Dear friends,

Welcome to our Caritas Round-Up for the month of February. With Lent now well under way, we want to know how people are getting on with our set of Lent resources for this year. If you want to tell us how you’ve been using them, get in touch with us: [email protected]

We are also keen to get out there as much as possible. If we haven’t visited your parish or deanery recently, please let us know if we can arrange a visit. We are happy to run confirmation session, provide advice and support for parish groups, and more. If you think we can help, get in touch with Michael: [email protected]

Before you do that, however, have a read below of what we got up to in February!

Leadership in Action Conference | TELCO & Caritas Brentwood

At the beginning of the month, we held the annual Leadership in Action Conference with East London Citizens (TELCO). Hosted at Walsingham House at Abbotswick, the day was an opportunity for young leaders in TELCO Schools to reflect on their own leadership and leadership stories, as well as having face-to-face conversations with their community organisers.

A particular highlight of the day were the conversations young people had with each other and their community organisers. Discussions were opened up where these young people could talk honestly about the need of their local areas – what they see and what concerns them – and how they felt that East London Citizens may be able to help them.

Another highlight was the conversation had between Edd Badu, Paul Amuzie and Fr Paschal Uche. Centred around their experiences of putting leadership into action, they spoke about their experiences growing up and how that impacted and inspired them today.

Speaking of how God calls each one of us in our own ways to work for the Kingdom of God, Fr Paschal said: “When the needs of the world meet the passion of your heart, that’s where your vocation is.”

When talking about the importance of everyday actions and decisions and how even they are important in our leadership journeys, Edd remarked: “It’s not about what you do, but how you do what you do…you do it with a certain level of integrity that comes from your faith”

Caritas Brentwood are strategic partners of East London Citizens. If you are a Catholic School based in East London that isn’t yet a member of TELCO, get in touch with Siân to find out more: [email protected]

SVP Youth Mass

On Thursday 5th February, Caritas facilitated a talk from Kezia at the St Vincent de Paul Society (SVP). Through and interactive and engaging workshop, Kezia spoke about SVP’s Lent campaign Heart to Heart.

The campaign focuses on loneliness, which can affect people of all ages – even in vibrant communities many people can feel unseen. To remedy this, Heart to Heart invites people to reach out to others and have a conversation.

Young people at the Youth Mass workshop engaged in conversation with each other through resources produced by SVP, including small talk, big talk and statistics around loneliness.

To learn more about SVP’s Heart to Heart Lent Campaign, visit their website<<

Vicariate Committee for Caritas Brentwood

September 2024 was a significant milestone for Caritas Diocese of Brentwood, we were established by Bishop Alan Williams as our own vicariate, with our own Episcopal Vicar solely dedicated to our mission. This development reflects not only the growing needs across Essex and East London, but also the Diocese’s deepening commitment to social outreach and service.

It is remarkable to see how far Caritas has come since we began in 2018. Beginning as a website and a vision, steady growth followed. In Autumn 2022, Siân was appointed Director of Caritas Brentwood, and in Summer 2025 Michael was appointed as Development Officer.

As our own vicariate, we have a committee that helps support our work. This Vicariate Committee is formed of gatekeepers from across the diocese that help steer our work so we can continue to fulfill its mission of supporting those in need across the Diocese. The committee plays a crucial role in shaping how Caritas responds to emerging challenges, ensuring that its work remains rooted in compassion and the values of the Gospel.

The committee, which first met in December 2024, marks an exciting new phase for our work. As we continue to grow, these meetings are essential in guiding how we serve parishes, communities and individuals.

Trinity Catholic High School Staff Inset Day

On Friday 13th February, Siân attended the Trinity Catholic School (Woodford Green) Staff Inset day. After Mass, Siân presented to an all-staff meeting. Preceded by Declan Linnane (Headteacher) who spoke about building a Catholic culture and community; Siân then spoke about and reflected on the identity of a Catholic school within our Diocese, the importance of being an educator and how everyday actions can chane the way a young person perceives the world.

If you want to know more about how Caritas Brentwood can contribute to your school staff inset days, get in touch with us: [email protected]