Caritas Festival to celebrate social action in King's Lynn

Source: Diocese of East Anglia

Caritas East Anglia is set to host a festival celebrating social action initiatives in King's Lynn on Saturday, 8 February 2025, with a Mass led by Bishop Peter Collins.

The event will take place at Holy Family Church, 34 Field Lane, King's Lynn PE30 4AY, from 09.30am to 12noon, bringing together organisations and volunteers engaged in charitable work across the region.

The festival will open with a Mass at 9.30am for the Feast of St Josephine Bakhita, said by Bishop Peter Collins. St Josephine Bakhita, the patron saint of victims of modern slavery and human trafficking, serves as a powerful symbol for the work being carried out by many of the groups attending the festival.

Following Mass, attendees will have the opportunity to meet with representatives from a range of local organisations in the church hall over refreshments. The festival will highlight the extensive social outreach work undertaken by the Christian community in King's Lynn and provide a chance for individuals to explore new volunteering opportunities.

Confirmed organisations taking part include:

King's Lynn Foodbank
CAP Debt Centre
St Vincent de Paul Society (SVP) and Mini Vinnies
Imagine Norfolk
Purfleet Trust
Union of Catholic Mothers (UCM)
CAFOD
Stella Maris
Catenians
Modern Slavery Awareness
King's Lynn Night Shelter
Companions in Bereavement

David Livesey, Administrator of Caritas East Anglia, expressed his enthusiasm for the event, stating: "Thanks to Churches Together in King's Lynn being an excellent network, Caritas East Anglia is aware of the many local social action projects which the Christian community has initiated and sustains. We are pleased that many of them have accepted an invitation to participate in the festival. The festival will give the Catholic community, some of whom already take part in these projects, an opportunity to celebrate and to learn from what they do, as well as to encourage others to join and/or start similar projects elsewhere in the deanery."

He also highlighted the significance of the event's timing, saying: "Given that raising awareness about modern slavery is a major project of ours, it is fitting that the festival is being held on 8 February, the Feast Day of St Josephine Bakhita, and that Bishop Peter will begin the festival with her memorial Mass."

The festival promises to be an inspiring and informative event, celebrating the generosity and dedication of those working to support vulnerable members of the community. All are welcome to attend.