The Catholic women who organised the first Family Fast Day in 1960 with Sister Alicia who ran the mother-and-baby clinic in Dominica.
And they compelled a passer-by, Simon of Cyrene, who was coming in from the country, the father of Alexander and Rufus, to carry his cross.
We adore you, O Christ, and we praise you,
because by your Holy Cross you have redeemed the world.
Simon of Cyrene comes into the city of Jerusalem on the day of Jesus’ death. He finds himself in the crowds along Jesus’ pathway to Golgotha and is enlisted to help carry his cross. He does not know Jesus but lends his strength to carrying the heavy weight of the wood.
Some sixty years ago, a small group of women from Catholic Women’s organisations got together to support a mother and child clinic in Dominica. The women thought they might raise about £500 but their idea was so enthusiastically received by Catholic parishes it raised £6,000; much more than they ever hoped for. So, as well as funding the new clinic, the project also improved water supplies and enabled local people to develop their vegetable gardens. Two years later the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of England and Wales formally recognised their initiative. And CAFOD was born.
Although Simon did not have a choice but to help carry Jesus’ cross, we do. We pray that we will look for opportunities to help one another and to build a better world.
Prayer
Jesus, our brother,
you call us to bear each other’s burdens.
Bless all who give of themselves
in the service of others;
and make us always ready
to offer and to receive help.
Amen.
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