Behind the scenes: ‘Crafting JOY with CAFOD’ Episode 1

How exciting!

We launched Episode 1 of a monthly crafting show called ‘Crafting JOY with CAFOD’

It was a mix of excitement and nerves as we set up cameras (hooked on to a kid’s deckchair) and dampened harsh lighting with grease proof paper.

Maggie’s kitchen table, two cameras and crafting kit

Maggie, a volunteer on the Children’s Liturgy LIVE team and our local CAFOD worker for the Diocese of Leeds, Bronagh, joined on Sunday evening to bring a little bit of crafting joy to our Facebook screens

A light prayer, campaigns and crafting mix, along with some parenting chatter, Bronagh and Maggie aim to reach all those crafters who would like to get involved with CAFOD campaigns and parish volunteering.

Click here to share some of your free time as a volunteer to help CAFOD in the Diocese of Leeds

We were delighted to hear how many people viewed the first episode

The first episode can be watched here using this link Episode 1 ‘Crafting JOY with CAFOD’, you will see how to make a floating, opening prayer flower. There will also be information on the current festive CFOD campaign ‘Messages to the Brave’ and Bronagh was set a challenge to get her pyrography skills at the ready for some wood burning craft.

Maggie in action, we used two different camera angles to film the craft in action

Join episode 2 of ‘Crafting JOY with CAFOD’ on Sunday 6th December on the CAFOD in Leeds Facebook page

Have you been inspired to get crafting with CAFOD? Get in touch with our local CAFOD worker Bronagh leeds@cafod.org.uk

Maybe you would like to share a crafting project of your own, make sure you tag us in @CAFODLeeds on Facebook and Twitter.

Say hello to Christine and Martin, St John Mary Vianney Parish CAFOD volunteers

Did you know that there are 103 churches in the Diocese of Leeds?

And, did you know that in nearly 40 of those churches there is a CAFOD local volunteer or CAFOD group of volunteers who help with prayer, campaigning and fundraising activities throughout the year?

The work of CAFOD here in the Diocese of Leeds is made possible because of all these amazing volunteers and the people who help them. There are 100s of people helping to make ‘Family Fast Day’ a success at Lent and also at Harvest, and they work closely with their local communities and parish Priest. They also help parish communities with their LIVE SIMPLY award, creation celebrations, Fairtrade stalls, Children’s Liturgy, World Gifts and many more initiatives.

Every parish is different, and every parish volunteer is different. Some parishes love to campaign for social justice. Some parishes love to fundraise at Harvest and Lent Family Fast Days. And some parishes love to put their faith into action in practical ways through walks, talks and acts of kindness. And, some parishes do a whole mix of those things.

Maybe you know someone who would like to be a CAFOD Parish volunteer?

You could let them know that a few hours a month can make a massive difference.

Maybe you could be a Parish Volunteer? You could help with sharing prayers, children’s liturgy resources, phoning friends to ask for help share updates on social action, attending online meetings, sharing stories and many other ways to stay connected in these very uncertain times.

We would like to introduce you to some of our local CAFOD volunteers over the next few weeks, especially at a time when our church doors are temporarily closed for worship.

This week, we meet Christine and Martin, who are Parish volunteers at St John Mary Vianney parish. There are two churches in this parish namely St Pauls in Moor Allerton and Immaculate Heart inn Chapel Allerton.

Give them a wave! Maybe you could be a Parish Volunteer like Christine or Martin.

Here is some more information about what is involved in being a Parish Volunteer.

Have you been inspired by Christine and Martin? Would you like to tell us about your local parish and how you help out to promote CAFOD?

Get in touch, your story will inspire other leeds@cafod.org.uk

CAFOD campaigning history in the Leeds Diocese, and what we can do TODAY

Maria Elena Arana, CAFOD’s Campaign Outreach Coordinator, has worked alongside parishes and schools, institutions and individuals in Bradford, Skipton, Wakefield, Kirklees, Harrogate and all across the Diocese of Leeds. Here she shares three moments of CAFOD’s debt campaigning history and how you can get involved today.

1997: Fair Deal for the Poor 

I started work in CAFOD’s campaign team back in summer 1991. CAFOD then was in the third year of the environment campaign Renewing the Earth.

During the 1990s, CAFOD supported policy forums that were looking at the impact of debt in increasing poverty in many developing countries across the world, but particularly in sub Saharan Africa. These issues became a key component of the CAFOD Fair Deal for the Poor campaign launched in 1997.

Today, CAFOD still calling for debt cancellation for the poorest countries, sign the petition now.

1998: Jubilee 2000

CAFOD was a founder member of the Jubilee 2000 Coalition, campaigning on debt cancellation for the poorest countries.

On 18 May 1998, the same day at the FA Cup final that year, a human chain of over 70,000 campaigners surrounded a meeting of leaders from the world’s richest countries – the G8 – in Birmingham.

By the end of the Jubilee 2000 campaign, over 300,000 CAFOD supporters had signed the Jubilee 2000 petition.

Twenty-three of the world’s poorest countries have received debt cancellation totalling over US $87 billion. As a result, spending on public services rose in all these countries: an average increase of around 40 per cent on education and a massive 70 per cent on healthcare.

2000-2004: Debt cancellation in Africa

When primary-school fees in Uganda were cancelled due to debt relief, the number of children enrolled in primary schools more than doubled, to more than five million, over the next four years. Enrolments doubled again in the four years after that.

Twenty million more African children entered school thanks to debt cancellation and targeted aid increases between 2000 and 2004. Money freed up through debt cancellation helped build classrooms and provide training for teachers.

2020: Speak up to cancel the debt

In April 2020, the G20 group of the world’s largest economies announced that, due to the coronavirus pandemic, over 70 countries could stop making debt payments over the next eight months to the countries they owe.

This would save around $12 billion. This is a welcome step, however, debts must be cancelled – not just suspended.

Over the last 20 years, campaigners in Leeds have been active on poverty and debt issues with lobbying MPs and holding rallies.

Sign our petition asking the Prime Minister to cancel all debt payments by developing countries due in 2020 and 2021 so that countries can spend money on much needed healthcare rather than debt repayments.

Sign the petition today