All are warmly invited to join Westminster Justice and Peace to pray for peace in the Holy Land and other war-torn countries on the eve of Pentecost, Saturday 18th May 2024 at 8.00pm.
The Chaplet of the Holy Spirit was composed in 1892 by a Franciscan Capuchin missionary of the English province in order to give the faithful a means of honouring the third person of the Trinity. It was approved by Pope Leo XIII in 1902.
This Rosary consists of five groups of seven beads each. In each group, the ‘Glory be to the Father’ is said on the seven small beads and an Our Father and a Hail Mary on the two large beads. There are three beads at the beginning for the Sign of the Cross, an Act of Contrition and the hymn ‘Come Holy Ghost’.
There is a mystery for each of the five groups, commemorating the Five Wounds of Jesus , which are the fountains of grace which the Holy Spirit imparts to all.
Mary Pierre-Harvey from St Michael and St Martin Parish, Hounslow, will lead us through the Chaplet.
To join us, please register with Eventbrite or contact the Justice and Peace Co-ordinator, Colette Joyce, on colettejoyce@rcdow.org.uk
Quakers in Britain, CAFOD, SCIAF and Christian Aid have joined around 30 other charities calling on the UK government to take meaningful action to stop any further attacks on Rafah in Southern Gaza by the Israeli military.
On Monday, the Israeli military issued relocation orders to people sheltering in parts of Rafah. Israeli tanks have entered the Rafah border crossing with Egypt, blocking completely the passage for people and humanitarian aid.
Text of Statement
London, 7 May 2024.
The UK Government has repeatedly asked Israel not to unleash a slaughter in Rafah, Gaza.
Foreign Secretary, Lord Cameron is “very concerned about what is happening in Rafah” and knows “it is impossible to fight a war amongst all these people. There is nowhere for them to go.”
Deputy Foreign Secretary, Andrew Mitchell thinks that, “an Israeli incursion will struggle to be compliant with international law.”
Middle East Minister, Lord Ahmad said that, “the fighting must stop now, in order to get the hostages home.”
Meanwhile, the Prime Minister acknowledges that, “too many innocent civilians have died in Gaza.”
David Cameron also asked Israel for a ‘Plan B’ for Rafah to ensure, “people can achieve safety, get food, medicine and water, and that people are kept safe.”
They have been ignored by Israel.
Yesterday, the Israeli military issued relocation orders to people sheltering in parts of Rafah, the first step towards a full-scale invasion that will most likely kill thousands of civilians. The area people are being directed to is already overstretched and lacks the capacity and resources to accommodate the number of people seeking refuge. The relocation orders lack guarantees of safety and the right to return, which risk violating International law.
In the last 12 hours, Israel has intensely bombed Rafah, including civilian homes and areas marked as safe. This morning, Israeli tanks entered the Rafah border crossing with Egypt, blocking completely the passage for people and humanitarian aid.
There are no safe spaces in Gaza. Israel has repeatedly attacked so-called ‘safe zones’, killing displaced people. Any claims from Israel that civilians can be safely relocated have no credibility.
The failure of our leaders to back words with meaningful action is glaring. As the 1.4 million people in Rafah face attacks that our leaders know would be catastrophic, they must finally act to stop the slaughter.
The UK must work urgently to stop any further assault on Rafah from going ahead, demand an immediate lasting ceasefire, resume funding to UNRWA, and suspend arms sales to Israel for as long as there is a risk they may be used to violate international law.
A ceasefire is the only way to stop the death and destruction, get more aid to those who desperately need it, and safely release the hostages.
There is no Plan B for the people in Rafah.
Signed:
1. Action For Humanity
2. ActionAid UK
3. Amos Trust
4. Bond
5. CAFOD
6. Care International UK
7. Christian Aid
8. Council for Arab-British Understanding
9. Friends of the Earth England, Wales and Northern Ireland
Westminster Justice and Peace were once again among Christians of all denominations showing solidarity for the people of the Holy Land at the thirteenth national ‘Ceasefire Now!’ rally on Saturday 27th April 2024.
We gathered at St Matthew’s Church, Westminster, for prayers, before heading out to join the national peace rally, calling for an immediate and permanent ceasefire in Gaza.
