Bishop Reflects on Parish Social Action

Bishop Peter requested that all parishes in the Diocese of East Anglia include a note about the 10th World Day of the Poor in their upcoming newsletters for Sunday, November 15. He wants the occasion to serve as a reminder for parishioners of how their communities support, advocate for, and accompany those in need.

The bishop noted that many parishes already maintain links with food banks and night shelters, as seen during Caritas Festivals held across the seven deaneries. He suggested that the World Day of the Poor could be used to host local charities to thank them for their work and to encourage more parishioners to volunteer.

David Livesey of Caritas East Anglia stated that the World Day of the Poor and the World Day of Migrants and Refugees share two common goals: documenting grassroots experiences to inform advocacy and helping Catholic migrant communities participate more fully in parish life. The Commission is seeking ideas for a pilot project in a diocesan parish to address these concerns.