Cardinal Basil Hume described the work of Cafod, the overseas aid and development agency for the Church in England and Wales, as “an expression of solidarity, of love, of our yearning for justice for the poor of the developing world”.

Last Sunday, the familiar green “Fast Day” envelopes were distributed in almost every parish, as they have been for more than 50 years, and tomorrow they will be collected up again. Yesterday, Catholic families and individuals were invited to eat simply – perhaps by giving up a meal, or just having a bowl of soup – and to make a donation.