One organiser said: “This genocide shows no sign of stopping, and, along with the military slaughter we are seeing intentional starvation – the grossest of human rights abuses and a violation of humanitarian law. Now is not the time to stop making our voices heard.”
Armed with posters and banners the group marched into Trafalgar Square, joining thousands of Jewish, Muslim and secular peace groups and individuals heading for Hyde Park.
As they reached the park gates they stopped for a brief prayer before joining the rally to hear the speakers. These included a Holocaust survivor, politicians, artists and human rights campaigners.
Stephen Kapos, an 87-year-old originally from Budapest, who lost most of his family in the Holocaust, said: “We want to stress our solidarity with the Palestinian people” adding that memories of the Holocaust should never be used as cover for Israel’s actions in Gaza. “The right wing has been claiming that there are no-go areas of London for Jews. We want to prove that’s wrong – we are very welcome here.”
Irish MEP Clare Daly gave a powerful speech demanding an arms embargo against Israel. She further called out Joe Biden, European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen and Rishi Sunak for supporting and enabling Israel, as the genocide in Gaza continues.
Northern Ireland’s first minister, Michelle O’Neill told the crowds: “Ireland stands for and with Palestine. From this platform we demand an immediate and unconditional ceasefire We need to see an end to the genocide, an end to the ethnic cleansing and collective punishment of the people of Gaza. What is happening in Gaza in the gravest human rights violation of our time.
“Six months of occupation has seen Israel indiscriminately slaughter 35,000 Gazans including 15,000 children. We in Ireland have deep empathy with the Palestinian people, born of that shared experience of colonialism and occupation. Sinn Fein has demanded that the Irish government do more to hold Israel to account. Friends, Ireland knows conflict. But we equally know the value of hard won peace. No conflict is intractable. Peace is always possible and peace most now be the shared will of the international community now. World leaders, especially the United States face a choice. Stand by International law, human rights and justice or stand by the savagery of Israel…. So today with one voice we say to Israel: stop the slaughter.
CND Vice-President Jeremy Corbyn, and CND Chair Tom Unterrainer also addressed the crowds.
Actress Juliet Stevenson gave a moving reading of ‘If I die’ the last poem by Palestinian writer Refaat Alareer before he was killed by Israel in Gaza in December.
In his address, Gary Younge, Sociology Professor at University of Manchester and former Guardian journalist spoke powerfully of the historical parallels in the present moment of the Gaza genocide, and why we must keep going – because we will accept nothing less than freedom for Palestine. “You can cut down the flowers but you can’t stop the spring,” he siad.
Rose Haddow from Our Lady Help of Christians church in Kentish Town, north London told ICN: “It was important for me to show solidarity with everyone calling again for an immediate ceasefire in Palestine as we all marched through central London on Saturday. As a Catholic, I felt reassured and proud to be walking with fellow Christians behind a banner proclaiming ‘Blessed are the peacemakers’ for it is only by embracing a truly peaceful and pragmatic stance that a just solution to this horrific situation in Gaza and beyond can be achieved. As a whole, the people on the march were noisy, vibrant, good natured, kind, friendly and full of desire and determination to make a difference and to call upon governments to reject conflict and the weapons of war and work sincerely to make peace a reality. It is without question, time to bring about a ceasefire and alleviate the terrible death, destruction and suffering of the Palestinian people.”
Christians For Palestine UK is a grassroots movement of Christians from all denominations marching and praying together for peace and justice in Palestine.
To find out more about the Westminster Justice and Peace Commission response to the crisis in the Israel and Palestine join us at Our Lady of Victories Church, Kensington on 9th May:Westminster Holy Land Roundtable 9th May 2024
Father Gabriel Romanelli, Parish Priest of Holy Family Catholic Parish in Gaza, has been in London during a week-long visit to the United Kingdom, facilitated by the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of England and Wales.
An Argentinian priest of the Institute of the Incarnate Word (IVE), on Tuesday he met with the Archbishop of Canterbury, Most Rev Justin Welby, at Lambeth Palace. He has also met with Cardinal Vincent Nichols, President of the Bishops’ Conference, Archbishop John Wilson of Southwark and Bishop Nicholas Hudson, the new Chair of the International Affairs Department and Chair of the Holy Land Coordination.
