Category: Peace

Appeal for Prayer from Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem for Feast of Assumption

Source: Latin Patriarchate of Jerusalem

Dear brothers and sisters,

May the Lord grant you peace!

Many months have now passed since the beginning of this terrible war. The suffering caused by this conflict and the dismay at what is happening are not only unabated, but seem to be fuelled again and again by hatred, resentment and contempt, which only intensify the violence and push away the possibility of finding solutions.

Indeed, it is becoming increasingly difficult to envision a conclusion to this conflict, whose impact on the lives of our people is greater and more painful than ever before. It is becoming increasingly difficult to find people and institutions with whom a dialogue about the future and peaceful relations is possible. We all seem to be crushed by this present, which is characterized by so much violence and, admittedly, anger.

However, these days seem to be important to be able to turn the tide of the conflict, and among them especially August 15, which for us is the day of the Solemnity of the Assumption of the Virgin Mary into Heaven.

On this day, before or after the celebration of the Eucharist or at another suitable time, I invite everyone to a moment of intercession for peace to the Blessed Virgin Mary. I hope that the parishes, the contemplative and apostolic religious communities and even the few pilgrims who are among us will unite in the common desire for peace that we entrust to the Blessed Virgin.

After having spent so many words and after having done what we can to help and be close to everyone, especially those who are most affected, all that remains is for us to pray. In view of the many words of hatred that are all too often spoken, we would like to offer our prayer, which consists of words of reconciliation and peace.

Enclosed you will find a prayer to Our Lady of the Assumption that you can say on the day of this Solemnity.

Let us pray that in this long night that we are living through, the intercession of the most holy Mary will open a glimpse of light for all of us and for the whole world.

Wishing you all the best in Christ,

+Pierbattista Card Pizzaballa
Patriarch of Jerusalem of the Latins

Prayer for Peace from the Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem for the Feast of the Assumption
15 August 2024

Supplication for peace to Our Lady assumed into Heaven

O most glorious Mother of God,
raised above the choirs of angels,
pray for us with Saint Michael the Archangel
and with all the angelic powers of heaven
and with all the saints,
to your most holy
and beloved Son, our Lord and master.

Obtain for this Holy Land,
for all His children
and for all humanity
the gift of reconciliation and peace.

May your prophecy be fulfilled:
the proud are scattered
in the imaginations of their hearts;
the mighty are overthrown from their thrones,
and finally, the humble are raised;
Let the hungry be filled with good things,
the peaceful be recognized as children of God
and that the meek may receive the earth as a gift.

May Jesus Christ, your Son, grant us this,
He who exalted you today
above the choirs of angels,
who crowned you with the diadem of the Kingdom,
and has placed you on the throne of eternal splendour.
To him be honour and glory forever.
Amen.

Latin Patriarchate of Jerusalem

Holy Apostles, Pimlico, hosts service commemorating the life and witness of Blessed Franz Jagerstatter

Source: Jo Siedlecka, ICN

An interfaith congregation gathered at Holy Apostles church, Pimlico, on Friday, 9 August, the 81st anniversary of Bl Franz Jagerstatter’s martyrdom and Nagasaki Day, to give thanks for peacemakers and to pray for peace.

Jagerstatter was executed for refusing to serve in Hitler’s army. The congregation prayed: “Let us be encouraged and inspired as we reflect on his witness. We pray for the strength to be peacemakers in our troubled world.”

Music was led by Ellen and Gerry Teague. As the congregation filed in, they sang Peace Will Come by Tom Paxton, and the Taize chant The Lord is my Light. All those gathered then joined in a prayer saying “We pray to be peacemakers in our troubled world.’ This was followed by a reading of the words of Franz Jagerstatter written in a notebook 1942, in which he stressed the need for Christians to take a stand against injustice.

Andrew Jackson, CEO of Pax Christi then gave a reflection on the life of Bl Franz Jagerstatter. He said: “This wasn’t some blind, simplistic black and white fundamentalism – despite all the accusations that he had become extreme in his Catholicism. No – he saw the principality, the power and he named it and resisted it. What about us ?

We will say, of course, that we are not leaders, that we don’t have the voice or the profile to have any impact. But then neither did Franz. Outside of a very local community in 1943, no one knew who he was or the stand he was taking. He didn’t have a platform or a position that gave him a voice. He was an ordinary person just like us. But as he told us in our reading from his writings – we are just the people the world is looking for… Words teach, but personal example shows their meaning.”

