Caritas Social Action Network

Sharing in the mission of the Catholic Church, committed to tackling the causes of poverty, promoting justice, and restoring dignity.

[Caritas Social Action Network @CSANonline]

🌍 Day 7 of our #WorldDayOfThePoor novena focuses on poverty caused by immigration status.

Our member JRSUK reflects on the dignity of refugees and our call to welcome the stranger.

📖 https://t.co/TJoxaYTVL7

[Caritas Social Action Network @CSANonline]

🕯️ Day 7 | #WorldDayOfThePoor Novena

Today we pray for those experiencing poverty due to their immigration status.

🙏 Join our member JRS UK in praying for refugees and all seeking safety, dignity and welcome.

🎥 Watch and pray along below.

🤝 https://t.co/JyMqTuh6SN

[Caritas Social Action Network @CSANonline]

🍞 Day 6 | #WorldDayOfThePoor

Michael Sweerts' Feeding the Hungry reminds us of our call to compassion.

Cáitlín and Iman from @CaritasWestm reflect on moving beyond emergency relief towards dignity and justice.

📖 https://t.co/eb4RJIdOjC

[Caritas Social Action Network @CSANonline]

🕯️ Day 6 | #WorldDayOfThePoor Novena
Today we pray for those experiencing material poverty.

🙏 Join Cáitlín Boyle of @CaritasWestm in prayer, as we remember our call to compassion and justice.

🎥 Watch and pray along below.

https://t.co/jwD3gIQPQX

[Caritas Social Action Network @CSANonline]

⛪ Today we celebrate St Martin of Tours, who famously shared his cloak with a man suffering in the cold.

His example reminds us to recognise Christ in those experiencing poverty and respond with practical solidarity.

https://t.co/vP2ppXJjYv

#StMartinOfTours

[Caritas Social Action Network @CSANonline]

🕯️ Day 5 | #WorldDayOfThePoor Novena
Today we pray for those experiencing imprisonment, their families and all seeking a fresh start after release.

May our communities offer dignity, welcome and hope.

🙏 Join us in prayer:

https://t.co/ZdkdLKTg8X

[Caritas Social Action Network @CSANonline]

🕯️ Day 4 | #WorldDayOfThePoor Novena
Today we pray for survivors of abuse and violence.

Inspired by the Good Samaritan, may we build communities of safety, compassion and healing.

🙏 Join us in prayer using our free novena resource:

https://t.co/ZdkdLKSIjp

[Caritas Social Action Network @CSANonline]

🕯️ Day 3 | #WorldDayOfThePoor Novena

Today we pray for older people facing isolation and vulnerability.

🙏 Join Paul Raymond, CEO of the @irishchaplaincy Chaplaincy, in prayer.

🎥 Watch below, and discover their Seniors Project's work:

https://t.co/wyYRRiAgBr

[Caritas Social Action Network @CSANonline]

🕊️ Today marks the birthday of Dorothy Day (1897–1980), co-founder of the Catholic Worker Movement. She united care for people in poverty with a lifelong commitment to justice and peace.

“But the final word is love.”

https://t.co/euWIOuQhqo

#DorothyDay

[Caritas Social Action Network @CSANonline]

🏠 Day 2 of our #WorldDayOfThePoor Novena focuses on homelessness.

Our member @YourPlaceUK reminds us that everyone deserves safety, dignity and a place to call home.

🎥 Watch their reflection and discover their work supporting people in East London.

https://t.co/ZQOQdoxbjZ

[Caritas Social Action Network @CSANonline]

🕯️ Day 2 | #WorldDayOfThePoor Novena
Today we pray for those experiencing homelessness.

🙏 Join us in praying for a world where everyone has a safe place to call home.

📖 Follow today's prayers in our free novena resource:
https://t.co/ZdkdLKSIjp

[Caritas Social Action Network @CSANonline]

🕯️ Day 1 | #WorldDayOfThePoor

Van Gogh's At Eternity's Gate evokes anguish we may never see.

Nikki Dhillon Keane asks how our parishes can offer refuge and compassion.

📖 https://t.co/EJ9YK4gT3y

🤝 Caritas Hope: https://t.co/b2Byh8uL3h

Art: Van Gogh (1890), public domain.

