News (March 2009)
A Plea for Zimbabwe
Bishop Martin is urging parishes in the Newcastle diocese to support the Anglican diocese of Zimbabwe by getting behind the Archbishops’ appeal launched on Ash Wednesday.
Commending a Day of Prayer for Zimbabwe, the Archbishops say: “We hope this will be part of a communion wide project for Lent, and that every diocese will play its part, responding to the urgent calls for help with medical supplies, food and clean water which come daily from Zimbabwe"
Bishop Martin adds: “The people of Zimbabwe have been suffering the worst humanitarian crisis that country has seen since independence. Many have died from cholera, starvation and HIV. A breakdown of the basic civil infrastructure has slowly been destroying the nation and causing unimaginable suffering.
“The churches are struggling to feed the hungry and heal the sick. They are suffering alongside and with their communities, and they need our support.”
He goes on: “So I ask the churches and parishes of the Newcastle diocese to support the Anglican Diocese of Zimbabwe as they desperately try to witness to God's love and address the overwhelming practical needs.”
Bishop Martin has met Bishop Sebastian Bakare, the Bishop of Harare, and his wife Ruth, on two occasions, and says he has “been deeply moved by the heroism of them and their colleagues in Zimbabwe, still faced with constant brutal harassment and threats of death.”
He adds: “Sebastian is one bishop amongst five in Zimbabwe and one amongst thousands of Anglicans there trying to live out the Christian witness by feeding, clothing, healing, and all too often mourning and burying people in their communities.
“So I bring our Archbishops' appeal to the notice of the people of the Diocese. Will you, during Lent, please find ways to support the Archbishops' appeal? The people of Zimbabwe, including our fellow Anglicans, are suffering. It is crucial for them to know that there are advocates and friends, partners and supporters, in practical help and prayer throughout the world. How can any of us remain unmoved when part of the body of Christ is suffering? Please help and pray this Lent.”
Donations can be made through USPG:
- If donating on line, select "Archbishops' Zimbabwe appeal."
- By cheque: makes cheques payable to USPG with the words "Archbishops' Zimbabwe appeal" on the back.
Please send with a short letter explaining that the donation is for this appeal.
Send to USPG, Anglicans in World Mission, 200 Great Dover Street, London. SE1 4YB on line at: www.uspg.org.uk – select the donate tab from the main menu for details
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Cathy Rowling to head Lindisfarne
The Revd. Canon Cathy Rowling takes up her post as director of Lindisfarne, the new Regional Training Partnership, this month.
Cathy was Director of Ordinands and of Reader Studies in the Diocese of York, as well as Dean of Women’s Ministry there before her appointment, and has served all her ministry in the York diocese.
She is married to Richard, who is the team rector of Thirsk in North Yorkshire, and they have two daughters, one at university in the south of England, and the other about to take GCSEs.
Cathy says: “I am delighted to have been appointed as the first Principal of Lindisfarne. I'm greatly looking forward to working with the core team, and am confident that together we can build productively upon existing work in both Newcastle and Durham dioceses. With the prayers and support of the Church in this region, I hope I can help Lindisfarne to grow into a responsive and imaginative partner in the provision of lay and ministerial training. It is a great privilege to be entrusted with the care and nurture of a brand new enterprise, and it is good to be joining it at this early stage.”
Lindisfarne will be based at Church House in Percy Main, and the Rowling family are looking to relocate to North Tyneside although Richard will continue in his post – he is also the Archbishop of York’s rural advisor – for the time being.
Cathy says: “We are all looking forward to getting to know the North-East and its places and people rather better, having lived on and around Teesside for the past 25 year.
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God's Word within a supportive, safe community of friends
Godly Play is being used more and more across both dioceses to encourage spiritual growth in people of all ages, says Mary Cooper.
“During the last year it has been used for adult Lent and Bible study groups, for quiet days, spiritual resourcing days, in baptism and confirmation preparation, and in clergy training as well as widely with children and young people in churches and schools.