Read the full text of Andrew Jackson’s reflection: www.indcatholicnews.com/news/50398

A litany of names and groups was read out (after every one came the response: ‘We remember you’): Franz Jagerstatter; Josef Mayr Nusser; Franz Reinisch; Max Josef Metzger; Otto Schimek; all other conscientious objectors, (COs) from World War One and World War Two; All COs since 1945; members of the Society of Friends; Followers of the Anabaptist tradition; the COs of Israel and Palestine; The COs of Ukraine and Russia; The COs of the wars with Iraq, Afghanistan, and those of other countries in conflict.

The congregation was then invited to name other ‘war resisters’. People recalled: St Oscar Romero, Blessed Julia Rodzinska, Steve Biko, Desmond Tutu, Mahatma Gandhi, Edith Cavell, Dorothy Day, Martin Luther King, Bruce Kent and many more

Candles were lit in prayer, ‘a sign of hope against the darkness of war and violence.’

One prayer asked for the intercession of Blessed Franz Jagerstatter: ‘We give thanks for the witness of Franz Jagerstatter who has been beatified and recognised by the Church was a martyrs for peace. We pray that people through out the world will be inspired to followed their conscience . To go against the stream and stand up for peace.”

The final song was ‘Will you come and follow me’ and those present left the church and gathered outside to walk in the interfaith procession, led by Buddhist Rev Gyoro Nagase to the London Peace Pagoda in Battersea Park for the Nagasaki Commemoration Ceremony there.

The service at Holy Apostles can be seen online here: www.churchservices.tv/pimlico/archive/recordings/H4CyzFcltKuvfo3

Pax Christi

Rev Nagase with speakers and participants by the Peace Pagoda Photo: ICN

Source: Jo Siedlecka, ICN

The 79th anniversary of the atomic bomb on Nagasaki was commemorated in London on 9 August 2024, with a procession from Holy Apostles Catholic Church, Pimlico – following the memorial service for Blessed Franz Jagerstatter – to the Peace Pagoda in Battersea Park, led by Buddhist monk the Rev Gyoro Nagase with several monks and a nun from the Nipponzan Myohoji Buddhist Order.

They were accompanied by representatives from several London churches, Pax Christi, Westminster Justice and Peace, CND and other peace campaigners.

Arriving at the Peace Pagoda they were welcomed by Mr Shigeo Kobayashi from Japan Against Nuclear UK (JAN). After a water sprinkling and blessing by Rev Nagase Shonin, participants chanted chapter 16 from the Lotus Sutra. This was followed by Christian prayers for peace by Catholic Deacon Rev Jon Dal Din, from Southwark Diocese, Unitarian Pastor Rev Fergus O’Connor and Quaker David Stephenson.

All participants then were invited to come forward to offer incense and flowers.

Mr Shigeo Kobayashi then gave a brief address, reflecting on the horrors of war in an atomic age, and calling for prayers for peace and harmony between all peoples and nations. He said that more than 74,000 people had died in Nagasaki, in 1945 but people there now still suffer the consequences of the bombing. He noted that for the first time the ambassadors of the UK and other countries had declined to attend the memorial service in Nagasaki, because the ambassador of Israel had not been invited. ( The Mayor of Nagasaki Shiro Suzuki, said that the reason for not inviting Israel was not political. Commentators suggested it was rather for security reasons.)

The last speaker was Ms Carol Turner, chair of London CND. In her address she warned that we are living in a very dangerous time, particularly with events in the Middle East, bringing us closer to nuclear war than we have ever been since 1945.

As an orange sunset began filled the London sky, the colourful lanterns on the steps of the pagoda, represented souls of the 74,000 people who perished in the bombing in 1945, started to glow.

Singer Brigette Bennett gave a beautiful acapella performance of ‘Song for Peace’ as the crowd slowly dispersed into the night.

Next year will be the 80th anniversary of the Hiroshima and Nagasaki bombings and Westminster Justice & Peace aim to mark the occasion with some special events to inspire future peace-makers. Mark 6th and 9th August 2025 in your diaries now!

Pax Christi

Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament

CSAN calls for solidarity and service to triumph over hatred and division

Source: CSAN

In the aftermath of the scenes of violent disorder across the UK, the Caritas Social Action Network’s CEO, Raymond Friel, has issued a statement expressing shock at these disturbing events, stating that CSAN stands in solidarity with all victims of violence.

CSAN Statement

At Caritas Social Action Network, we have been shocked and disturbed at the violent scenes of public disorder in many parts of the UK in recent days and the levels of racism, Islamophobia and hatred against those seeking sanctuary in our country.

