The G8 rally in London is only two weeks away! The train tickets are booked and the banners have been made. And in North Wales the Food Pilgrimage has already reached the half way point. Patrick and his wife Diane have been updating us with wonderful stories of the people they have met along the way, and the support for the IF campaign that has been shown.

At a stop in Trefor an IF/OS pub quiz was planned, where all the answers continued the letters OS! (OS being the Welsh word for IF). Later the next day Padraig met with church youth groups who were keen to hear about the Pilgrimage and IF.

Then on Wednesday and Thursday Alison, Alix, Gordon and Tony walked across Anglesey, collecting messages for David Cameron from children in 5 schools en route. They met up with Patrick at the Bangor end of the Menai Bridge and walked on to the Cathedral with him.

This June, 68-year-old Fred Uttley is cycling around all 22 dioceses of England and Wales for CAFOD.

The volunteer from Salford diocese will cycle more than 1,000 miles between Catholic churches and cathedrals around England and Wales, raising money to support small-scale farmers in Rajshahi, Bangladesh and raising awareness of CAFOD’s Hungry for Change campaign.

Tour De Fred will be visiting the Wrexham Diocese on Saturday 15th June 2013.

His ride will approximately take 2 hours and 45 minutes, starting from Wrexham Cathedral and ending at Shrewsbury Cathedral. Travelling a distance of 32 miles

http://www.cafod.org.uk/Fundraise/Sponsored-events/Tour-de-Fred

Patrick Ward, stepped forward to lead the way, and walk for the two weeks between Bardsey Island and St Asaph. Over the next two weeks members of the ‘IF’ coalition will join him on this journey, stopping in schools and parishes to talk about the campaign. Katja Jewell, the CAFOD diocesan manager for North Wales joined him in Pwllheli, encouraging people to pray, and sign their name in support of the IF campaign.

So on Saturday, 18th May, Patrick collected a pilgrim staff in Bardsey Island, which he will walk with until he reaches St Asaph Cathedral on 1st June. Patrick has already been met with wonderful Welsh hospitality, with offers of a bed for the night, and opportunities to talk to community groups about the campaign.

On Pentecost Sunday Patrick reflected on the two days that he had walked, saying:

“When I planned the pilgrimage I thought how I feel, what I would do, and then as I started to walk, all of a sudden the ‘I’ was pushed to the back and I thought of the people in Africa who are hungry and suffering, an then there was quiet and I just walked. And today is Pentecost, what appropriate day to start this journey, hungry for change!”

To view Patrick’s route and for more information about the Food Pilgrimage visit:

Ecumenical Food Pilgrimage- 18th May-1st June 2013

With Parishioners from Aberdaron Church, Pwllheli.

Tom has been volunteering with CAFOD for 12 months, and since his first day in the office has shown a great commitment to CAFOD, and is a dedicated volunteer who undertakes every task asked of him with a smile and always gives100%.

From keeping our database up to date, attending the ‘Hungry for Change‘ in London, co-ordinating the lobbying of MPs for the ‘IF’ campaign, to assisting with the organising of local events, taking a key role in promoting ‘Hungry for Change’ and ‘IF’ in North Wales and much much more!

This is what Tom had to say about volunteering with CAFOD:

“Being part of CAFOD is like being part of a big family that stretches across the globe; anyone is accepted in this family and respected for who they are. The CAFOD family is constantly striving for peace, justice and respect across the whole world.”

You can read Tom’s blog for the Great Generation here: 12 Months with CAFOD.

If you would like to learn more about volunteering with CAFOD please contact the North Wales office: 01978 355 084, northwales@cafod.org.uk.

Ruth Holden, assistant Chaplain at Glyndwr University in Wrexham, tells us why she organised a ‘Live Below the Line’ event in the Chaplaincy.

On Wednesday 8th May the Chaplaincy challenged the people of Glyndwr University to take up the £1 challenge. Over a billion people in the world live on less than a £1 a day, and this isn’t for food alone but also healthcare, education, transport etc. Inspired by the Live Below the Line campaign (that challenges people to live on a £1 of food each day for 5 days) the Chaplaincy produced £1 challenge bags encouraging people to live on £1 for one day and therefore raise awareness of poverty and hunger.

30 people signed up to the challenge with over 20 bags handed out to staff and students. The bag contained a tin of soup, spaghetti and rice pudding, as well as a cereal bar and an IF Campaign bracelet. There was also 23p left that could be spent on an apple or some bread.

We had such a great response we went out at lunchtime and bought some more tins to make some more bags!

Katja Jewell from CAFOD North Wales was present to talk to about the IF campaign and many signed an IF Campaign banner that will be taken down to London on 8th June for one of the big lobbies taking place before the G8 Summit.

It was interesting to hear everyone’s views and how some are already living on a £1 a day and how others are growing their own vegetables.

I personally took up the challenge on the Wednesday. It was okay until tea time when I had to watch my own family eat their dinner and have pudding when I could only have spaghetti. My stomach grumbled throughout the evening. It wasn’t too bad but I could see how hungry I would be after a week and the limited diet I would have.

It was an eye opening challenge.

- Blessed Pope John Paul ii

Throughout May and June people will be travelling across the length and breadth of the UK for events in support of the ‘Enough Food for Everyone IF’ campaign for the Religious Lobby on 15th May, to the G8 Rally in Hyde Park on 8th June, and the many more local events that have been organised in between.