Father Romanelli has also had meetings with Christian charities and organisations devoted to alleviating the suffering of the peoples of the Holy Land.
On Tuesday, 23 April, Bishop Hudson accompanied Father Romanelli to the Houses of Parliament to brief MPs and shed light on the challenges faced by Christians in the Holy Land following the 7 October Hamas terror attack and the subsequent bombardment of the Gaza Strip by Israel.
The cross-party group of MPs and Peers highlighted the ongoing work of Parliament in trying to get more humanitarian aid delivered to the people of Gaza.
Despite being stranded in Jerusalem due to the conflict, Father Romanelli has maintained constant communication with his parishioners. He is regularly in contact with Pope Francis, who shows a deep ongoing prayerful concern for those sheltering in the compound of the Holy Family, and has explained that after several months of war, the people are “tired, sad, and heartbroken”.
Once again this Saturday, Westminster Justice and Peace will be joining Christians For Palestine at a gathering in London to pray and march for an immediate and permanent ceasefire in Gaza.
Meet at St Matthew’s church, Westminster, 20 Great Peter St, London SW1P 2BU at 11.45am.
The organisers say: “We will hold our prayers around 12pm and leave at 12.15, to march the route from Parliament Square to the national rally in Hyde Park.
“Please bring your placards – homemade or printed – and your commitment, your friends and relations, your church family, your loud voices and your hope. This genocide shows no sign of stopping, and, along with the military slaughter we are seeing intentional starvation – the grossest of human rights abuses and a violation of humanitarian law. Now is not the time to stop making our voices heard.”
There is a chance to hear the renowned pianist Bobby Chen on Saturday, 27 April, when he gives a special concert in aid of humanitarian relief for the Holy Land at Farm Street Church, Mayfair, London. A reception will follow the concert.
All proceeds will be donated through the Humanitarian Relief Fund of the Latin Patriarchate of Jerusalem through the Equestrian Order of the Holy Sepulchre of Jerusalem.
Bobby Chen will play
Beethoven’s – Piano Sonata No. 14 in C-sharp minor, marked Quasi una fantasia, Op. 27, No. 2 Moonlight
Schubert’s Four Impromptus. D.899 (Op.90) (complete)
Liszt – Sonetto 104 del Petrarca, from Annes de pèlerinage II, S.161
Mist – Ballade No. 2 in B minor, S.171
The concert takes place on Saturday, 27 April 2024 at 7.30pm.
Farm Street Church, 114 Mount Street, Mayfair, W1K 3AH
Tickets are £50 for the concert and reception – £25 concert only.
Christians for Palestine outside St Paul’s Cathedral, January 2024
Date: 9 May 2024 Time: 7:00pm – 8:30pm Venue: Our Lady of Victories, Kensington, 235a Kensington High St, London W8 6SF, UK
Westminster Justice and Peace began the Holy Land Roundtables in response to the horrendous series of events unfolding in our news bulletins since 7th October 2023, with first the massacre of over 1,200 people in Israel by Hamas and the taking of around 240 hostages, then full-scale retaliatory military action by the Israeli government across the whole of Gaza.
Six months later, the conflict continues to escalate, with homes and infrastructure destroyed, the entire population of Gaza facing famine, and more than 100 men, women and children still being held hostage. Now, there is an increasing threat of escalation of the conflict to other countries in the Middle East.
This Roundtable aims to gather together Catholics from across the Diocese with an interest in exploring our collective response as a community and asking what more we could do?
All are welcome to join us for our third meeting at Our Lady of Victories Parish Centre, 235a Kensington High Street.
We are currently setting up a working party to be responsible for the Roundtable and facilitating a Justice & Peace response in the diocese in five main areas:
1) Muslim, Christian & Jewish relations in Westminster Diocese. 2) Supporting local parish responses to the conflict. 3) Promoting prayer and liturgy for peace. 4) Assisting Christians and other communities in the Holy Land. 5) Campaigning for a ceasefire and ending weapons sales.
