Ash Wednesday: a time to make a new start
February 26, 2020
In this reflection, taken from our Lent calendar for Ash Wednesday, Kathleen from our Theology team considers the opportunity that Lent offers us to make a new start.
Continue readingTag: Fast Day
Canticle of Creatures: Transformative mission statement
October 4, 2019
On the Feast of Saint Francis of Assisi, Kathleen O’Brien from our Theology team explores the saint’s Canticle of the Creatures, used in our nine-day prayer vigil ahead of the Amazon Synod in Rome.
Continue reading “Canticle of Creatures: Transformative mission statement”How Saint Francis inspired a harvest prayer
September 29, 2019
As Family Fast Day approaches, Kathleen O’Brien from our Theology team reflects on the life of Saint Francis and the influence he still has, centuries after his death.
Continue reading “How Saint Francis inspired a harvest prayer”Speak at Mass this Harvest Fast Day
September 12, 2019
Lizzie is one of CAFOD’s Step into the Gap alumni. She had a great experience speaking at Mass for Harvest Fast Day, and she hopes you will do the same this year.
Lent: Bringing the Fast Day story to life
March 28, 2019
Bea Taylor, who is an Education Volunteer in the Plymouth Diocese, shares how she got creative this Family Fast Day within her parish.
Donate to CAFOD’s Lent Appeal today
Lent reflection: A future transformed
March 15, 2019
In this reflection on the Transfiguration of the Lord (Luke 9:28-36), taken from our Lent calendar, Catherine from our Theology team reflects on how lives can be transformed by hope.
Continue reading “Lent reflection: A future transformed”Fasting: what it means to me
March 12, 2019
In preparation for Lent Family Fast Day, we asked Fr Nicholas Crowe some questions about Lent. He told us what fasting means to him and why fasting this Lent is a real opportunity for spiritual growth and love of neighbour.
What does fasting mean to you?
Let’s start by thinking about why fasting in a Christian sense is different from dieting. It is because Christian fasting comes from an act of faith. It is our faith that things can be different, that through Jesus’ death and resurrection, we are called to be a new creation.
So often our cravings and routines can become selfish and block out God and the needs of others. So we need Lent as a time to turn back to God, to make a special effort to let Jesus be the centre of our lives. I see Lent as an invitation to renew and deepen our conversion, a spiritual gym work out. However, in our Lenten gym, God’s grace lifts the weights and causes the real change in us. All we have to do is turn up.
Taking part in Family Fast Day is our way of turning up, of saying yes to God. Yes God, cause great change in me this Lent. Be bold enough to join the fast and let Jesus show you the injustice, the marginalised and the unloved that need you today.
Donate the money you save through fasting to our Family Fast Day appeal
Giving up plastic for Lent
March 6, 2019
Julia is in CAFOD’s Education team. Here she tells us why giving up plastic will be so difficult.
This lent I am challenging myself to give up buying single use plastic. You may have heard the term ‘single use plastic’ in the news recently. It means plastic that is used one time before being thrown away or put into the recycling bin.
Single use plastic is used in a lot of things for example straws, paper cups, water bottles, packaging, shampoo bottles, toothpaste tubes, make up products, medicines and plenty of other items. I use these items every day.
Still not sure what to give up for Lent? Take the CAFOD Lent quiz for inspiration!
Continue reading “Giving up plastic for Lent”Soup-er lunches for Lent
February 27, 2019
Joe, a volunteer from the CAFOD Birmingham team shares some inspiration from the St Osburg’s parish in Coventry on running a soup-erb lunch for Family Fast Day.
With Lent rapidly approaching, our thoughts will be turning to what we might give up, but, even more importantly, how we and our communities might give. Well, if we’re looking for inspiration, the people of St Osburg’s parish in Coventry provide a wonderful example.
Continue reading “Soup-er lunches for Lent”Your harvest donations will make a lasting difference
September 25, 2018
CAFOD’s World News Manager, Nana Anto-Awuakye explains how your donations for Family Fast Day will instill hope into those that see eating as a luxury.
On Sunday 23 September, pottering about in the kitchen, my constant companion – the radio – informs me that this very day is the autumn equinox, when day and night meet as equals, the official start of autumn.
I glance out through the kitchen window onto my garden, and see that the leaves are already falling, and turning their magnificent autumn yellows, browns and berry colours.
Host a Family Fast Day simple meal