Reflections from Raymond, Kweku, and Daisy
Hosted by Stone King and HaysMac, the annual Catholic Charity Conference — first established in 1990 — continues to be a vital gathering point for Catholic organisations working for justice and charity across England and Wales. This year’s theme, “Catholic charities: new hope in a jubilee year”, invited delegates to reflect on a year of change and look forward with faith and courage.
Raymond, Kweku, and Daisy were delighted to attend on behalf of CSAN, joining a wide range of diocesan agencies, religious orders, and national Catholic charities. It was a day rich in insight, collaboration, and deep spiritual reflection.
Martin Brown, Community Participation Manager at CAFOD, gave a powerful keynote address. Drawing on his work with the Bishops’ Conference Jubilee planning group, Martin reminded us that the Jubilee Year is a moment not only of celebration but of transformation — a time to renew our commitment to justice, care for our common home, and global solidarity. He called on all Catholic organisations to be beacons of hope in a fractured world.
The final session of the day brought together a powerful panel of voices from the CSAN Network, hosted by Richard Harries (CEO, Caritas Westminster), featuring Rt Hon Sir John Battle KC*SG, a trustee of CSAN, and Kate Nightingale, CEO of the St Vincent de Paul Society. They spoke on the theme of being pilgrims of hope in this Jubilee Year, and how we are called to confront injustice through the lens of Catholic Social Teaching.
Kate Nightingale spoke about the incredible work of SVP groups across the country — from tackling loneliness and poverty to speaking truth into the culture. She emphasised the need for Catholic charities to be rooted in encounter and compassion, confidently living out Gospel values in the public square.
Sir John Battle offered a compelling reflection on the enduring relevance of Rerum Novarum, particularly timely as the new Pope Leo XVI has taken the name of Pope Leo XIII, author of that landmark encyclical. He stressed that Catholic social action must be rooted in genuine partnership, not shareholder-style structures, and that the Spirit works most powerfully in person-to-person in community-based mission.
You can find out more about the Catholic Charity Conference here: https://www.catholiccharityconference.org.uk
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