Special collections

During the year there are several collections authorised by the Bishop. The majority are charity collections taken for specific causes on specified days. The remainder are special appeals. Voluntary Mission Appeals may also be made on locally specified dates.

Apostleship of the Sea

This is the Church in action amongst the seafarers of the world. The object is to provide for the spiritual and material well-being of them all, regardless of religion, race or rank. The collection is usually taken on the second Sunday in July.

Previous collections: 2006 - £ 21,812; 2007 - £ 15,167; 2008 - £ 10,405

Bamenda

To support our own Diocesan mission in Cameroon, West Africa. The collection is usually taken on the first Sunday in November.

Previous collections: 2006 - £ 28,993; 2007 - £ 33,042; 2008 - £ 32,613

Cabrini Children's Society

Formerly known as the Catholic Children's Society, Cabrini is a charity providing wide-ranging services to children, young people, families and to adults with learning disabilities. The collection is usually taken on the Sunday before Ash Wednesday.

Previous collections: 2006 - £ 30,386; 2007 - £ 11,060; 2008 - £ 9,160

CAFOD Family Fast Days

There are two Fridays in the year when we are asked to spend less on our food for those days and give what we save to the Catholic Fund for Overseas Development (CAFOD). The collections are usually taken on the second Sunday of Lent and the Sunday after the first Friday in October.

Previous collections: 2006 - £ 81,593; 2007 - £ 19,162; 2008 - £ 10,104

Cathedral

For the maintenance and running costs of our cathedral. The collection is usually taken on the last Sunday in September.

Previous collections: 2006 - £ 17,898; 2007 - £ 18,334; 2008 - £ 17,669

Catholic Education Service

This service represents the Bishops in matters concerning Catholic Education. It is recognized by the Government in dealing with difficulties which arise between the managers of schools and the Department for Children, Schools and Families. The collection is usually taken on the ninth Sunday before Easter.

Previous collections: 2006 - £ 19,108; 2007 - £ 20,077; 2008 - £ 20,374

Catholic Evangelisation

This collection is for the work of the Catholic Agency to Support Evangelisation (CASE) and is usually taken on the third Sunday in September.

Previous collections: 2006 - £ 8,401; 2007 - £ 7,131; 2008 - £ 5,835

Clergy Assistance Fund

This collection raises funds to help our sick and retired priests when they are in need. The collection is usually taken on the forth Sunday of Lent.

Previous collections: 2006 - £ 27,576; 2007 - £ 25,586; 2008 - £ 25,336

Clergy Training Fund

This fund is for the training of students for the Priesthood and Permanent Diaconate. The collection is usually taken on Good Shepherd Sunday, the fourth Sunday of Easter.

Previous collections: 2006 - £ 29,108; 2007 - £ 35,416; 2008 - £ 32,066

Holy Places

This Good Friday collection is for the upkeep of the Holy Places in Palestine. The object is to keep intact "the monuments of Our Lord's earthly life".

Previous collections: 2006 - £ 23,620; 2007 - £ 29,361; 2008 - £ 27,114

Mission Sunday

Mission Sunday encourages prayer and financial support for the outreach of the Catholic Church. Missio/APF works through local bishops and churches to ensure that resources go directly to the bishops in the mission territories. This collection is taken on the last but one Sunday in October.

Previous collections: 2006 - £ 23,730; 2007 - £ 18,697; 2008 - £ 18,058

Peter's Pence

These offerings, taken near to the Feast of Saint Peter and Saint Paul, are sent to Holy Father as a token of England's traditional devotion to the Successor of St Peter.

Previous collections: 2006 - £ 22,753; 2007 - £ 23,880; 2008 - £ 19,738

Racial Justice

The collection is usually taken on the second Sunday in September.

Previous collections: 2006 - £ 5,066; 2007 - £ 5,111; 2008 - £ 4,909

World Communications

The Church must make certain that Her voice is heard through the media of television, radio and press. This collection is for the upkeep of training centres through which priests, religious and lay pass each year. The collection is usually taken on Ascension Sunday.

Previous collections: 2006 - £ 20,139; 2007 - £ 20,736; 2008 - £ 18,650