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UNITED KINGDOM: Northampton keeps faith with the Church in need
By Aid to the Church in Need staff
John Pontifex, Heather Ward, Father Damien Walne and Xavier Legorreta at Aid to the Church in Need's Northampton event
The suffering Church in Cuba and India was in the spotlight last weekend at a day of prayer and information in support of Aid to the Church in Need.
More than 70 friends and benefactors packed into the Shrine of Our Lady of Perpetual Succour, near Northampton, where parish priest Father Damien Walne celebrated Mass.
Afterwards in the church hall, Aid to the Church in Need UK’s Head of Press and Information John Pontifex reported back on his visit to Orissa, eastern India, where in the last two years 50,000 Christians have fallen victim to some of the worst anti-Christian violence in the modern era.
Mr Pontifex described how the charity was responding to the priority needs of the Church in a region where Christians are still struggling to rebuild their lives as well as win proper police protection and justice.
Xavier Legorreta, head of Aid to the Church in Need’s projects in Latin America, assessed the situation of the Church in Cuba, especially in the 18 months since Fidel Castro handed over the presidency to his brother, Raúl.
Between the talks and afterwards, supporters had chance to browse Aid to the Church in Need's selection of Christmas gifts and devotional items.
Aid to the Church in Need area secretary Heather Ward, who organised Saturday's event in Great Billing, said that she was delighted by its success.
Thanking Father Walne for his warm welcome, she said afterwards: “As the event drew to a close, people told me they didn't realise the extent to which people are still suffering for their faith.
“They came away feeling anxious to let others know what they'd heard and felt motivated to do more to help.”
The morning raised £650.