Volume 3 Issue 1
Please click on the image to view the quarterly bulletin:
EVC Uganda: A Good News Story
Many of you are generously sponsoring young children in Uganda in their education. Ted Fawcett, parishioner at St Joseph’s and chairman of EVC Uganda, gives us an update on the achievements of the charity during 2020:
EVC Uganda Chairman’s new year message
As I look back on 2020, with all its disruptions, I am pleased to report much positive news about our work in Uganda. The building of a boys’ and a girls’ dormitory at one of our primary schools has been completed and work has commenced there on the building of a five-classroom block, which will be used for the teaching of IT and vocational skills. This is due for completion in April and all of this work is a great step forward for the school. Regular inspections are carried out by qualified people on all EVC building work and the standard is consistently very high.
With the closure of schools in March, due to the virus, our team in Uganda has worked tirelessly and successfully to provide outreach education to the EVC sponsored children in their homes. On 15th October, those children due to sit their Primary Leaving Examination and those secondary students due to sit GCSE and A level exams returned to school. We hope to see the schools reopen for the remaining children in early January.
[Read more…] about EVC Uganda: A Good News StoryA Message of Hope
Canon Seamus has recorded a video message, inviting us to trust in God and to find hope and peace in daily prayer. He reminds us that, despite current uncertainties, the Lord is with us.
If we are comfortable, he also extends an invitation to attend Sunday Mass. Please see our latest newsletter for Mass Times.
Pastoral Letter from ✠ David J Oakley
Below is Bishop David’s first Pastoral Letter :
24th March 2020
Dear brothers and sisters in Christ,
Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. These words of the Apostle Paul root us firmly where we belong, in the grace and peace of God. Things are not turning out as we may have imagined, even a few weeks ago now, and this is not the letter I had hoped to send you as my first communication with you! It is unfortunate that the episcopal ordination took place as it were, behind closed doors. That very image speaks to us of the Easter Gospels, and the disciples gathered together in fear and anxiety within a locked room. But the coronavirus is certainly affecting every aspect of our society. We have heard so much about what it can do, how it attacks the respiratory system and can cause damage, even fatalities. Those who have political responsibility are obliged to offer sound advice to us in this state of crisis, and we must be prudent in our response to this advice. However, we should not allow this virus to rob us of the breath of the Spirit. The Holy Father encourages us to deal with this viral threat in these encouraging words, ‘with the strength of faith, the certitude of hope and the fervour of charity’ (Pope Francis, March 8, 2020).
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EVC Uganda update
Ted Fawcett, parishioner at St Joseph’s and chairman of EVC Uganda, gives us an update on the achievements of the charity last year, made possible by the magnificent support of its donors, trustees and volunteers.
Church Appeals
This year EVC will have held a total of 17 church appeals, covering a large area of the country and, with parishioners providing enormous financial support through their collections and in taking up individual child sponsorship. The churches of Our Lady’s in Bow, East London and St George’s, Wembley are making EVC their Lenten Charity for 2020.
Major Donor
One of our donors has provided the funds to build a boys’ dormitory at St Matia Mulumba, Primary School, the building of which will hopefully commence in the Spring of 2020. We very much value our donors and see care and support for them as a vital part of our work.
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