of others to help complete a 24,900-mile walk around the world in solidarity with refugees.

Walking in solidarity with refugees

 

 

On 8 July, over fifteen supporters of the international development charity CAFOD contributed 128 miles to the challenge as they completed a walk down a sunny canal side to Silsden, where they met with another group of walkers coming from Keighley.

Catholics from England and Wales have been supporting the campaign, launched by Pope Francis in September 2017, and have already walked over 24,900 miles – the distance around the world. And now they are aiming to walk the equivalent of the distance again. The campaign calls on the Prime Minister to ensure that the UK takes a lead during UN refugee negotiations to ensure that people forced to flee their homes are treated with dignity.

Sheila Gregory, one of the walkers, said: “All of us felt the need to walk in solidarity with refugees fleeing war, persecution and poverty around the world.

“In a poignant moment, we stopped at the memorial to the Polish airmen and stood in silence to remember all who have died far from their homes.

“We also carried with us a Lampedusa Cross, made me a carpenter on the Island from the wood of a wrecked boat which had carried refugees.”

CAFOD local representative in Leeds, Bronagh Daly, said:

“We want to say a massive thank you to the community in Skipton for their walk. They came together and showed local leaders that protecting refugees and migrants is an important issue to their communities.

“Share the Journey will deliver a powerful message to world leaders that we want new global agreements that ensure refugees and migrants can live fairly and with dignity.”

Find out how you can join the campaign at cafod.org.uk/sharethejourney