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The Story of CAFOD
BEGINNINGS
1961
The National Board of Catholic Women organised the first Family Fast Day
in response to a request from the people of the Caribbean Island of Dominica for help with
a mother and baby health care programme.
1962
The Catholic Bishops of England and Wales officially set up CAFOD, the
Catholic Fund for Overseas Development. The aim was to provide a focus for all the small
charitable efforts which were already taking place and to promote the Family Fast day.
�25,000 was raised in the first year.
1972
By the time it was just ten years old, CAFOD was helping to fund 245
self-help projects in 40 countries
In March 1972, the first CAFOD Journal was produced to introduce parishes
in England and Wales to the work of CAFOD.
1973
The full time office staff of eight was helping Friday groups to form in
parishes. A Friday group is made up of people who regularly give up something they need
and donate the money saved to CAFOD.
MOVING ON
1974
By now the small office, based in an old house in Kinnerton Street, was
no longer big enough to contain all of CAFOD's activities. The basement of St Patrick's
Church at 21a Soho Square became CAFOD's home for the next eight years.
1975
The Bishops called for more practical support for CAFOD. Since 1961, lay
organisations such as the Union of Catholic Mothers and the Catholic Women's
League had been helping with distributing literature and collecting money, especially
for the Family Fast day.
1977
In the autumn of this year, Cardinal Hume dedicated the
organisation to St Stephen. St Stephen was the first Deacon ordained by St Peter. His job
was to help the poor and widowed and to make sure they had a fair share of the wealth of
the early Christian community
1978
Pope Paul VI received a birthday present of �3,500 from readers
of one of the Catholic newspapers. He immediately donated it to CAFOD.
This was the first year that CAFOD became involved in the ecumenical
venture of One World Week - a development education programme of the churches.
1979
CAFOD's first education campaign focussed on the Philippines and was
launched in four dioceses.
1980
CAFOD's first National Education Campaign was launched. It took
place during Lent and was focused on Brazil.
1981
The first edition of Link, the development education newsletter
was published.
In the light of twenty years of development work, the Bishop's Conference
of England and Wales drew up new guidelines for the running of CAFOD. These are still in
use.
During Pope John Paul II's visit to Britain, he encouraged
Catholics to support CAFOD's development programmes.
"I hope that, despite all obstacles, the generosity of your
hearts will never weaken. I hope that through programmes such as the Catholic Fund for
Overseas Development, you will continue to help the poor, to feed the hungry and to
contribute to the cause of development. Always keep alive your gospel tradition."
(Pope John Paul II, Liverpool, 1982)
ON THE MOVE AGAIN...
1982
On its 20th birthday CAFOD had 20 staff, 250 projects and
partners in 60 countries. New, bigger premises were found in Garden Close, Brixton.
1983
A joint service of dedication for the new directors of CAFOD and
Christian Aid was conducted by Cardinal Basil Hume and Archbishop Robert Runcie.
The first edition of Friday -a newsletter for CAFOD Parish
groups was published.
A YEAR OF LAUNCHES...
1984
Working in Partnership was launched, linking groups in schools
and parishes here with countries abroad where CAFOD supports development programmes. Whole
schools and parishes were now learning about different countries and raising the money to
help people there.
The Crisis in Africa appeal was launched in response to the
drought and famine situation in Africa.
Launch of the Just Food education campaign
1985
The African famine assumed crisis proportions. CAFOD became the
co-ordinator for the European Catholic agencies working in the Sudan and Northern
provinces of Ethiopia. Meanwhile in England and Wales CAFOD responded to people's requests
to know more about why it had happened. The Catholic community raised �4.75 million
for the emergency (and kept everyone at Head Office very busy indeed!). Voluntary help
working on the Disasters Emergency Committee appeal freed staff to continue with routine
work.
TIME TO CELEBRATE
1986
Preparations got underway for CAFOD's Silver Jubilee. Celebrations were
planned for everyone who works with CAFOD, and five more Regional Organisers, making six
altogether, set up offices to cover the whole of England and Wales.
The new two year education campaign focused on JUBILEE themes of Land,
Debt and Slavery.
1987
CAFOD's 25th Anniversary. A public celebration of 25 years of
partnership between the local church here in England and Wales and our brothers and
sisters in the 75 countries where CAFOD was now supporting more than 500 development
projects.
1988
In January CAFOD persuaded the local council to change the name of the
street from Garden to Romero Close in honour of Archbishop Oscar Romero of El
Salvador, world famous defender of the rights of the poor, who was shot dead while
celebrating Mass in 1980.
CAMPAIGNING FOR CHANGE
1989
CAFOD launched its campaign Renewing the Earth on the links
between the Environment and Development.
1991-93
CAFOD focused its education and action campaign on Latin America and the
500th anniversary of the colonisation of Latin America in 1992.
1992
Rise like the Sun - a festival in Bristol with Christian Aid to
celebrate the peoples and cultures of Latin America. CAFOD vigils were held in October to
remember the 500 years since Columbus's arrival in the Americas in 1492.
CAFOD Resources Shop in Stockwell Road opened in the Autumn.
1993-95
CAFOD campaign focused on refugees and displaced peoples.
1994
First edition of Fairground for primary and secondary teachers.
One World, One Family celebration to mark the UN year of the
family. Barbican Centre, London, 25th June.
CAFOD has 12 Regional Organisers throughout England and Wales, each
covering two dioceses.
1995
Landmines Action launched on 1 March at the House of Commons as
part of the Refugee Campaign. CAFOD's Cambodian partners called for a total ban on
landmines as they spoke to groups in parishes and schools throughout England and Wales.
1996
A New Covenant with the Poor - CAFOD
launches a programme of preparation and celebration for the third Millennium in schools
and parishes
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