[Caritas Social Action Network @CSANonline]

🕯️ Day 1 | #WorldDayOfThePoor Novena
Today we pray for those experiencing mental anguish.

🙏 Join Nikki Dhillon Keane, Head of Caritas Hope at @CaritasWestm, in praying Day 1 with us.

🎥 Watch and pray along below.

Join us each day, 6–14 November.

[Caritas Social Action Network @CSANonline]

Tackling branches rather than roots 🪾

You can now read our full response to the Autumn Budget on our website.

"As Pope Leo highlighted in Dilexi Te, “We need to be increasingly committed to resolving the structural causes of poverty”. Andy Burnham’s government promised to challenge the system in its commitment to the ‘working person’, but this budget, while positive in many respects, falls short of that ambition."

https://t.co/Z1hwyoj9Gb

[Caritas Social Action Network @CSANonline]

⛪ Today we remember St Martin de Porres, the Dominican brother from Peru who cared for the sick and poor regardless of race or status. His life reminds us to defend the dignity of every person.

https://t.co/mSLfYrjNPw

#StMartinDePorres

[Caritas Social Action Network @CSANonline]

What are Catholics doing to respond to immigration detention?

Caritas Northampton recently visited Yarl’s Wood Immigration Removal Centre in Bedfordshire. They provide practical services and a multi-faith chaplaincy for spiritual and pastoral support. The centre regularly prays the Rosary and invites parish volunteers to support its Catholic community.

The Caritas lead for Northampton reflected on their visit, saying:

"As a concept, immigration detention is impossible to comprehend. What struck me the most [when visiting] was the palpable anxiety and desperation. When you reflect on the circumstances of immigration detention, there are very few knowns and almost everything is unpredictable and uncertain. That uncertainty is compounded with being detained and alone, without a community, family, children."

Caritas has also donated Rosaries, prayer resources, book and suitcases to support the detainees with dignity.

📖 We are sharing stories from our network during this National Week of Solidarity to End Immigration Detention to highlight how Catholic Social Teaching calls us to speak out against detention. How have you been showing solidarity?

[Caritas Social Action Network @CSANonline]

Today we celebrate Pope St John Paul II. During his long pontificate he visited 129 nations and enriched Catholic Social Teaching.

He described solidarity as “a firm and persevering determination to commit oneself to the common good.” (SRS 38)

https://t.co/DrtUxVyG9L

#StJohnPaulII

[Caritas Social Action Network @CSANonline]

What are Catholics doing to respond to immigration detention?

Jesuit Refugee Service UK (JRS UK) visits Harmondsworth and Colnbrook Immigration Removal Centres, providing practical and emotional support.

They focus on the action of ‘accompanying’ to reflect how Catholic theology calls them to walk alongside migrants and refugees through encounter and mutual relationship.

Recently, Sister Patricia shared stories of her experiences accompanying people at these centres, especially the high number of children aged 16-18. She said:

"Some people have asked me, ‘How can our country sustain taking in so many people?’ As Christians, our response cannot begin with calculations but instead with the recognition of human dignity. It demands faith, compassion, kindness, welcoming, inclusion, and, very importantly, generosity."

We are sharing stories from our network during this National Week of Solidarity to End Immigration Detention to highlight how Catholic Social Teaching calls us to speak out against detention. What is your organisation doing to mark this week?

[Caritas Social Action Network @CSANonline]

"I was in immigration detention for 7 months. It still affects me even today. Detention is like a war camp. They really want to break you, in the hope that you’ll leave and go back to a terrible situation.

You are more or less treated like an animal. They give you a number and that’s it, you’re just a number. In detention, nobody even knew my name."

- Jonah in JRS UK's 2024 report, After Brook House

What is immigration detention? 🤔

Immigration detention is the practice of locking people up in prison-like conditions for administrative purposes. Anyone who is subject to immigration powers can be detained. The UK government detains over 20,000 people a year.

Catholic social teaching reminds us that we are all made in God’s image - including migrants, refugees and those seeking asylum. For a more detailed explainer, read our post below⬇️

National Week of Solidarity to End Immigration Detention | 19-25 October 2026