26th February 2016

Appeal Letter for Lent

Monday 8th February 2016.

Dear Pupils and Parents,

We will begin our observation of Lent in school on Wednesday 10th February as we gather in the Arts Theatre for our Ash Wednesday services. In our local parish Masses (with ashes) will be at 9:15am and 7:00pm at St Teresa’s and 12 noon at Mary Magdalen’s.

LENT APPEAL 2016 – Make A Splash!

In the UK the average length of a journey to school is 2.6 miles. This costs around 40p per journey in fuel.

If every pupil and member of staff gave up one car journey per week during Lent and donated the cost of that journey to CAFOD we would make £2400. This, then, is our school’s target to raise this year. And because the UK government will double this donation this would make a very impressive total of £4800!

Our walk or cycle to school will enable us to stand in solidarity with girls like Guti. World-wide it is estimated that women and girls spend 140 million hours a day collecting water. For girls like Guti, that can mean walking several hours to and from a water point when they could be going to school, studying, or playing with friends. Lack of access to water at home and at school prevents girls from gaining the education that can change their own lives and the lives of their families.

The money we are able to raise this Lent will make a real difference, supporting CAFOD and its partners to help communities gain access to clean water and sanitation, so that girls like Guti can attend school and build a better future.

Each form will have a fundraising target of £75. This money need not come only from their pockets, but forms are encouraged to go out into their local communities and find creative ways to reach this target by the end of Lent.

“I was thirsty and you gave me to drink.” Matthew 25:35
This year, Pope Francis has called for a Jubilee Year of Mercy, where we reflect on the place of God’s action in our lives. We are particularly asked to listen and respond to the situations where people are deprived of their property, their dignity, their feelings and even their lives. Helping communities to gain access to an adequate supply of water helps restore to them their “inalienable dignity” and right to life. (Laudato Si’ #30)

In his Encyclical letter Laudato Si’ Pope Francis reminds us that “access to safe, drinkable water is a basic and universal human right.” (#30) The Pope also reminds us that to care for our environment is also to care for the poorest communities on the planet, since changes to the world’s climate first affect those who depend on the land for growth of crops and keeping of livestock. Our Lenten fasting from a car journey per week would help us to think yet again about the way we treat our planet, our common home. Do we really need to make that short journey by car, which would contribute to the planet’s pollution?

CAFOD FAST DAY – 11TH MARCH 2016

Our school will be marking CAFOD Fast Day by holding a non-uniform day on 11th March. Pupils are invited to pay a £1 donation to come to school wearing something blue, to show our commitment to helping the world’s poorest communities gain access to an adequate water supply. On this day there will be a restricted menu in the dining rooms. A prayer vigil will be held for pupils and staff in the Chapel all lunchtime. Everyone is encouraged to take a few minutes out of their lunchtime to pray for those living in poverty around the world.

For more information about the work of CAFOD, please visit www.cafod.org.uk

Thank you very much for your continued support.

With every good wish for a blessed Lent.

Dan Antonio
Chaplain