And while understandably, not everyone is able to attend these events we ask you to pray for those who are making these journeys, and that the G8 leaders listen to and respond to the ‘IF’ campaign. If you are able to, please do come to our monthly CAFOD prayer meeting at the

Peace and Justice Centre, 37 Kingsmills Road, Wrexham, LL13 8NH on

Tuesday, 14th May 2013 at 2:30-3:30pm

Pray with us, meet other CAFOD supporters and learn about the ‘IF’ campaign.

Come and welcome Padraig and learn a little more about the campaign and how you can become more involved, or walk a mile in support of Padraig when he sets off in the next stage of our journey.

DATE -MAY	START	FINISH
Su 19th	Aberdaron Church gate  10am	Tudweiliog 4pm
Mo 20th	Tudweiliog Post Office 10am	Trefor 4pm
Tu 21st	Trefor P.O. 10am	Penygroes 4pm
We 22nd	Penygroes P.O. 10am	Caernarfon castle 3pm
Fr 24th	Bangor cathedral 10am	Penmaenmawr – Noddfa
Sa 25th	Penmaenmawr-Noddfa 10am	Llandudno Cath Ch 3pm
Mo 27th	Lladudno prom 10am	Colwyn Bay 2pm
Tu 28th	Colwyn Bay Eirias Park 10am	Rhyl 4pm
We 29th	Rhyl, Cath ch 10am	Prestatyn 1pm
Th 30th	Prestatyn cath ch 10am	Holywell 4pm
Fr 31st	Holywell Shrine 10am	Tremeirchion St Bueno’s
Sat 1st July	St Beuno’s 9.30am	St Asaph in time for service at 2pm

Join CAFOD North Wales for our annual supporter day on Saturday 11^th May 2013.

From 11 am until 5 pm in Pantasaph Franciscan Friary Pilgrim Hall and Grounds there will be Fairtrade Stalls, activities for Children, Way of the Cross, Shared Meal, Afternoon Workshops and more.

This year at our annual supporters day we will be attempting to raise awareness for CAFOD’s current campaign ‘Enough Food For Everyone – IF’ which had its North Wales Launch on Friday, January 25 outside St Mary’s Cathedral in Regent Street.

The campaign calls on Prime Minister David Cameron to use the UK’s G8 presidency this year to take action on the root causes of hunger in the poorest countries.

This year’s key note speaker is Claire Dixon, head of the CAFOD Latin America Team, promises to deliver a brilliant talk.

Pantasaph day starts with teas and coffees from 10:30am, followed by:

11 am: Welcome by Clare Dixon, head of CAFOD Latin America team.

12pm: The Way of the Cross

1 pm: A Shared Lunch.

2 pm: Workshops for all ages, including youth workshop; activities for children; talk by Clare Dixon and music practice.

3 pm: More refreshments

4 pm: Celebration of Mass in St David’s church

5 pm: Hot dogs and departures

Whether you are a long-term CAFOD supporter, or completely new to CAFOD we would love to have you come along. And as always, should you have any questions about the day please do not hesitate to contact the CAFOD North Wales office.

We hope to see you on the 11th May 2013.

The world produces enough food to feed us all, yet one in eight people go hungry each day. The way that food is grown, sold and shared out is not working for the world’s poorest people. But we have the power to change this injustice.

We believe that God created an abundant world. If we use the earth’s resources with care and share what we have been given, we will have enough for everyone’s needs. But our food system concentrates power in the hands of global companies, investors and governments, and sidelines small-scale producers and consumers across the world.

Our Hungry for change campaign is calling for empowering aid for small-scale farmers and checks on the power of global food companies.

There are many ways in which you can become involved in the “Hungry for Change” campaign. For example; you can visit the CAFOD website, http://www.cafod.org.uk/Campaign/Take-action-today/Hungry-for-change, and you can email our Prime Minister David Cameron calling for change.

Another way you can become involved with this campaign is to register your support for our “Hungry for Change” campaign on our website, http://www.cafod.org.uk/Campaign/Get-clued-up/Food, to receive regular updates about fundraising events and activities in your diocese.

We’re also a founder member of Enough Food for Everyone IF… - a shared campaign to tackle hunger backed by over 120 organisations. Add your name to IF now and share the campaign with your friends. http://www.cafod.org.uk/Campaign/Take-action-today/Joint-campaign-on-food

If you would like to become more involved with the “Hungry for Change” campaign please visit the CAFOD website: http://www.cafod.org.uk or visit our Facebook page to see what’s going on in your area: https://www.facebook.com/CafodNW

Do something different this year and ‘Step into the Gap’.

Are you ready to take an adventure that will change you and those around you?

Your journey beings and ends in the UK, but takes you to one of the poorest countries in the world, to meet amazing people and to share their lives.

You will join a vibrant youth ministry team or exciting school or parish community and learn how to make the links between faith and action as you inspire a new generation to become global social justice champions.

CAFOD is offering a gap year experience in partnership with Cardinal Newman School (near Brighton), Just Youth (Salford), MYMission (Middlesbrough), St. Mary’s College (Blackpool) and YMT (near Durham). The placement lasts for 10 months during which you will receive food and accommodation, a monthly allowance, travel expenses and training, mentoring and support.

Naomi, a current ’Gapper’ shared her thoughts on her experience saying:‘It has been an empowering experience for me in all aspects – from community living and youth ministry in my placement, to our visit to CAFOD partners and projects in Sierra Leone – allowing me to grow spiritually, emotionally and in my own global awareness.’

For the chance to take part in a life changing programme and to download an application form, visit www.cafod.org.uk/stepintothegap.

If you would like to speak to someone to find out more about it all email: youngleadership@cafod.org.uk

The deadline for applications is:

23rd May 2013