Southwark: Roadshow to put Pope Francis's teaching into action

Caritas Social Action Network (CSAN) and the Archdiocese of Southwark is hosting a Social Action Roadshow on 21 June 2014 at St Peter's Catholic Church in Woolwich.

Responding to Pope Francis's call to be a Church for the Poor, the Roadshow will showcase the work of Catholic charities, projects and parishes and share ways that will enable more individuals to get involved in social action. Keynote speeches will be delivered by Rt Rev Patrick Lynch, Auxiliary Bishop of Southwark and Helen O'Brien, Chief Executive of CSAN. The Roadshow will include a number of practical workshops designed to inspire people to get involved in social action and set up projects in their own parishes.

Central to the Roadshow will be a social action Marketplace, which will feature stalls from Catholic charities, organisations and projects operating across the Archdiocese of Southwark.

Supporting the event, Peter Smith, Archbishop of Southwark, said "I am encouraged by the number of charities, projects, individual volunteers and volunteer organisations that will be joining together in Woolwich. We see on a daily basis within the diocese, the work that organisations are doing to support those who have become marginalised from society and from the Church"

Helen O'Brien, Chief Executive of CSAN, said "rooted in the teaching of Pope Francis, this Roadshow is aimed at energising and expanding Catholic social action across the Archdiocese of Southwark. Catholic charities and communities across Southwark work with some of the most vulnerable people in the Archdiocese, providing emotional, spiritual and practical support. This Roadshow is all about uncovering the wealth of work that is taking place and encouraging Catholic charities, projects and parishes to work closer together and to share best practice so that, as a whole Church, we are able to strengthen our response to rising levels of domestic poverty"