We grieve with the families of the three young girls tragically killed in Southport whose lives were so brutally cut short and we remember their families in our prayers at this unimaginably difficult time.

We have often seen good coming out of the most horrific circumstances, as people find in themselves their best instincts to repair and build community and stand against the forces of division and hatred. We hope that these tragic events mark a decisive turning away from the politics of hatred and division towards a spirit of solidarity and service.

In the CSAN network, many of our members work in the most disadvantaged communities, seeking to restore human dignity and help to bring agency and hope to people on the margins of society.

In recent years, many of our members have supported people housed in hotels who are seeking asylum or awaiting more suitable accommodation. These people are often very isolated and vulnerable, many of them having fled violence and persecution in their home countries.

We stand in solidarity with all victims of violence, especially with our brothers and sisters seeking asylum, our Muslim brothers and sisters, and indeed with anyone feeling threatened because of who they are or where they are from. May they feel the love and support of their communities, and of those who hear Christ’s call to love the stranger.

Bishop Paul McAleenan, the Lead Bishop for Migrants and Refugees at the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of England and Wales, has commented, “Today, and always, we need to continue to pray, work and stand together for peace in our country. The actions of the few involved in violence stands in stark contrast to the work of charities, church groups and volunteers who tirelessly extend the hand of welcome to migrants in acts of solidarity. We hope and pray that they will re-double their efforts so that we can rebuild communities after the terrible events of the last few days.”

Raymond Friel OBE
CEO, Caritas Social Action Network

LINK

CSAN: www.csan.org.uk/

100,000 rally for Peace in the Holy Land in Central London

Christian bloc in Mount Street Gardens

Source: Independent Catholic News

More than 100,000 people took part in last Saturday’s National March for Palestine in London. 

The Christian Bloc gathered in Mount Street Gardens next to Farm Street Church for ecumenical prayers, Taize chants and intercessions written by Palestinian Christians, before setting out to Park Lane to join the march through London to Parliament. 

The group included Catholic, Anglican and Methodist clergy and religious, members of the London Catholic Worker, Pax Christi, Christian CND and Westminster Diocese Justice and Peace. 

Weaving their way through the heart of London towards parliament, the Christians marched alongside the Muslim and Jewish bloc, calling for: Ceasefire now; End to the occupation; End to the Apartheid; End to arms sales to Israel; Boycott, divestment and sanctions and Support the ICJ rulings.

A small counter-protest known as ‘Enough is Enough’ took place at Piccadilly Circus, with protesters waving Israeli flags and holding placards of Israeli hostages. 

A group of Holocaust survivors sat at the side of the protest with placards in support of the Palestinian protesters reading: “Holocaust survivor descendants against Gaza genocide.”

At the end of the march, various speakers, including former Labour and now Independent MP Apsana Begum and the chair of Young Labour, Jess Barnard, addressed the crowds from a stage outside Parliament. 

Ms Begum said: “For ourselves, for each other, for our diverse communities across the UK and for the men, women and children of Gaza and all those facing oppression all around the world, solidarity.”

Ms Barnard said: “Starmer we don’t want excuses, we don’t want delay, we don’t want you to say you’re different from the Tories, we want you to smash the Tory legacy of complicity in Israeli war crimes. We want action. No more delay, no more excuses.”

Four arrests were made during the march. The Metropolitan Police said one arrest was made for directing a Nazi salute towards a counter-protester. A second was made for a placard suspected of supporting a proscribed organisation. Two further arrests were made for having an offensive placard.

John Sloboda, from Christians for Palestine told ICN: “It was really noticeable how peaceful the march and rally was, with lots of song and comradeship. The ‘confrontation’ with a small group of Israeli flag-wavers was marked simply by people singing even louder. 

“It was also noticeable how low-key the policing was, and how the marchers were enabled to mingle with tourists and passers by. The police know that these marches are exactly what they claim to be: demonstrations of peaceful solidarity with the Palestinian people, attended by people representing the full diversity of our society in age, ethnicity, and religion.”

For more information about Christians For Palestine, see:  https://christiansforpalestine.com/

Presidents of Churches Together in England call for end to racism, division and disorder

Source: CBCEW

The Presidents of Churches Together in England (CTE) have issued a statement calling on churches and communities to work together to end racism, division and disorder.

CTE is the national ecumenical organisation that encourages Christian unity and brings together 54 member churches. Cardinal Vincent Nichols is one of its Presidents.

