- OUTREACH & ORGANISATIONS
Donations
Prayer supports action
Catholic charities
St Vincent de Paul
OUTREACH
What good is it, my brothers and sisters, if someone claims to have faith but has no deeds? Can such faith save them? Suppose a brother or a sister is without clothes and daily food. If one of you says to them, “Go in peace; keep warm and well fed,” but does nothing about their physical needs, what good is it? In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead.
~ James 2:14-17
Providing food and fellowship to our Inn-Church guests or working with international charities such as Cafod, there are many ways members of the parish can become involved in the life of the church or in reaching out to others.
Bradford Metropolitan Food Bank
Volunteers run this small non-denominational registered charity that receives donations of non-perishable foods from the community and small businesses. Organisations working with vulnerable people then distribute more than 1,100 food parcels each month. Volunteers and donations are required to cope with increasing poverty in the city. Please place non-perishable food items in the collection box at St Walburga’s or contact the organization for information about volunteering. For further information WebLink
Bradford Night Stop
Since 1993 this charity has provided emergency accommodation for homeless young people in the homes of vetted and trained volunteers. Hosts offer a place of safety, one night at a time, to prevent young people from rough sleeping. It is a flexible scheme whereby hosts can provide a room in their home for several nights a week or as little as one night a month. For further information WebLink
e-mail mary.narayn-lee@hotmail.co.uk
CAFOD (Catholic Agency for Overseas Development)
CAFOD is the official aid agency of the Catholic Church in England and Wales. Since CAFOD’s foundation in 1960 over £65 million has been raised through the twice-yearly fast days. CAFOD works with partner institutions throughout the world to help people to help themselves rather than rely on foreign aid. Agriculture, health, education and employment are some of the areas in which our donations are spent. CAFOD also sends money and aid to those in need following natural disasters.
Our parish group aims to raise awareness of CAFOD’s work, support their appeals for money and promote their various campaigns for justice and fairness across the world. In addition to the two Family Fast Days and Disaster Appeals, we have a weekly collection that is sent to CAFOD for a specific campaign.
As a parish group we try to keep up to date with important issues in the area of peace and justice and keep the parish informed regarding these events and developments. Current topics include poverty, racial justice, asylum issues, environmental and climate problems. We are committed to being a Fair Trade parish and encourage the use, wherever possible, of fairly traded goods by supporting One World Week and Fair Trade Fortnight. More information about the work of CAFOD can be found at WebLink
If you are interested in joining the parish group please contact Jo Buck Tel 01274 593030 or
e-mail nickandjo1@hotmail.com
Franciscan Friars of the Renewal
The friars, based at St Patrick’s church in Bradford since 2005have a mission to serve the poor through concrete works of Christian charity, and to support the on-going renewal of the Church through inner-city evangelisation, preaching and ministry at St Patrick’s mission.
The Franciscan Friars provide a weekly soup kitchen; our parish helps in this work through donations of non-perishable food items collected each week in boxes provided at the back of both churches. Please donate towards this charitable work. More information can be found at WebLink
Inn Churches – Winter Shelter
This interdenominational outreach provides shelter and support for homeless people in the Bradford area. Our parish takes its turn for a week once a year in providing a bed, breakfast, evening meal and support in St Aidan's Hall WebLink
e-mail admin@innchurches.co.uk or phone 01274 955010.
Local contact for Parish week: Teresa Jackson 01274 581094 (teresa.xfenham@btinternet.com)
Society for the Protection of Unborn Children
The Society for the Protection of Unborn Children (SPUC) affirms, defends and promotes the existence and value of human life from the moment of conception until natural death. The Parish supports the work of the SPUC by holding the annual White Flower Appeal, praying the monthly Rosary for the Unborn and distributing the 'Pro-Life Today' general newsletter at St. Walburga's and St. Aidan's. For more details about the work of the Society, please contact Kate on 07505 767 415 or e-mail information@spuc.org.uk.
St Vincent de Paul Society (SVP)
The work of the SVP Conference in Shipley and Baildon supports the housebound, the sick, the lonely, the bereaved and anyone referred to us for help. Our visit may be the only one of the day for some people. We are willing to call on anyone who needs us with their permission. All information received is confidential.
The local Conference welcomes donations made towards our annual appeal and regular contributions through the St. Anthony’s box.
SVP Conferences also assist those in need in other parts of the world through twinning and other similar schemes.
Conference meetings are on Thursday evenings in St Walburga’s Parish Centre. New members are always welcome. Our current members are drawn from both St. Walburga’s and St Aidan’s churches. For more information: contact Fr Keiron (Tel 01274 583708). Or visit WebLink
Diocesan organisations
The Justice and Peace Commission:
The Justice and peace commission promotes awareness, discussion and action in the Diocese regarding the 'Just' Gospel responses to today's issues of justice, peace and care for creation. The Justice and Peace Commission publishes a regular newsletter at WebLink
e-mail jandp@dioceseofleeds.org.uk
Caritas
Caritas is the umbrella organisation embracing all Catholic charities, agencies, services, groups involved in social action in the Diocese. It is intended that our parish, as part of the Bradford Deanery, will join the other Bradford parishes to form a local branch - set up to further coordination, exchange information and share good practice.
Contact: Rev Joseph Cortis (0113 2618036) or e-mail joseph.cortis@dioceseofleeds.org
For parish and Deanery enquiries: Fr Keiron (office.stteresabenedicta@dioceseofleeds.org.uk)
Other organisations
Abigail Housing Project
This Charity provides support and a home to refugees and asylum seekers who find themselves destitute in Bradford WebLink or phone 07908 364112.
Parish Contact: Teresa Jackson (see below) to donate funds or food and to volunteer.
BIASAN
Bradford Immigration and Asylum Seeker Support and Advice. Parish Contact: Teresa Jackson (see below) to donate clothing or goods.
BEACON
Bradford Ecumenical Asylum Concern. A Christian organisation which supports asylum seekers with advice and support in Home Office. See applications and hearings at: WebLink or phone 0330 113 7644.
Parish Contact for Abigail Housing Project, BIASAN and BEACON
Teresa Jackson: 01274 581094 or email: teresa.xfenham@btinternet.com
Click on the buttons below for a full list of groups/ministries in each category
