St Francis of Assisi Catholic Church, Long Eaton, Derbyshire

KAOMA (click to see information about what our donations support)

The Parish began its donations for Kaoma in May 1986 after the members of the Justice & Peace Group agreed to help somewhere in the Third World on a regular basis. The money sent helped to purchase dried milk for babies born in the hospital, and to take home.

In the early Nineties a small care hope was built there for babies and toddlers - to 'qualify' for a place their mothers had died, usually of AIDS. The money the parish sent was used in the care home for dried milk.

In 1997 the Parish financed the building of a playground at the home in memory of Dr Colin Harris. His widow, Penny, and a fellow parishioner, Gladys, went to Kaoma to meet the staff and children at the home. It was at this visit that Mvula's Pot was brought back from there, and we continue to use this for donations in the porch.

In 1997 there were 27 babies and toddlers at the home, by 2002 there were 83. Due to the continuing generosity of Parishioners we continue to send money regularly via the Presentation Sisters. They and the staff at Kaoma are very grateful for our on-going support, and regularly send letters of thanks and good wishes. Over the years, with developments at Kaoma, the money has been used towards education, and to help with the costs of building and running a new school.

KAOMA News (newest first)

Ad Memoriam Bishop Patrick was saddened to hear of the death, early on Monday 2nd December 2024, of Sister Frederico Britto pbvm. Sister Frederica joined the Presentation Sisters in India where she ministered for several years. She came to England in1980 and took up a ministry in the Presentation Convent High School, Matlock, and after the Convent school closed she became Parish Sister in Matlock until she retired. When she became ill Sister was cared for in the Presentation Sisters Care Centre, and died there peacefully on Monday, having faithfully served the Lord for 64 years.

May Sister Frederica now rest in peace and rise in glory.

UPDATE

January 2024 - In the past year we have sent a total of £ 2500.00 to Zambia, via the Presentation

Sisters at Matlock. Thank you for your continuing generous donations, made mainly for the fruit & veg, jam and pickles from our Parish allotments and for the Parishioners (and others) that work tirelessly there. We are looking forward to another “fruitful” year for our Parish and for the needy in Zambia

November 2023 - The Good News is that through your generosity this year the Parish has been able to send this month £2000, collected over the past year, to the Presentation Sisters for their work in the Kaoma Clinic and School Project in Zambia. Thank you so much.

The other good news is that Sister Vianney who set up the Kaoma Clinic made a flying visit to the Matlock Convent this week and she was able to meet members of the Allotment team together with Penny Harris and Gladys Beckett. More about this wonderful occasion later.

Thank you again for your generosity. If anyone would like to join the Parish Allotment Team you would be made most welcome.

Late October 2022 - Since May 2021 we have raised over £1,800 for Kaoma in Zambia. This coming weekend we are hoping to have for sale our Autumn Allotment Bounty as well as lots of homemade pickles and jams made from our produce. Please come prepared to take plenty to enjoy with all the family, while supporting the Presentation Sisters' work in Africa. Thank you from the allotmenteers!

November 2021 - Since the Lockdown began we have continued to collect for the Zambian Missionary Fund, supporting Kaoma. Penny Harris is still involved, but has handed over the finances to Vickie Stevens. In the past year over £1700 has been raised, and cheques sent off for £1200 already, leaving a healthy balance to send them £500 for this Christmas.

Thank you to everyone who continues to contribute, and to the allotmenteers for the delicious produce, pickles and jams that have been made available for donations outside Church.

Canaan Trust

The Trust operates 24-7, 365 days a year from its base on Main Street, Long Eaton. They are a Christian charity providing care and support to anyone in need, regardless of gender, age, sexuality, ethnicity, creed, individual or family. The Trust seeks to reach out to all who are isolated and in need providing access to help and support – with issues relating to homelessness, insecure accommodation, benefits, debts, or food poverty.

The Canaan Trust homeless charity cares for each unique individual or family in a holistic, person-centred way. The goal is to enable each individual or family to address the issues that caused their homelessness or trapped them in being homeless, supporting them to ‘Rebuild their Lives’ so they can positively move forward to achieve independent living back in the Community.

CAFOD

CAFOD is the official aid agency for the Catholic Church in England and Wales and part of one of the largest aid networks in the world.

What we do

Our history

Our values

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.

The CAFOD Nottingham Volunteer Conference 2024.. Why watch this almost 2 hour marathon? Because it's about combining Church and Real World; because the Guest Speaker is Dave Wells (the Pride of Ilkeston) and anyone who knows him will know to expect to laugh and cry, often in the same breath; and it's about rediscovering ourselves in this frantic world, and realising we have a place and a role in it. Take it in small chunks, there are obvious split points, ponder and enjoy

MISSIO

Missio is the channel through which you:

Support the Church’s infrastructure in poor and sometimes remote areas, by helping the local communities to build churches, convents, schools, children’s homes, clinics, and dispensaries, so that they have the means to witness to the Gospel in their countries.
Help train Priests and Sisters in young and developing Churches, who will lead, teach, and administer the Sacraments in their communities; reaching out to those most in need of God’s love.
Inspire children from all countries to pray and care for each other, and prepare them to face the challenges of living the Gospel in our world.

MISSIO

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