Archbishop John Wilson visits CAPS ahead of World AIDS Day

Archbishop John Wilson and Fr Phil Andrews. with POSITIVE FAITH members

Catholics for AIDS Prevention & Support (CAPS) welcomed the Archbishop of Southwark Most Rev. John Wilson to the monthly POSITIVE FAITH HIV peer-support meeting for people living with HIV on Thursday 27 November. Archbishop Wilson, a Patron of CAPS, joined the POSITIVE FAITH community for prayer, sharing and a meal ahead of the annual international World AIDS Day (WAD) on 1 December. Meetings also take place in Manchester and Cambridgeshire. "WAD is a time to reflect on the meaning of HIV in our world and society" said CAPS' Director Dr Vincent Manning "reminding us to act in solidarity with people living with HIV (PLWH), many of whom live in poverty or precarious situations as migrants and refugees. POSITIVE FAITH creates a place of safety where PLWH support each other to make faith-sense of living with HIV."

Dr Manning will represent CAPS at a reception to mark WAD hosted by The Ambassador of Ireland HE Mr Martin Fraser and Mrs Deirdre Fraser, on 1 December at the Irish Embassy in London. From the start of the AIDS crisis until today Irish men and women, lay people and religious, have been active in leading the church's response to HIV in Britain and Ireland. Several Irish gay men can be counted as founding members of the POSITIVE FAITH ministry. CAPS is the only remaining national Christian charity specialising in offering pastoral support for all PLWH in Great Britain and Ireland.

Journeying Together for an HIV-free World is the theme for a Mass to mark WAD on Saturday 6 December at 3pm at the Church of the Immaculate Conception, Farm Street, London. Co-sponsored by the Westminster Diocese' LGBT Pastoral Council and CAPS, this is the only public, faith-based event marking WAD in Central London. Panels from the UK AIDS Memorial Quilt and two CAPS' Quilts representing the Catholic response to HIV historically and today will be displayed at the Church. Canon Pat Browne will be the chief celebrant. CAPS' Patron Cardinal Timothy Radcliffe OP will preach.

For further information please visit: www.positivefaith.org.uk/

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