News from CAFOD

Vincent Burke, age 81, a parishioner at Our Lady and St Hubert, Warley, was presented with a special honour in recognition of his services to volunteering.    
 
Mr Burke (main photograph) started fundraising for the Catholic aid agency CAFOD (Catholic Agency for Overseas Development) nearly 25 years ago, after retiring from full-time teaching and being ‘the right side of 60’. 
 
Over the last two decades, Vincent has shown his dedication to the charity by supporting the fair trade movement and helping refugees. 

On receiving the Romero Cross, Vincent said: “I was touched and thankful to receive the honour, and especially the association with St Oscar Romero whose life and writings have been an inspiration to me over the years. His portrait sits beside our Justice and Peace notice board in the church porch. 

“The last twenty plus years have been strange and turbulent times. Twenty years ago, there was a lot more optimism and a certainty almost that we were on the path to a better world. But ‘Make Poverty History’ seems to be a long time ago now. 

“For anyone thinking about volunteering, it doesn’t require you to give up too much time and it can be as challenging as you choose to make it. 

“There is so much to be learned about the world outside our own local communities; gratification from connecting with like-minded volunteers; and greater understanding of what it means to belong to a worldwide, diverse Christian community.” 

Another Romero Cross recipient – Veronica York (pictured below) – was thrilled to receive the honour after 20 years of volunteering. Her local CAFOD rep, Sylvester Mutsigwa, surprised her during Sunday Mass at Sacred Heart Catholic church in Rugby. Veronica has helped some of the world’s poorest communities through a mixture of campaigning and fundraising.  

CAFOD works in over 40 countries across the world, serving more than 1.3 million people, supporting communities to flourish. 

Volunteer with CAFOD