“Its great potential as a tool for spiritual and theological education is becoming widely recognised. It allows those who participate to develop their own experience of God through a multi-sensory, story -based experience and shared response.
Mary quotes Dr. Rebecca Nye who has studied the method of working in Godly Play: “The heart of Godly Play is that it does not depend on knowledge, but on personal response and spiritual engagement with God's word within a supportive, safe community of friends.”
Mary adds: “We are pleased to be able to tell you that we now have a set of equipment for loan in northern Northumbria kept at North Sunderland (contact The Rev Jane Wood jane.wood14@btinternet.com 01665720202). As well as the sets of Godly Play materials available for loan from both the Durham and Newcastle Diocesan Resource Centres, there are now two sets available for loan at Newcastle Cathedral (contact office@stnicnewcastle.co.uk
tel.0191 232 1939)
“Through C of E Institute funding we have been able to offer a training programme at a subsidised level. Diocesan funding has continued to help individuals attend sessions and ongoing training has enabled a leaders’ team to be set up. This team is making it possible for more people to access sessions and advice and all ongoing expenses are being met through G P North. Training sessions vary from an introduction to Godly Play theory, methods and materials to further development in specific areas, and often include instruction on how to make materials for participants to take away and use for themselves”. Advice on using the materials and information about training courses is available from Mary Cooper.
Coming soon:
May 6th 2009 7-9pm Newcastle Cathedral: Session 1: An Introduction:See Godly Play in action and find out what it’s all about.
May 20th : Session 2: Get Practical : Have a go at Godly Play yourself and find out where to get resources and how to make your own. Book with Mary Cooper cooper.mary@blueyonder.co.uk tel.01912525707
Our picture shows a group engaged in Godly Play.
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It could be us...
Most people only dream about winning £500,000 on the lottery, but a parish in Newcastle recently woke up to the reality. Anne Marr reports...
When a little parish on the fringe of the big city needed to jump into deep waters in order to reach the shoreline of progress, little did it foresee the size of the challenge, nor the multitude of ensuing blessings.
Holy Nativity, Chapel House, in Outer West Newcastle, is ecclesial small fry with a big heart. It wanted to make a difference, it needed to regenerate, it had the needs, the people and the passion - but too small an income to buy a boat. “Let’s apply to the lottery”, they all cried, and a small group was commissioned to get on with it.
What was the hope? To regenerate our much-loved community-centred church to become a more versatile, welcoming and sustainable resource for the next 30 years. Adequate support facilities (a telephone would be a good start!) were needed and meeting rooms to accommodate community groups for social, recreational, educational and spiritual activities.
We knew the issues facing older people and carers, the need for facilities to support those unable to drive or travel far from home, and we knew the church was potentially a great resource. The question was: how to make things happen?
The faithful old church hall was past redemption and sitting on land which the local doctors desperately needed for surgery space to save them moving out of the community. We introduced ourselves to the Primary Care Trust and catalysed a steady reaction amongst community groups that led eventually to an Integrated Health and Community Project.
Unexpected people turned up out of the blue to facilitate each step. A visitor came to a TRIO service. She worked for a developer. The doctors were looking for a developer. The developer (Ashley House plc) joined in. A carer joined the congregation. She introduced us to Dementia Care Partnership. The meeting seeded an operational partnership. The church sold some land for DCP to build a day-care unit. Now DCP and Holy Nativity intend to share facilities and work together to meet community needs.
Lottery application guidelines – a total of 94 pages of very little print – are enough to make the boldest of venturers give up the will to live! In came Alnmouth Friary – a sanctuary of peace and stillness - where the documents were first read and absorbed, and where a primordial business plan took shape, blessed by the faithful presence of the brothers who ministered to the anxious scribes. This was early in 2006, when Holy Nativity ‘Outside In’ Community Project was launched. Even then, little did the steering group know of the immense efforts ahead.
