We always mention you in our prayers and thank God for you all, and constantly remember before God our Father how you have shown your faith in action, worked for love and persevered through hope, in our Lord Jesus Christ. (1 Thessalonians:2-3)

In Mass on Sunday we heard the above reading from St Paul’s letter to the Thessalonians. As we give thanks for the gift of our faith that leads us to attend Mass and be people of prayer, let us also remember the importance of putting out faith into action.

In March 2023, Caritas Southwark was launched with Mass celebrated by Archbishop John Wilson. You can watch the Mass here.

The work of Caritas Southwark is lead by Canon Victor Darlington. Speaking at the launch he said:

Caritas Southwark marks the dawn of a new era, which beckons us all to see the face of our dear Lord in so many of our brothers and sisters in need. Their cry and their pain is an invitation to us, through Caritas Southwark, to stand out boldly for them and with them, and like Veronica- who defied the hostility of the Jewish leaders, by boldly reaching out to wipe the face of Jesus on the way of the Cross, we too can do this in our world today to our brothers and sisters who are suffering. Caritas Southwark affords every one of us a  unique opportunity to put our faith into action, like the Good Samaritan and like Simon of Cyrene.

To find out more about the work of Caritas Southwark now, read this link. As you live this week in your reality, take time to ask yourself the question, what can I do to put my faith into action? Who is my neighbour? Who are the people I avoid or struggle to love? What can I do to challenge myself to grow in love so that I can be the hands and feet of Jesus in today’s world? How do I need to hold on to hope in your context and share that hope with others.