The Catholic Union has published its Annual Report, described as the busiest year in its 150 year history.
The report, which covers the period from August 2022 to July 2023, reveals that almost 2,000 people engaged in the Catholic Union’s campaigns and well over 10,000 people watched media appearances from the team.
The 144th Catholic Union Annual Report includes a special message of support from Cardinal Vincent Nichols. “The central mission of the Catholic Union to be a witness to our faith in the public sphere and promote the common good is deeply needed and relevant in our society today”, he says.
Cardinal Nichols, Archbishop of Westminster and President of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of England and Wales, describes the Catholic Union as “a trusted friend and partner in our task of supporting the Catholic community in this country and in making the message of Christ heard in this land.”
While the report shows that membership of the Catholic Union has remained steady in the face of a cost of living crisis, it also highlights a “major fundraising challenge” as the Catholic Union seeks to sustain and grow its work to inform, educate and take action on matters of concern to the Catholic community in this country.
The Annual Report will be presented at the Catholic Union’s Annual General Meeting and Reception on Tuesday 28 November. Members and supporters of the Catholic Union are invited to attend. The AGM and Reception are being sponsored by CCLA.
More information and sign up can be found here.
Catholic Union Director, Nigel Parker, comments: “This has probably been the Catholic Union’s busiest ever year. The Catholic Union is continuing to go from strength to strength, showing the benefits of having a strong, grassroots organisation for lay Catholics. The past year has seen us welcome Bishops and an Ambassador to Parliament, set the political agenda with our campaigns on freedom of religion in the workplace and support for Catholic free schools, and host over 15 events online and in-person. All of this work requires a dedicated team and the report lays bare the financial challenge we now face. If you like what the Catholic Union has been doing over the past 12 months, then please join us or make a donation and help this work to continue for many years to come.”