While we tackled the two stage lottery application process, doggedly unravelling audits, spread sheets and gantt charts, we sought help from anyone who would stand still long enough to listen. We cannot possibly offer enough thanks to the many people locally and regionally who have helped us in our journey. Angels of all dimensions and traditions blessed us with advice, practical help and funding, including the local primary schools, ward councillors and committees, other faith communities, our patrons and partners, and the diocesan archangel of community action, PICA.
The ‘Outside In’ Community Project has grown out of the experiences of people in Chapel House, who know the challenges and pain of loss, bereavement, guilt, fear, and care-giving. They have felt the healing grace of God received through others, helping them to shape new ways of living and they have experienced how difficulties can present new opportunities. Through ‘Outside In’, they hope to assist local people to work together creatively and inclusively, to value one another, to value the world and its resources, to find meaning in our experiences, to respect and understand the experiences of others, to encourage one another and so to shape our community life.
News of a Big Lottery development grant came along with an invitation to apply for a capital grant. Local partnerships developed in the shaping of the project, and friendships grew along with the corporate will to make things happen. Some other trusts generously supported us including the Co-operative Fund, Church and Community Fund, Winchester Diocese, Hedley Denton Trust and Sherburn Trust. Big setbacks have also happened, many times, but always something came in their wake to spur us on.
Then came the news that that Holy Nativity ‘Outside In’ Community Project was to receive a maximum capital grant of £500,000. We still have a way to go in order to claim this grant – we need to raise about £80,000 in the next six months, so our work is cut out, but our hopes are greatly encouraged. If anyone reading this is looking for a good cause, please call.
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Cafe has it all wrapped up!
The Church of the Good Shepherd at Battle Hill in Newcastle is continuing its experiment with “café church”.
“At our last café church for Epiphany, we wrapped people in Christmas paper as a visual sign that we can offer ourselves as a gift to God,” says team vicar Janet Appleby. “Our feeling is that the informal seating makes it easier for people to join in, and the few visitors we’ve had have been very enthusiastic.”
She adds: “One of the challenges facing the church is to find a way of continuing to cherish and practise all that is good in our tradition whilst simultaneously experimenting with new ideas. We do this to make contact with those on the fringes of church or outside it altogether, for whom our worship seems baffling and alienating. “Once the planning group had decided to sit everyone round tables facing the chancel, it seemed natural to call it 'café church'.”
And how does it all go down ? “ 'Much better than traditional church for people like me' was one comment,” Janet says. “Some of the regular congregation felt that 'it is not what feeds me', but they are generous enough to accept something unfamiliar for the sake of those outside the church.”
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UK Wedding Show
It was a cold weekend, but not yet snowing when the Newcastle and Durham dioceses joined forces to exhibit at the UK Wedding Show, held at Newcastle's Metro Radio Arena in February.
This was the third year running that the two dioceses had been invited by the show’s organisers to take a stand at the prestigious event, the aim being to offer help and advice to couples thinking about a church wedding.
On duty at the Church of England stand: Stephen Taylor, Canon Provost of Sunderland Minster, with Margaret Campbell, from Newcastle Mothers' Union and Sue Scott, the Newcastle Communications Officer.
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Newcastle vicar wins award
A Newcastle vicar has won an award through Ecclesiastical Insurance’s Ministry Bursary Awards this year to fund research and travel plans.
The Revd. David Gray, Vicar of St Mary Magdalene, Longbenton, will be visiting Dubai, Sydney and Wellington to study the mission of the Church in those cities, focusing on disadvantaged communities and how the Church engages with them.
Altogether 52 members of the clergy from 28 dioceses have won awards this year, which were presented to the winners at a ceremony at St. Paul’s Cathedral, London recently.
The Ministry Bursary Awards have been supporting members of the clergy to meet the costs of their studies and sabbaticals since 1987. In the 22 years of the existence of the awards, more than 650 grants have been awarded.
Our picture shows David Gray receiving his Ministry Bursary Award from Nick Sealy, Chairman of Ecclesiastical.
