There is a saying that ‘every step makes a footprint.’
CAFODs work is making footprints globally and continuing to make footprints of change, of empowerment, creating opportunities and building viable communities. And most of all footprints of Christ legacy, our legacy of Hope and Love.
James lives in a poor coastal areas of Monrovia, Liberia. Liberia is Africa’s oldest republic. It is to be found on the western edge of the African continent. It looks out onto the Atlantic ocean towards Brazil some 1800 miles to the west. It is a poor country. Its population suffers starvation and scarcity of food but there is the sea that offers hope. There are brave spirits who despite their circumstances will go out fishing even when the prospect of a catch are low or nonexistent.
Can you remember the first question Jesus asked his disciples when he appeared on the beach after the resurrection?
Jesus calls to them: “do you have any fish?” ‘No’ The disciples answered from their boat. Jesus help them make a huge catch and John shouts ‘It is the Lord!’ John recognises who Jesus is by his act of loving care, just as Peter did when Jesus saved him from drowning and calmed the storm.
Like the Apostles, James would be out at sea for up to 16 hours at a time. He would return home, aching, exhausted, hungry and often empty handed. Like the Apostles who has been fishing all night without luck, without success.
James told us that when his family had no food, he faces a terrible choice:stay home and stay hungry or put everything on the line to go out onto the water in his small canoe. Even for skilled fisherman like him, making that journey to sea and back alive was difficult enough; securing a catch would be impossible.
Five fisherman a month – many he called ‘brothers’ – were dying in storms at sea.
James ‘ wife Cynthia told us: ‘Sometimes there wasn’t food at all to eat. Sometimes we hoped that if there is no food in the morning, we would get food in the evening. But when evening comes there is nothing to eat at all.’
This underlines that there is no certainty of security in the world, we are all at the mercy of events and circumstances.
What James and other fishermen needed was the necessary tools so they can do their job; so they can feed their families; so that they might sell a surplus and extend their horizons of their hope.
With your support, you and I, helped James and other fishermen to acquire necessary tools they need to fish safely and sustainably.
A compass
A life jacket
A GPS tracking system – to find good fishing spot and return home safely.
James also has a way of storing the fish he catches in surplus for Cynthia – his wife and business partner – to sell.
Like Jesus who went out in the wilderness for 40 days, he knows what is like to be alone in dangerous conditions, to be hungry and maybe afraid. But he was never abandoned . Angels have looked after him.
We could be angels. We, who never abandons our sisters and brothers who are in need of our help and stand alongside them as they work for a better future for them.
Visit https://www.cafod.org.uk and join CAFOD Lent Appeal 2024.
Together and in God’s presence, we can give some certainty, security and hope. We can make more footprints and share our light and Christ’s lasting legacy, of love and hope.
To Brian. Thank you.
‘Freely you have received. Freely give…..’ Matthew 10:8
Magdarae's narrative 