CAFOD Westminster stalwart Tony Sheen retires

Group photo at Tony's retirement party

Source: CAFOD

CAFOD's much loved Westminster Diocese coordinator Tony Sheen is retiring after working for the Catholic international development charity for 17 years.

Tony's energy and enthusiasm for tackling injustice and raising the plight of people all around the world has been infectious and the extensive bank of volunteers he has built across Westminster is testament to that.

He joined CAFOD in 2006, at the height of the Make Poverty History campaign. Yet, Tony's determination and desire to fight against injustice is as strong now as it was back then.

From getting volunteers to speak at Mass regularly, running workshops in Catholic Schools across the diocese, to organising a hugely popular annual family bike ride no task was too big or too small for Tony.

His time at CAFOD was celebrated by over 70 people, many of whom were active or past volunteers for CAFOD Westminster, at the Parish of Christ the King in Oakwood on the 27 July 2023.

Speaking at the retirement event, Tony Sheen said: "CAFOD has become an integral part of who I am. It has been a vocation for me to stand in solidarity with our sisters and brothers overseas fighting for a more just world.

"Along my journey I've been so lucky to have had the support of so many volunteers and visited so many parishes across Westminster diocese. Working with the volunteers and sharing CAFOD's work in parishes has taught me how important CAFOD is to the life of the Church.

"But our fight for a more just world continues, and I'll be praying for you all as the struggle continues!"

In 2006, Tony visited CAFOD partners in Brazil visiting the Favelas of São Paulo and this trip has continued to inspire him to this day.

Cica Iorio, CAFOD's country rep for Brazil accompanied Tony on that trip and said a few words about him at the event:

"I was fortunate to travel with Tony to Brazil and it was a wonderful trip because of his energy and passion. Tony had an open heart, listening and taking in all the stories he heard. The beauty of Tony is that he is all of his volunteers and all the diocese when he undertakes his work for CAFOD."

Tony shared some lines from a prayer attributed to Oscar Romero:

"We cannot do everything and there is a sense of liberation in realizing that.

This enables us to do something and to do it well.

It may be incomplete, but it is a beginning, a step along the way, an opportunity for the Lord's grace to enter and do the rest.

We may never see the end results, but that is the difference between the master builder and the worker.

We are workers, not master builders, ministers, not messiahs.

We are prophets of a future not our own."

But it isn't just CAFOD where Tony has made his mark, he has also been a tireless supporter of the Justice and Peace Network.

Barbara Kentish, a retired field worker for Westminster Justice and Peace attended the event and spoke about the difference Tony has made to the cause: "Tony has not only given so much to CAFOD, but also to all the issues Justice and Peace campaign on. Tony was fundamental to getting the Westminster Diocese to become Fairtrade and we are so thankful for that."

Tony will continue to work for CAFOD until the 17 August 2023. It is clear whatever he does next, he will continue to be driven by his passion to tackle injustice.