Please do come along to find out more or get in touch with the Westminster Justice and Peace Co-ordinator, Colette Joyce, on 07593 434 905 colettejoyce@rcdow.org.uk
Father Fadi Diab, Rector of the Anglican Parish in Ramallah, received a warm welcome when he visited the parish of Our Lady Help of Christians in Kentish Town, North London, on Saturday. Fr Fadi is currently on a visit to the UK hosted by Friends of the Holy Land.
Fr Fadi will be joining Westminster Justice and Peace for the Westminster Holy Land Roundtable on Saturday 23rd March, 4-6pm, at Farm Street. More details
Born and educated in the West Bank, Fr Fadi is a founder of the Youth Connection for Peace Programme, a member of the Palestine-Israeli Theologians Forum and the Palestine Advisory Council of the Episcopal Peace Fellowship, co-author of Kairos Palestine document and board member on Kairos-Palestine. He has presented workshops at the World Council of Churches on the theological understanding of the Palestine Israeli conflict.
Fr Fadi began by thanking everyone present for their support. “It means a lot to know to know you care, Its means a lot to know we are not abandoned. We are all part of the Body of Christ. People who care.”
The situation in the last few months has been “heartbreaking, devastating” for the people of Gaza and the West Bank, he said. But he pointed out: “This situation didn’t start on October 7. The settler colonial project began more than 75 years ago. “Israel wants to take all the land and get rid of the people of the land…”
“In Gaza it is not a war against Hamas,” he said. “Its a war against all Palestinians.” In the West Bank (which is not run by Hamas) since October around 500 people, including many children have been killed in attacks by settlers and the Israeli army. 50 houses have been demolished.
Gaza at the present time “is another story” he said. “It is beyond imagination! More than 33,000 killed. 13,000 children. 7,000 women. Thousands more are missing under the rubble. Schools, hospitals, mosques, churches, universities, and most homes all destroyed.” The population is now facing starvation.
“We believe human being were created in the image of God – to kill one person is to kill humanity.”
Fr Fadi said there is an urgent need for “awakening” in churches abroad. “They are so often silent, shy or complicit.” He said he is often surprised at how little many Christians know about the Holy Land.
But he was encouraged to see so many demonstrations taking place in the UK. “Its a process” he said. “It is our mission to challenge structures of injustice. God’s plan is for every person to be treated equally. No one should be left out.”
Fr Fadi went on to describe the desperate plight of Christians in the Holy Land. “We are facing an existential crisis – the decline of Christians in Holy Land. The place God chose to send the Messiah… This is the community that traces its roots back to the first Christians. They have been there for two millennium witnessing to the message of Jesus Christ – looking after pilgrims – but now most of them have left.”
“In 1917 they were 17- 20% of the population. Today Christians are less than 2 per cent. 90% of Christians from Ramallah now live in US. There are less than 50,000 Christians in West Bank. All 900 Christians in Gaza have filed immigration applications.”
80% of Christians in Bethlehem rely on tourism. For two years during the pandemic there were no pilgrims and people faced real difficulties. Now things are much worse. 100,000 Palestinians from the West Bank used to go to Israel to work. But since October they have had their work permits revoked. Now Israel is bringing in people from India and other countries to do their jobs, Fr Fadi said.
“The challenge for Christians is huge. Young people are fed up. They have lost hope… The Church, together with the UN and government provide all the education, health and social social care. To lose that would be really frightening. To think of the Holy Land without Christians is frightening.”
Fr Fadi is Chair of the Holy Land Committee of Friends of the Holy Land, an ecumenical, non-political charity with a mission, together with other Christian charities is to secure a resilient and enduring Christian community in the West Bank, Gaza, Israel and Jordan – transforming lives through education, scholarships, medical and social care for the young and old, as well as food these days. Since the latest crisis, Fr Fadi said many people are on the “edge of collapse,” suffering from depression and anxiety, and so Friends of the Holy Land has introduced trauma counselling programs.
“We feel this is a Kairos moment – to respond to the situation in every way we can – offering support and promoting peace and justice” Fr Fadi said.
