Harvest Fast Day: October 3

When you give this Fast Day, you help CAFOD train more HIV activists, who volunteer their own time to stand alongside families struggling to cope with the impact of HIV and AIDS

Although she is only 18, Celina already carries a heavy burden of responsibility as both her father and her mother are HIV positive.

As well as nursing her sick parents, Celina is also bringing up her brother, sister and son in a drought-stricken region of Mozambique.

When the village pump stops working, she has to walk for three hours to fetch water. She spends her days cooking, washing and collecting firewood.

Thankfully Celina does not have to shoulder this heavy burden alone. CAFOD supports a network of HIV activists who volunteer to stand alongside families in need.

“When our activist, Amelia, comes here she helps me cook, do the housework and fetch water,” says Celina. “Without her help, I would have to look after the family all on my own.”

Community volunteers such as Amelia offer a vital lifeline to thousands of families in the rural town where Celina lives – giving both practical and emotional support at a time when many families face stigma and discrimination.

Please support Fast Day on October 3 - and stand in solidarity with the poor

take action

Give to Fast Day

When you give this Fast Day, you help CAFOD train more HIV activists, who volunteer their own time to stand alongside families struggling to cope with the impact of HIV and AIDS

Resources to download

Mass talk, short (46.50 kB)

Telling the story of Celina’s family in Mozambique, who feature in the Fast Day poster and leaflet

Diary organiser for Harvest Fast Day 2008 (50.00 kB)

Checklist to help priests and parish contacts prepare for Fast Day, including guidance on how to use all the resources provided

Children’s Liturgy of the Word & picture (139.83 kB)

Based on the Gospel reading for September 26. A recurring theme in Matthew’s gospel is pointing to the difference between saying and doing, and how the importance of helping others is a response to God’s love for us

Newsletter announcements & prayers (46.50 kB)

Short texts to use in promoting Fast Day and to thank those who donated to it afterwards, plus the Fast Day prayer, and prayer of intercession