Dorset: Bishop of Plymouth with members of Caritas meet King in Blandford Forum

Image: Diocese of Plymouth

Source: Diocese of Plymouth

The Bishop of Plymouth, Rt Rev Nicholas Hudson, Canon John Deeny, Episcopal Delegate for Caritas Diocese of Plymouth, and Simon Giarchi, the Diocese's Head of Caritas, met the King during the visit he and the Queen made to Blandford Forum last Thursday.

During the visit, the King and Queen visited stalls showing the work of charities from across Dorset. The King spoke at length with Bishop Nicholas, Canon John and Simon, particularly about how the concept of Integral Ecology fits closely with his own Harmony Philosophy - his long-held view that by understanding the balance, order and relationships between ourselves and the natural world, we can create a more sustainable future.

They also discussed Caritas' work in the context of the Diocese, including the Blandford Community Sponsorship Group and the Diocese's Livesimply parishes, and spoke about Caritas Internationalis and the King's recent meeting with Pope Leo XIV. They also referenced the Pope's encyclical Magnifica Humanitas, and touched on Laudato Si' in the context of both integral ecology and the Harmony project.

Bishop Hudson said: "It is a great joy that King Charles III saw, first-hand, the range of work our parishes carry out across Dorset - from the welcome given to a refugee family in Blandford, to our parishes' care for creation, and the intergenerational projects that bring our communities together. To have the King recognise that work is a wonderful moment for everyone involved."

Canon John Deeny and Simon Giarchi, of Caritas Diocese of Plymouth, added: "It was truly inspirational to meet His Majesty and to share Caritas' work caring for our common home and our common humanity. Our integral ecology approach beautifully synchronises with King Charles' important Harmony project, and we were delighted to share examples of our work from across Dorset and the diocese. Our stall reflected key areas of Caritas' mission, such as our refugee and migrant project demonstrated by the Community Sponsorship work undertaken in Blandford, or our Livesimply parishes and their work living simply sustainably and in solidarity with people living in poverty, and the intergenerational projects led by our diocesan schools. Today was a great opportunity to bring all of that together in one place, and to have the King hear these stories directly is a great way to celebrate everyone who makes this work possible."

The Diocese's stall highlighted the wide range of social action projects under way in parishes and schools across Dorset, including environmental programmes, support for food banks, outreach to those who are isolated in local communities, intergenerational linking projects connecting schools and care homes, and support for refugees and migrants.

A particular local highlight of this work is Blandford's own Community Sponsorship story: parishioners at the Church of Our Lady of Lourdes and St Cecilia, supported by Caritas Diocese of Plymouth, spent close to two years fundraising and preparing before welcoming a refugee family to the town through the UK Resettlement Scheme. What began as a response to negative media narratives about refugees grew into a genuine community effort - bringing together volunteers, raising funds through events from auctions to barbecues, and finding the family a home and a warm welcome in Blandford.

The stall also featured a welcome banner celebrating the 75 languages spoken by parishioners across the Diocese's parishes - a reminder of the community's diversity - alongside Season of Creation materials highlighting the Diocese's ongoing commitment to environmental stewardship, in keeping with the vision of Laudato Si'. The display also featured selected infographics from Pope Leo XIV's encyclical Magnifica Humanitas - On Safeguarding the Human Person in the Time of Artificial Intelligence, including its call to "Be builders of communion, not architects of Babel" - a message the Diocese said highlighted the essence of the day; that humanity may not lose its magnificence, and people may see, in the human heart, the place where God desires to dwell.

Bishop Nicholas and the team also connected with other faith groups represented at the event which was built around the theme of recognising harmony in the county. The Diocese of Plymouth's stall was alongside groups representing faith, arts, education and heritage, as well as charities supporting veterans, prisons, community and domestic abuse support and local volunteers - highlighting the Diocese's role as one of many faith communities helping to strengthen community life across the county.

At the Blandford Forum Town Hall and Corn Exchange, Their Majesties also heard more about the major restoration project that has safeguarded this historic building for the benefit of the local community and future generations and met some of the team involved in the renovation project.