Christians are suffering increased violence, discrimination and other human rights abuses around the world, according to a report unveiled on Tuesday, 22nd October.



ACN launched Persecuted and Forgotten? A Report on Christians oppressed for their Faith 2022-24 at an event in the UK Parliament, revealing that Christian persecution has significantly worsened in most countries surveyed.



Persecuted and Forgotten? provides global and regional analysis, examining the situation for Christians in 18 countries of key concern – from Nicaragua in Latin America to Burma (Myanmar) in the Far East – between summer 2022 and summer 2024. The report is now available for you to order on our website.



The event also saw ACN spotlight our recently published Open Letter to the Foreign

Secretary, calling for Christians and other religious minorities to be made priority

recipients of taxpayer-funded UK Overseas Development Aid. The letter has received a tremendous response,

The group meets next on Wednesday 27th November at 5.3pm on Zoom.
Email Fr. Matthew for an invite.

The Eucharistic Congress in Indianapolis

It was a parade, a brigade, a holy mob! I was at the Eucharistic Congress in Indianapolis in July. With 50,000 Catholics from around the country, I adored Jesus in the Eucharist, celebrated the Mass, and prayed for deeper communion with Him in the Church.

I stood watching the Eucharistic procession as 1,000 religious sisters marched by. They sang, smiled, and waved. So many were so young!

Continue reading PWPN Fall Newsletter at Pope's Worldwide Prayer Network.




Recent Articles:
October 17 – Thursdays from the Heart
St. Luke – Frida

The ST. VINCENT DE PAUL SOCIETY fight poverty and help those in need in our community, contact Our conference continues to support our parishioners in need: help out and provide items for the food pantry at All Saints School Ebbw Vale; provide support at Abergavenny Food-bank; work alongside Abergavenny Town of Sanctuary providing aid to refugees and asylum seekers in our community; and collect items for our St Vincent’s Shops. Please contact if you need help or can offer help at: presidentG050512@svp.org.uk or visit https://www.svp.org.uk/ for information.

Struggling after Abortion, you are not alone, give ius a call- ARCH, Abortion Recovery Care and Helpline.
0345 603 8501.
info@archtrust.org.uk

Since the full project team meeting in May and mentioned in the last newsletter, team members have been working on their own areas in detail. At the moment, everyone is still very much gathering data with some of the main activities being:
Headland Design are looking at potential activities and developing different audiences. They have started meeting representatives from community groups to see how we might work with them.
Headland and Adam Greenwood, our Evaluation Consultant, have also been working on a visitor survey for the exhibition with our volunteers.
Our business planner has been concentrating on tourism statistics for the area.
The architects have been familiarising themselves with the building, learning more about its history from our volunteers, and understanding how we hope to use it in the future.
An asbestos survey has been carried out (results next week), with a timber condition survey, a 3D measured survey and initial opening up works in the pipeline in the next few weeks.
Trustee opportunity!
The Trust is looking for new trustees!

This is a really exciting time to be joining the Board as we develop our plans for the restoration and reuse of Plas Gunter Mansion.

We very much want our Board to reflect the community we support. You don’t need experience of being a trustee, but we are looking for people who have skills we don’t currently have.

We are particularly interested if you have skills in:
Community work
Working with young people
Building conservation
Exhibition and display
Digital communications
Property law
Fundraising
Academic links
Running a business or social enterprise
Click on the link to find out more about becoming a trustee.

If you are interested in becoming a Plas Gunter Mansion trustee, please email Deborah Holland at administrator@plasguntermansion.org.uk, outlining your particular skills and experience and telling us why you would like to join the Board.
Land at the rear

Back in March, the Trust was very excited to report that we had qualified for a grant which would enable us to purchase the land behind the mansion.

We were days away from hearing a decision when the General Election was announced, and because the grant was government-funded, all decisions were put on hold. It was immensely frustrating as all the signs had looked positive. At the moment, we don't know if the fund will reopen, or at least honour decisions made in the last round.

The good news is that a different fund, Local Places for Nature, another of the Heritage Fund's programmes, will also allow us to buy the land. The fund was happy to accept an application from us which was submitted last week. We should receive a decision sometime in September.
Become a member
Taking out a membership is a really easy way of supporting Plas Gunter Mansion.

The yearly membership fee is £15 and we encourage you, or anyone you know who may be interested in the building, to become a member. Membership fees help us cover ongoing expenses, such as insurance and administration.

To become a member click on the button below.

Become a member
Make a regular donation
A regular donation helps pay for unexpected maintenance issues as well as constantly increasing costs, such as electric and water. Even a small amount given every month makes a huge difference.

The easiest way to do this, and the cheapest way for the Trust, is to donate online via our secure form. The form's default setting is for monthly donations, although you can change this if you want to make a one-off gift.

Click the button below to go straight to the form.
Make a donation
Exhibition opening hours
Tuesdays, Fridays and Saturdays
10.30 am to 4.00 pm
March to December

October Monthly Update


Dear Rev Carney



As the war escalates into Lebanon, the conditions across the West Bank are deteriorating and our brothers and sisters are devastated, mentally and financially. Our team persist to deliver our programmes despite the conditions as they see greater need than ever. Our emergency grants for the month of September reached £26,000.



But amongst all of the suffering are stories of hope as well as despair. In this update we share a little of the light brought by your loving gifts as well as news of some events happening in the UK.



­
Stories from the Holy Land




St Martha's House



Lots has been happening in St Martha's House in Bethlehem. It's been a good time for their garden, growing their winter vegetable crop, and the Ladies of De La Salle recently visited to celebrate International Day of the Elderly. Also celebrated was the birthday of Angel Marzouka (75), a new lady, who was so delighted she cried that 'somebody was taking care of her special day'.



Many of the ladies are struggling to eat well at home due to steeply rising prices of food and supplies in the West Bank, to counter this we have arranged for a nutritionist to visit St Martha’s House every week who is devising a plan for each lady increasing health monitoring and advice regarding eating and exercise. We have also increased the food budget to ensure we keep our ladies healthy.



School of Joy



The children have begun their new school year at the School of Joy in Bethlehem. The school remains a vital project helping children who cannot attend mainstream school would otherwise have nowhere else to go. Fr Mamdouh reports that they now have 80 children, up from 67 last term! We look forward to receiving Father Mamdouh when he comes for his next visit to the UK in November.




­
Events


This past weekend, a couple of our supporters organised and held "A Hymn to Autumn: In Words and Music," a concert event at St John the Evangelist in Heron's Ghyll. We wish to thank Diane Howard and Tim Vaughan-Hughes for organising this concert which was very well received by all those who attended.



Following successful showings in Leeds and Cardiff, our "50 Faces of the Holy Land" exhibition will be hosted next by Our Lady of the Assumption Church in Liverpool from 31st October-12th November. All are welcome to come and see the exhibition, as well as to attend the Ecumenical Service on 6th November at 7pm.