Our Farnborough Hill community came together last Friday morning for our annual Harvest Festival. It was a time of gratitude for the abundant blessings which we have been given - cupboards filled with food, warm homes, ample clothing and the gift of education. It was also a time to reflect upon many people who go without these basic human necessities - both here in the UK and abroad. The CAFOD Young Leaders prepared for the Harvest Festival liturgy, starting with their Assembly two weeks ago. Pupils were asked to do three things for this celebration: 1) bring in donations for the Farnborough Foodbank, 2) donate £1 to CAFOD and wear brightly coloured accessories and 3) eat the modest soup lunch (which includes a selection of soups, some bread and a piece of fruit) provided by our amazingly generous and supportive Catering Team.
The Chapel was a sea of colour with donated items and accompanied by beautiful music provided by Dr Ian Taylor and the Senior Choir. The Social Justice Club helped the CAFOD Young Leaders collect the donated goods and place them on the altar steps. The Social Justice Club and CAFOD Leaders dedicated their lunch to help box up the donations, ready to take to Farnborough Foodbank on Monday. Mr Jon Taylor, Head of the Catering Team, obtained quite a generous donation of food and washing up liquid from one of our suppliers, Bid Foods. We are most grateful to all at Farnborough Hill for your support and know this will make a big difference in the lives of those who are going through hard times in our local community.
Although the statistics about poverty can be quite depressing, it is the hope of CAFOD and our Lower Sixth Young Leaders that awareness can bring about change. Our altar cloth, which served as the back drop for the food collection, seems most appropriate in offering a strategy for action and hope regarding the fight against poverty: ‘Start by doing what’s necessary; then do what’s possible; and suddenly you are doing the impossible.’ St Francis of Assisi.
Mrs Nelle Dalton, Chaplain