CAFOD Harvest Fast Day 2008
Anne Marie Hanlon, CAFOD Hexham and Newcastle diocesan manager writes:
This Harvest Fast Day, CAFOD is asking us to stand in solidarity and pray alongside families in need – such as Celina’s family in Mozambique, who you will see in the Fast Day poster and leaflet. The same weekend CAFOD is also asking us to show our support to over 200 CAFOD runners who will take part in the Great North Run.
It would be interesting to see at the end of 2008 how many miles we have run and walked across Hexham & Newcastle Diocese in solidarity with our brothers and sisters all over the world. In June many of you joined us on the Live Simply Pilgrimage that took place on Holy Island, in October schools, youth groups and friends will join with thousands across the country to organise ‘Walk the World’ sponsored walks to raise money for CAFOD projects and of course there is the 13.1 miles from Newcastle to the sea front at South Shields.
If you have ever taken part in the Great North Run you will have experienced the support from those along the route cheering you on even though most of the people you pass don’t even know you. By the time you reach Jarrow people offer you drinks and sweets to help you on and through Marsden on hot days you’re offered ice lollies and the occasional shower from a garden hose! You will have felt the joy at the top of the hill at Marsden when you get sight of the sea and know you are near the end only to realise you still have a mile to go along the front. That desperate feeling lasts only a few seconds as again people are cheering you on with shouts of ‘well done you’re nearly there’.
At the age of just 18, Celina bears a heavy burden of responsibility. Both her parents are HIV positive. Since her mother and father are often sick, Celina is forced to care single-handedly for her young siblings and her own son – as well as nursing her parents. She spends her days cooking, washing and collecting firewood. And when the village pump stops working, she has to walk for three hours just to fetch water. It is a huge responsibility for a young woman to carry, but thankfully Celina is not entirely on her own. CAFOD supports a network of volunteers – known as HIV activists – who stand alongside families like Celina’s as they struggle to cope with the devastating impact of HIV and AIDS.
As well as nursing people who are living with HIV, the volunteers bring monthly food parcels, help out with chores and often just lend a listening ear. At a time when many families are facing stigma and discrimination, HIV activists offer a vital lifeline.
Celina’s mother told us how grateful she is for this support: “Without the food parcel, our family would be starving. We also rely on our activist, Amelia, to help us around the house. As well as counselling us, she brings water and is a daily support to us...Without this help, I think I would have died.”
In today’s Gospel, we heard how different people respond to God’s call. Some respond positively to start with, but then drift off. Some are not sure at the outset, but then commit themselves and get things done. Some, who look as though they will be the ones who should be first in line to help, find that they have other priorities, whilst those whom you might expect to give least, turn out to be the most committed and faithful.
Celina won’t be there this Fast Day to see us using our feet to be in solidarity with her but she will feel the love and care from people she doesn’t know just like those taking part in the Great North Run.
So when you are using your feet to ‘Walk the World, walk to Mass, walk through the crowds to cheer at the Great North Runners, or even run a half marathon take a moment to remember Celina and people like her all over the world and know that any small step you make in solidarity can make a difference.