Discover Pope Francis’ invitation to “Rejoice and Be Glad” on November 24th

Join us to pray and share on Pope Francis’ “Gaudete et Exsultate” (Rejoice and Be Glad) on November 24^th, from 10am to 4pm, . The retreat will be hosted at Romero House, 55 Westminster bridge road, London, SE1 7JB. Please bring a shared vegetarian lunch.

On Saturday November 24^th, we’ll be reflecting on how to be holy in today’s modern worlds, as well as looking at some of the idea’s in the Pope’s new document “Gaudete et Exsultate” or “Rejoice and be Glad.” He encourages us to open our eyes, ears and hearts to the words of the gospel and expand our limited horizons.

Join CAFOD and others at our retreat to explore the journey of faith

Register here

In this document, Pope Francis celebrates the simplicity of life’s daily activities and how they can be a window to our holiness and a way for us to channel the values of the Beatitudes. He celebrates the uniqueness and individuality of us all and reminds us that we all have agency and power to shift things that happen in our world. But, the way we carry out our daily activities can also expose to us how we separate ourselves from holiness, such as how our addiction to consumption could make spending time with God a ‘painful exercise’.

Julie from Rochester who has attended many CAFOD events says, “I cannot recommend CAFOD events highly enough. Over the years I’ve benefited greatly by participating in justice and peace assembly meetings and workshops and retreats on various themes.  They always prove to be inspiring occasions and I feel we need to prioritise such events more in our busy itineraries.  Why? Because they provide us with knowledge, social catholic teaching and prayer, providing guidance and examples of how we might help build the Kingdom of God together through personal lifestyle changes, and participation within our parish and wider communities.”

Take a look at our invitation video on Facebook and Twitter

🙏 pray,👀 think and 🚶 walk to support refugees

Parishioners from all over Southwark have been gathering together to organise walks as part CAFOD’s response to Pope Francis’ Share the Journey campaign. Together they prayed, reflected and walked.  Discover some of those walks, get inspired and plan on how you are going to add your steps before September. 

See our totaliser for how far we’ve already walked

The steps we’ve taken!

Get inspired by some of the imaginative ways people have added their steps.

CAFOD supporters walking for Refugees and migrants as part of the Share the Journey campaign launched by Pope Francis.

Kathleen O’Brien of Our Lady of Mt Carmel said: “Most of our parish Share the Journey walkers completed the entire six and a half miles from Faversham to Seasalter, walking along part of the Saxon Shore Way, an ancient pilgrimage route.

The weather was glorious and everyone enjoyed the views over the sea wall, across the beautiful blue water in the estuary to the Isle of Sheppey beyond. On the way we read and reflected on refugee stories from around the world. It was sobering to hear the latest UN statistic that one person is forced from their homes every two seconds. We traced the shoreline all the way to Seasalter, where Una and Derek welcomed us into their beachfront home for a much-needed cup of tea.”

What the Stations of the Cross mean to me

Rachelle Thevathas, CAFOD parish volunteer at Holy Cross church in CATFORD, has organised the Station of the Cross in her parish. She told us what it meant for her .

When I was approached by a member of my Parish to lead the stations of the cross as CAFOD parish volunteer – I was thrilled!

The stations of the Cross help me to reflect on Jesus’ final journey

Stations of the Cross at Holy Cross in Catford

For me the stations of the cross is a great way of reflecting Jesus’ final journey, and his great sacrifice; it allows me to evaluate my life and my choices and puts into perspective the greatness of sacrifice and fasting. At times I associate the word fasting with food – however giving up my time for something – CAFOD volunteering for example – or someone, going out of my way to do a good deed for another are all examples of fasting – I give up a part of myself for other people.

Discover how I organised the Stations of the Cross at Holy Cross

Don Lazaro’s artisan workshop, painting CAFOD’s Romero El Salvador crosses.

I gave a call to the Southwark CAFOD office to get some ideas. I discovered that all the resources were on CAFOD website : a power point with pictures and a word document to organise the Stations of the Cross. 

I decided to only use the leader’s notes.  On the day, we had two alter severs walk around the church, from station to station. Using CAFOD’s resources I and another speaker talked through each station – giving a bible reading that linked to the station, and a brief reflection where we meditated on our thoughts, and then finished each station with a small prayer.

I reflected on CAFOD’s project

Whilst doing the Stations of the cross in my parish, I was able to reflect on CAFOD’s project in Zimbabwe; the sacrifices the people there must undergo without a choice, really put into perspective how fortunate and lucky I am.

In what ways does Jesus’s final journey affect you?

This Holy Week meditate on Jesus’ journey to the cross with our brothers and sisters around the world.