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General Synod passes Joint Motion
The first-ever joint motion put by two dioceses was passed unanimously at General Synod last month, a triumph for Canon Michael Webb from Alnwick who proposed it, for members of both companion link committees in the dioceses of Winchester and Newcastle, and for admirers everywhere of the Victorian campaigner Jospehine Butler.
The motion called on Synod to “ recognise and deplore the continuing evil of human
trafficking, especially of children and young people”, and urged the Church of England “to support the work of those who seek to end the traffic and rescue those trapped in it.
The motion also called on Synod to support the vigorous implementation of the UK ActionPlan on Tackling Human Trafficking, and in particular, called on “ HM Government to ensure that effective measures are in place to prevent sex workers being trafficked into Britain during the 2012 Olympics.”
Canon Webb told Synod that a human trafficking gang had claimed “we can have a virgin from the Baltic States in England in two weeks" a claim reported and discussed at the Josephine Butler Colloquium in 2006.
“Celebrating our shared saint with Winchester Diocese, a conference had been exploring the life and theology of the woman who pioneered the repeal of the Contagious Diseases Act which placed all the blame for prostitution on the women involved and none on their clients,”he said. "We were appalled that her great crusade was still unfinished.”
Canon Webb, who is chair of the Winchester Link Task Group, said that the conference had been determined to try to do something to bring to the Church and the Government's attention its abhorrence of this modern slavery.
Recent major sporting events abroad had seen a "relaxed" attitude to prostitution and an increase in the numbers of women and children being trafficked to satisfy the "punters", Canon Webb suggested, although he conceded that there was debate concerning this issue. "However, we don't want our Olympics in London to be tarnished by such things," he said.
Other speakers in the Synod debate urged church members to become involved in community action and campaigns helping trafficked women in their locality.
http://www.cofe.anglican.org/about/gensynod/agendas/feb09/
http://www.cofe.anglican.org/news/gsfeb110209pm.html
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Fire Works is stoking up!
Fire Works is stoking up! The major diocesan event planned for the eve of Pentecost, Saturday May 30, is gaining momentum in the parishes, with some congregations already having booked to make sure of their seats for the City Hall.
As Link went to print, Fire Works bookmarks together with a flyer were going out to every parish in the diocese, and the message from the Fire Works task group is: Don’t hang about, get booking!
Fire Works organiser Canon John Sadler says: “Even before parishes have received the flyers and bookmarks, we have received orders for tickets!”
He adds: “We’re asking everyone to include their email address when they order tickets, because we want to acknowledge recepit of every order. We are still waiting for the actual tickets to come from City Hall and acknowledging receipt by email will be much cheaper than sending out letters. The tickets will then be sent out as soon as we receive them.”
The Task Group plans to make this an event to remember, John says, as well as a time of renewal and refreshment in the Church here in the Newcastle Diocese.
Before the evening celebration, the city centre will play host to an afternoon of amazing variety! Workshops and activities will be taking place around the city for everyone to enjoy, including: Art, Drumming, Dance, Breathe (an interactive experience for people wanting to explore the beliefs and ideas of the Christian faith), Godly Play, a film (at the Tyneside Theatre), Children’s activities, City Guides, Bell Ringing, Cathedral Evensong, Healing, John Bell, Prayer Walk and Taizé (further details of all these available nearer the time).
At the evening celebration: Using our stories and images, plus drama and song, the first half of the evening will reflect what God is doing among and through us in the diocese. In the second half, music and word will call us forward in worship to imagine new hopes and possibilities of where the Holy Spirit may be leading us. John Bell of the Iona Community and Jonny Baker of Grace, a creative and alternative worship community in London, will encourage and inspire us. The evening will close with a commission from Bishop Martin, sending us out in the power of the Spirit to live and work to God’s praise and glory.
