SPAN Prayer
Give us Father, a vision of our world
as your love would make it:
A world where the weak are protected
and none goes hungry or poor;
A world where the benefits of civilised life are shared
and everyone can enjoy them;
A world where peace is built with justice
and justice is guided by love.
Give us the courage and inspiration to build it,
through Jesus Christ Our Lord.
Amen
SPAN
St. Peter’s Aid for the Needy (SPAN) was founded by parishioners in 1974, for the purpose of bringing Christian love in practical ways to those in need - both locally and overseas. It became a registered charity in 1994 (number 1040252). Since its foundation SPAN has administered donations from parishioners totalling over £1.2 million. We achieve so much, for many people, only through your support and generosity.
Members of our parishes are invited to participate in the activities of SPAN and to donate to its work, usually through using church collection boxes or special collection envelopes. You can also use the Gift Aid scheme or donate by a regular Bank Standing Order and from time to time special JustGiving campaigns are set up. Cheques should be made out to SPAN and our Bank Account has Sort Code 402706, with Account Number 21324004.
SPAN is one of the main ways by which Catholics in Leamington make charitable donations and throughout the year SPAN has a number of ongoing commitments, principally:
- Aid to Darfur in South Sudan
- St Francis Leprosy Hospital in Nyenga, Uganda
- Ortum Mission Hospital, Kenya
- The Warwick & Leamington Foodbank
- The House of Light and Hope (which is a home for street children in the Lebanon)
- To priests doing pastoral work in Zambia and Uganda.
- Funding the education of three orphans and a deaf and dumb child in Uganda
- A feeding programme for children at a school in Zambia
- Annual Lenten and Christmas Appeals
At Christmas SPAN coordinates the distribution of vouchers to our Catholic Primary School pupils who receive Free School Meals, our local refugee families and families suggested by the local Family Centres. Additionally, we have provided a Christmas card and sweets to our housebound parishioners - with the help of our Eucharistic Minsters and the SVP.
SPAN open meetings are held in the Dormer Centre at 7.30pm on the second Monday of each month (except August) and the Annual Review is usually held in May. Appeals for support are received throughout the year and are discussed at the meetings - careful consideration is given to each appeal and, where appropriate, a donation is then made. All parishioners across Catholic Leamington are welcome to attend these meetings as we are all part of SPAN - to join our meetings, or to be added to our e-mail distribution list, please contact our Secretary.
Follow us on Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/SPANLeamington
Cafod
The Catholic Agency for Overseas Development
At CAFOD, our mission is to work alongside the world’s poorest people. We work without prejudice, we don’t preach, and we pride ourselves on our diversity. We believe our Catholic values are best shown through our love for others, and by working for justice and an end to poverty.
CAFOD’s vision, mission and values draw directly from Catholic Social Teaching (CST), Scripture, Liturgy, the Gospel and the tradition of the Church. Catholic Social Teaching is at the heart of what we do and who we are.
Over the last five years at CAFOD we have been particularly inspired by Pope Francis' encyclical letter Laudato Si' and its call for us all to respond to both the cry of the earth and the cry of the poor.
We have looked again at what progress really means, in dialogue with partners from around the world. We know that everything is interconnected. We believe that we are called by our faith to stand alongside poor communities and care for God's creation. And our response is rooted in this belief. "Love, overflowing with small gestures of mutual care, is also civic and political, and it makes itself felt in every action that seeks to build a better world" (Laudato Si' 231).
As well as asking our supporters to donate and campaign, we place equal importance on prayer. Prayer informs and underpins our work. We provide prayers and reflections for our supporters and use prayer for our own guidance and inspiration.
SVP
The Johnson Association
The Johnson Fund or The Secular Clergy Association. Reg Charity No. 238681
The Johnson Association provides financial help to those clergy from the Archdiocese of Birmingham who retire through illness, old age or serious disability.
The Fund was originally founded in 1710, with a small sum of money left by the Rev Daniel Fitter, to provide for the needs of the clergy in sickness and old age. It owes its name to the first administrator, who was the Rev John Johnson (1711 - 1739).
The Objects of the Association are twofold:
- Firstly to provide financial help to clergy who retire from active work through illness, infirmity or old age.
- Secondly to make discretionary grants to those clergy on the active list who are incapacitated by serious illness lasting over one month and who need monetary assistance to receive treatment to recover their health or during a period of recuperation.
Membership is restricted to priests of the Secular Clergy who, being subjects of the Archbishop, have been ordained or incardinated into the Archdiocese of Birmingham. The Fund depends entirely on the charity and kindness of Parishioners and Benefactors.
Every year, on the first Sunday in November, there is a second collection in each part of the diocese for the Fund.
Missio
Missio ignites God’s love by helping local missionaries to work alongside global communities that are poor or in need, regardless of their background or belief.
Sometimes this need might be very specific: a motorbike for a Priest to celebrate Mass in remote villages; a simple community hall so people can gather together; vaccinations to protect vulnerable children. Whatever our missionaries need to help them share the joy of the Gospel, Missio strives to provide it.
In every country where the Catholic Church is present, there is a Missio. Each Missio is headed by a National Director, who is appointed by the Holy Father. Fr Anthony Chantry is the National Director of Missio in England and Wales.