Renewal day in Bury St Edmunds with Fr Paschal Uche
October 10, 2024
St Helen’s hosts record pilgrimage with 500 attendees
October 11, 2024
The week of October 16 -22 is designated as Modern Slavery Week in the UK to remind us that Modern Slavery is in our midst and we as individuals can do something about it, in particular attend a webinar to learn more, reports Simon John.
The number of enslaved souls estimated to be living all around East Anglia is 8,600. In 2022, 746 souls were actually found in modern slavery in the Diocese.
The remainder were not found. They cannot walk away. They are still waiting for us to find them and alert the authorities. They work in factories, on farms, even restaurants. They sleep in overcrowded substandard accommodation all over our Diocese.
Pope Francis asks us all to do something about it. A forthcoming Webinar on Tuesday October 15 during Modern Slavery week is an opportunity to find out how we can all help together. It is being organized by the Catholic Bishops Conference of England and Wales (CBCEW), in partnership with Caritas Social Action Network and St Mary’s University. The 1-2 pm “Modern Slavery on our Doorstop ” webinar will be recorded.
The information describing the webinar says “Recognizing the signs of the potential for exploitation within the community in which we live is critical.”
You can register for the webinar here: https://www.cbcew.org.uk/webinar-modern-slavery-on-our-doorstep/
You will see on that link it says “This webinar is restricted for Schools/Diocese/Catholic Agencies. Registrations not using one of these emails will not be approved.” However CBCEW has given us permission to register despite our not having diocesan email addresses. If you don’t have such an address, register anyway and let Simon know and arrangements will be made for your registration to be approved, or for you to be sent a link to the recording.
You don’t have to know anything about modern slavery to attend or watch the recording.
The new East Anglia Anti Modern Slavery group is looking for more volunteers. It follows that the more people who are on the lookout, then the more enslaved people will be found and the problem as a whole will gradually reduce: meanwhile every rescue is a soul freed from torment.
No particular skill or experience is necessary – only a desire to reduce slavery in our Diocese. Contact Simon John on john_simong@hotmail.com
