Manchester: People living with HIV re-affirm importance of sharing faith together

CAPS' Positive Faith Ministry. Back: l-r: Adela Senkubuge; Fr Peter Kinsella; Rev Jide Macaulay; Front right: Dr Vincent Manning

Positive Faith Manchester members celebrated World AIDS Day and the start of Advent on Saturday 3 December, by gathering at Brunswick Parish Church, Manchester. The Positive Faith Manchester community (formerly called 'Positive Catholics') has met each month since 2009 and provides a safe space for Christians living with HIV (PLWH) to share their experience and pray together.

Members and volunteers enjoyed a hearty African meal and celebrated the Eucharist with Fr Peter Kinsella. Anglican priest, Rev Jide Macaulay, who has recently moved to Manchester from London, proclaimed The Gospel. A Positive Faith member and prominent HIV activist, Rev Jide is well known for speaking publicly as a gay Christian man living with HIV. "I would not be where I am today without the support of other Christians living with HIV" he said.

The meeting also served as a 'post-Covid' review and planning meeting. The group lost their regular meeting place in 2021 due to external circumstances, and the impact(s) of Covid have interrupted the pattern of meetings since then.

Vincent Manning, Director of Catholics for AIDS Prevention and Support (CAPS) the charity that sponsors the Positive Faith Ministry, joined group founder and CAPS Trustee Adela Senkubuge, to ask those present why this peer support ministry matters.

Highlighting the lack of HIV awareness or sensitive pastoral support within most churches and a lack of understanding of faith within the HIV sector, one member said: "This is the only time when we can be fully ourselves."

"It is important to pray together and to give thanks to God, honestly, as we are" said another woman.

"We must continue to meet." said one member, "not only for ourselves, but for those who are living with HIV and want the support of the Church, but do not know who to turn to."

Research shows that faith and spirituality can lead to better health outcomes and improved mental health for people with HIV.

The members agreed to restart the monthly meetings at a new venue from February 2023 and hold a Retreat w/end for PLWH in March.

For more information about Positive Faith Manchester, contact: secretary@caps-uk.org