We should all still support the large charities, e.g. CAFOD, OXFAM, Christian Aid, Red Cross etc. These organisations have the ‘helicopter view’ and are fantastic at responding to and raising awareness of things like great natural disasters for example. They have the strategic understanding of need. But we have the detailed operational and day-to-day understanding at the local level. We can pick out the individuals. We know them. And the people on the ground that have devoted their lives to helping them are part of us.
It is also important that we continue our support for Missio – the APF Red Boxes and the one-off Missio collections. Missio helps bring the Good News of Christ to the world, especially in countries where the Church is new, young or poor. Missio cares for and supports the younger churches until they are able to be self-sufficient. Some money from Missio almost certainly gets to the missions that we support through our own Faith in Action mission; however, the Missio money must be shared across the whole world. Our Faith in Action mission is directly targeted, makes a significant difference and is owned and run by us here in St Joseph’s parish family.