What will it cost ? The whole day is being generously subsidised, but to cover remaining costs tickets will be sold for the evening celebration at the City Hall (and apart from the film, everything else is free). Tickets are £8 each (children £5). Space in the City Hall is limited and from past experience we recommend buying tickets early. Send advance orders for tickets to “Fire Works Tickets, c/o Byker Community Centre, Headlam Street, Newcastle upon Tyne, NE6 2DX” (please make cheques payable to ‘The Newcastle Diocesan Board of Finance’). For further information ring 07836 354843
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Better access to Shepherds Dene
Redevelopment work started at Shepherds Dene this month, a programme that will see an acess ramp constructed at the front door, and the ground floor toilets rebuilt so as to be fully accessible as well. Upstairs, en-suite bedrooms are being created.
There were some interesting moments for the staff at Shepherds Dene as the work got underway. Under one bedroom carpet The Journal from 1960 was found, complete with an article about the wife of the then Bishop of Durham! The photographs taken by staff clearly show where the original room had been partitioned to make smaller bedrooms.
Says warden Peter Dodgson: “It is very possibly over 60 years since the original room layout has been seen.”
He adds: “In some bedrooms up to seven layers of wallpaper have been stripped back to show the original Edwardian pattern."
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More Task Group members needed
The More Companion Link task group is looking for new members – and specifically a new secretary.
Link chair, the Revd. David Cant, who is also the diocesan ecumenical officer, says: “The task group has had a very efficient and hardworking secretary in Charis Scott, but after seven years in the job, she feels it is time to give up the role. We hope to find someone who has an interest in ecumenical relations, who would like to learn about Norway and the Lutheran church, and who feels they would like the chance to contribute to the furtherance of this companion link.”
The task group has one Norwegian speaker among its members, and meets four or five times a year to plan visits and events and review the communications between the two dioceses.
David Cant adds: “I think it’s fair to say that being part of the group has its rewards – we have enjoyed meeting our friends from Norway when they’ve travelled to Newcastle, and many of us have visited Norway too. Many strong friendships have been formed, and the link is now moving into a new phase.
“Our plan is to encourage links between individual parishes and deaneries in Newcastle and Møre so that more people can enjoy the fruits of the companion link.”
Anyone wishing to join the group should contact David Cant at 01661 853254 or email: david@stoswin.totalserve.co.uk
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Pilgrims get ready for the Holy Land
Canon Audrey Elkington reports on plans for the diocesan pilgrimage in May
It is very exciting that there are now 57 people who are signed up to attend the Diocesan Pilgrimage to the Holy Land in May. These include people from Eglingham and Rothbury, Corbridge and Snods Edge, Killingworth and Wallsend - and we think we shall even have a visitor from New Zealand! Bishop Martin is delighted and humbled that, together with Archdeacon Geoff, he will be able to lead so many of us as we 'walk where Jesus walked'.
We held our first preparation evening in January, during which fellow-pilgrims were able to begin to get to know each other (or renew old acquaintences). The Revd. Dr. Dagmar Winter (who has led pilgrimages herself) helped us to think about the places we associate with Jesus' life, and she spoke about the places which mark His life in Israel and Palestine today.
This preparation meeting happened whilst the recent conflict in Gaza was still taking place. We prayed for those suffering in both Palestine and Israel, and prayed for peace throughout our complicated world. It is encouraging to know that the hotels, restaurants and shops which we will use while on our pilgrimage will be Palestinian-owned. In this way we shall be able to contribute to the economy of these disadvantaged people.
Dave and I recently went to Israel and Palestine on a 'familiarisation tour', so that we can help brief Bishop Martin and Archdeacon Geoff as they make plans about the pilgrimage. We cannot possibly visit everywhere, nor can we necessarily worship wherever we'd like - decisions have to be made within the limitations of our time, our budget, our energy, and our ecumenical relations. We shall certainly aim to include Bethlehem and places associated with Jesus' birth, Galilee and places associated with Jesus' ministry, and Jerusalem where Jesus was crucified, buried and rose again. It is very exciting for many who will be visiting these places for the first time, to be able to reflect on the life of Jesus Christ in very tangible ways.