During the Q& A afterwards Fr Fadi was asked what he would like to see UK churches do. He responded by saying that the UK is responsible for what has happened in the Holy Land on many levels, and so we should have a role in restoring justice. “The Church needs to put pressure on the government” he said. “The Church should be crystal clear about that… the. UK should not be providing weapons to Israel” he said.
Churches in the UK need to educate people more, Fr Fadi said. “I’m surprised at how little people know. This should be a central component in UK churches and all over the world.
Fr Fadi said we need to question where we invest our money. “There is no limit to educating people about ethical questions.” And he pointed out the need for constant prayers. Three faiths have lived in the Holy Land for so many centuries, it can accommodate them peacefully, he said.
At the end of the talk, Brendan Metcalfe, director of Friends of the Holy Land reminded everyone that the FHL website has a section for prayers, as well as a news page “so we know what we’re praying for.” See: www.friendsoftheholyland.org.uk/
He also had a meeting with Bishop Nicholas Hudson.
On Sunday, he preached at the 9am & 11am services at Southwark Anglican Cathedral and had a Q&A with the congregation. Watch the service here: www.youtube.com/watch?v=HTh7qHWPpJc&t=6s
Christians for Palestine bloc outside St Paul’s Cathedral
The next Westminster Holy Land Roundtable, hosted by the Westminster Justice and Peace Commission, will take place on Saturday, 23 March, from 4-6pm, at the Catholic Church of the Immaculate Conception, Mayfair, 114 Mount Street, London, W1K 3AH, to share and discuss the response of the Catholic community in the Diocese of Westminster to war and conflict in the Holy Land.
The horrendous series of events unfolding in our news bulletins since the 7th October attack by Hamas in which 1,200 were killed and over 250 were taken hostage, and the subsequent retaliation by Israel in which over 30,000 people have been killed – most of them women and children, where over 1.8 million people have seen their homes destroyed and are now facing a major famine – has increased the concern of people everywhere for the Holy Land.
Following the first Roundtable on 20th February, we are hoping to gather Catholics in the Diocese with an interest in exploring our collective response to strife in the Holy Land and asking what more we could do as a community?
We hope to set up a Working Party to cover the following areas:
· Christian, Muslim and Jewish relations in the Diocese. · The ‘Ceasefire Now!’ rallies and liaising with the ‘Christians for Palestine’ group. . Liaising with Catholic parishes and other organisations. · Prayer and Liturgy. · Support for Catholics and other Christians in the Holy Land.
If you are interested in helping in any of these areas, but are unable to attend the meeting on 23rd March, please contact Colette Joyce directly on colettejoyce@rcdow.org.uk for further details or a chat.
It is not necessary to register, but it will be helpful for us to gauge numbers if you do. Many thanks.
Father Fadi Diab, Rector of the Anglican Parish in Ramallah, is coming speak in the Parish Centre of Our Lady Help of Christians in Kentish Town on Saturday, 16 March, about the present situation in the Holy Land and its effect on Christian communities, and take questions. The event will last from 2-4pm. Light refreshments will be available.
Born and educated in the West Bank, Fr Fadi is the Rector St Andrew’s Episcopal Church, Ramallah and St Peter’s, Birzeit. Fr Fadi’s ministry includes midweek youth service, Bible study, Women’s group, Youth group, Sunday school, an Acolyte programme, a new choir and a Celebrating Family program. Fr Fadi provides leadership and pastoral support for St Andrew’s school, the Episcopal Vocation and Training Centre and his sister Parish in Birzeit with a developing elderly home project, St Peter’s.
His vision includes supporting the Christian community spiritually and socially, strengthening Christians in the Holy Land to enabling them to stay in the area and to continue witness to the Gospel of Christ. Fr Fadi is a Founder of the Youth Connection for Peace Programme, a member of the Palestine-Israeli Theologians Forum, a member of the Palestine Advisory Council of the Episcopal Peace Fellowship and co-author of Kairos Palestine document and board member on Kairos-Palestine. He has presented workshops at the World Council of Churches on the theological understanding of the Palestine Israeli conflict and spoken widely at churches in the USA. He visits parishes in the UK regularly during non-Covid times.
Diocese of Westminster Justice and Peace Commission 