Our pilgrimage will not solely be about historical sites. We shall also be visiting and supporting the work of Christians who live and work and worship in Israel and Palestine today. For example, we intend to visit the Holy Family Maternity Hospital in Bethlehem (where else?!) which offers excellent pre- and post-natal care to Palestinian women and children (most of whom can not afford to pay for the care they need). This hospital is run by Christians, and is funded by Christians all over the world.
We have two more preparation evenings to attend. In March we will consider Israel and Palestine as it is today, with the help of a local Methodist Minister who has recently spent three months in Bethlehem. At the end of April our final meeting will cover last-minute details, before we share the Eucharist together. Then suitably organised and inspired we shall set off on the evening of Sunday 3rd May to 'walk where Jesus walked'. We shall keep you informed.
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Year of the Child for Parishes
2009 has been designated as the Year of the Child in many Anglican and ecumenical parishes. The idea for this theme started in the north of the country, in the York Diocese and quickly spread around the country.
The idea of the ‘year of the child’ is that firstly we celebrate the work that we are already doing with children. We use this year to take stock of all that we are doing and offer this to God and each other.
The second thing is to look to the future. Do we need to change the way that we work with the children we have? Or is there something that we would like to try, helping us to make links with the children in our community.
The diocese has made available some small grants to parishes via the Diocesan Development Officer for Children’s Work at Church House. These grants are for new initiatives that are initiated by the local parish church community. It is a way of saying ‘have a go at something new!’ ‘Take a risk and we will help you in the process’.
For example, have you ever thought about linking with your local school to offer an after school club, weekly or fortnightly? Or putting on a family activity day on the local green or in the vicarage grounds? This would help make contacts with families as well as providing a service that the community needs.
Other ideas include setting up a ‘messy church’ or ‘teatime church’ which wouldl involve the children in craft activities with their parents or carers, aiming to introduce families to the Christian faith and to the church. Alternatively, you might have an activity afternoon or holiday club in the summer that children can attend for fun, games, and singing – all based on a theme from the Bible.
The main purposeof the grants is to use the money for something new which seeks to help children or families within the church or wider community.
Practical advice and help is available to you via the Diocesan Development Officer for Children’s Work, Sandra Doore, or the Children’s Work Task group.
Sandra says: “Let us celebrate the gift that God has given us in children. Relate to them, care for them and introduce them to the greatest friend that they could ever know. Let’s take a risk and see what God is doing in the lives of our children today.”
Sandra Doore can be contacted at Church house by phone on 0191-2704151 or by email s.doore@newcastle.anglican.org
Thanksgiving and Commissioning Services for Children’s Work Leaders :
June 6: 11 am Hexham Abbey.
June 13: 11 am St Michael’s Church, Alnwick.
June 20: 11 am St Nicholas Cathedral.
All the services are for Children’s Leaders and their families and there will be a sandwich lunch after the services for everyone.
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Success for critical mass at Cathedral
Fantastic! That’s all I can say about the Critical Mass! Words fail me every time someone asks me about it.
More than 150 people turned up to take part in what was to be an excellent night. We started at the font where we had the Gospel reading of the devastating story in which Herod, filled with jealousy at the birth of Jesus, ordered every child under the age of two to be killed.
We then started singing The First Noel, which was accompanied by a terrific brass band; we continued this singing until we had all reached the organ. Here we were told about the different stations around the Cathedral.The stations consisted of DVD watching, a power-point about suffering in the world, and a table filled with sweet stuff (the idea was to take whatever we thought that the wise men would take on their journey.)
We were then called to the Nativity scene (this year it has been made of recycled bottles ) and a handful of people were asked to chuck glitter towards the baby Jesus, representing the gold that was given at his birth. Incense took the place of frankinsense, and then a bowl of rape-seed scented water was handed around the congregation, representing the myrrh that was handed to Jesus. Then we had another song, followed by the confession.
After this a bowl of dirt was handed around, signalling our sins. Much to the disgust of some of the girls, we were told to put our hands in this. Cries of “I’ve just had my nails done!” echoed around the Cathedral. Then a bucket was brought round and we were told to wash our sin away in this bucket.
We congregated next to the grand piano and then the president, the Revd. Andy Bowden proceeded to distribute Holy Communion. Afterwards we were given a flowery necklace, which I later discovered had little stickers on it showing encouraging verses from the Bible. Some friends and I went and sat in a pew where we prayed for each other. Whilst all of this was happening RE: Born played Chris Tomlin’s version of Amazing Grace (My chains have gone.) It was then that I discovered how fantastic Jesus is and how much he loves me. I had a very surreal experience. After a prayer we proceeded into the cafeteria and munched our way through lots of yummy pizzas and guzzled down bucket loads of sugary drinks!
As well as the communion, the fantastic stations and the brilliant singing, there were also laser beams, smoke machines, lights and a fantastic display of candles on the high altar showing the Star of David.
The night was a huge success and I would personally like to thank Andrew Shipton for organizing such a wonderful evening, Simon White for the pictures, and to the Cathedral for allowing us to worship such an amazing God. Thank you also to everyone who turned up. We look forward to seeing you at the next one! SHAUN O'BRIEN
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Inspired by the Gospel to make a difference in Botswan
A recent trip to our companion link diocese of Botswana saw the party from Newcastle – Revd. Geoff Lowson, Revd. Allan Marks and diocesan secretary Philip Davies – visiting the St. Peter’s day-care centre to the south of the capital, Gaborone, keen to see how money given by Newcastle parishioners for this project had been spent .
The day-care centre was born from the pastoral visits of Father Andrew Mudereri into the Mogoditshane community where he saw children who had lost their parents, due to HIV/AIDS and other causes, being cared for by grandmothers or aunts or siblings who were struggling to cope.
Father Andrew was inspired by the Gospel message ‘You saw me hungry and did not feed me; you saw me naked and you did not clothe me; you saw me a stranger and you did not welcome me; you saw me sick and in prison and you did not minister to me’ as well as an appeal by the former president of Botswana who had called upon the nation with the words: “ Ntwa e bolotse! (The war has started). Rise and take your place in the fight against HIV/AIDS!”
In June 2003 St. Peter’s opened the doors of the church to seven orphans and vulnerable children. “We started with five volunteers, three old ladies and two youth members,” Father Andrew recalls. “The three oldies were cooking, washing up and feeding the kids while the two youths played with them from about 7am till 4.30pm. By the end of that year we had 11 children, two of whom were living with AIDS/HIV. By the end 2004 the numbers had swelled to 26 children. Today the centre has 90 children aged between two and six years, and 26 after- school children. Some of all these children are infected but still healthy, and some are taking ARV drugs.”
Today the centre provides psychosocial care and support to the children and the caregivers, gives age-appropriate pre-school education to the children, offers nutritional meals, monitors the children’s weight, height and general health, transports them to and from the centre, and provides after – school care, food and support to 26 older children who have left the centre and are now in primary school.
Father Andrew says: “Many friends, some local and others from overseas, made the building work possible by their selfless giving of time and money. Amongst these friends are people from the Diocese of Newcastle. The building was completed in April 2008 and has been in use since May 2008. It was officially opened on October 11, 2008.”
He adds: “This work would not be possible without the generous donations from loving, kind hearted individuals, organizations and the business community. We thank all donors who make it possible for us to take care of these lovable and precious children.”
Geoff Lowson, chair of the Newcastle-Botswana Link Task Group, comments: “We were all very impressed with the work of Father Andrew and his colleagues at St. Peter’s. We would like to add our thanks to his for the donations from people in the Newcastle parishes.” Geoff Lowson, chair of the Botswana link task group (right) with father Andrew and Philip Davies in the office at St. Peter's day-care centre
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