Statement

We are grateful for the immediate response from Churches Together Merseyside Region, committing to support the grieving people of Southport in the wake of the killing of three children and serious injury of others, some of whom remain in a critical condition. We are grateful for the ongoing support local churches and other organisations offer those directly affected by these life-changing events. We continue to hold all concerned in our prayers.

In the wake of the terrible events in Southport, we acknowledge the anger felt by many at these senseless killings. We also acknowledge deep and troubling anxiety about immigration. Regrettably, we have witnessed violent, racist attacks and intimidation on our streets. Mosques have been attacked, hotels housing people seeking asylum set on fire and individuals set upon simply because of the colour of their skin. Racism has no place on our streets or in society and should not be stirred up in communities or online. The police have faced unacceptable levels of violent disorder and rioting in their quest to keep the peace on the streets. We are grateful for the work of the emergency services who put themselves in danger to protect the public. We are grateful for communities who have come together to help with the clear up, demonstrating a determination to serve the good of all.

We are also grateful to the many local churches across the country who provide a place of worship and sanctuary for people and who help build stronger communities through action at the grassroots level, including initiatives like Street Pastors and Response Pastors. Let us all work together to put an end to this violent disorder, restore peace and heal our nation.

CTE Presidents

The Presidents of Churches Together in England are:

Archbishop Justin Welby
Archbishop of Canterbury

Cardinal Vincent Nichols
Cardinal Archbishop of Westminster

Rev Canon Helen Cameron
Moderator of the Free Churches Group

Bishop Paulina Hławiczka-Trotman
CTE President for the Fourth Presidency Group and Head of the Lutheran Church in Great Britain

Bishop Tedroy Powell
CTE Pentecostal and Charismatic President
National Overseer of the Church of God of Prophecy UK

His Eminence Archbishop Nikitas
CTE President for the Orthodox Churches
Archbishop of the Oecumenical Patriarchate (Diocese of Thyateira and Great Britain)

Cardinal Vincent Nichols joins faith leaders in condemning violence

Source: CBCEW

Cardinal Vincent has joined faith leaders including the Chief Rabbi Sir Ephraim Mirvis, Justin Welby, Archbishop of Canterbury, and Sayed Razawi, Chief Imam in condemning the recent ‘hatred, violence and vandalism to towns and cities across the country.’

Read the full text of their letter below:

Sir,

Over the last few days we have watched in horror as a small minority has brought hatred, violence and vandalism to towns and cities across the country. We have seen anti-Muslim hatred and the targeting of mosques; asylum seekers and refugees attacked; violence directed towards the police and private property, all of which are a stain on our national moral conscience.

Every British citizen has a right to be respected and a responsibility to respect others, so that together we can build a cohesive and harmonious society for all.

As faith leaders, we salute the many people who have stepped forward to repair damage and restore their neighbourhoods. We pledge to work with government and all sections of society towards a constructive and compassionate dialogue on immigration and social cohesion.

The Chief Rabbi Sir Ephraim Mirvis
The Most Rev Justin Welby, Archbishop of Canterbury
Imam Dr Sayed Razawi, Chief Imam and director general of Scottish Ahlul Bayt Society
Imam Qari Asim, chairman of Mosques and Imams National Advisory Board
Cardinal Vincent Nichols, Archbishop of Westminster

6 & 9 August 2024 – Hiroshima and Nagasaki Remembered

Westminster Justice and Peace will be joining Pax Christi UK for the annual commemorations of the events of August 1945 when two nuclear bombs were dropped on Japan, killing over 150,000 people instantly and causing devastating long-term effects for millions more.

You are invited to join us as we unite our prayers with peacemakers around the world and call for an end to all nuclear weapons so that they can never be used again.

WESTMINSTER CATHEDRAL

6 August, 11.00am-1.00pm: Hiroshima Day – Vigil at Westminster Cathedral

Hiroshima Day Liturgy

Hiroshima Day Scripture Reading

Hiroshima Day Reading

Hiroshima Day Reflection

9 August, 11.00am-1.00pm: Nagasaki Day – Vigil at Westminster Cathedral

Nagasaki Day Liturgy

Nagasaki Day Scripture Reading

Nagasaki Day Reading

St Albans

4 August, 3-4pm: Hiroshima & Nagasaki Memorial Service, St. Albans Cathedral

Members of St Alban and St Stephen Catholic Church Justice and Peace Group will be among the participants at the annual ecumenical Hiroshima and Nagasaki Memorial Service on Sunday 4th August 2024. Meet at 2.50pm at Abbey Peace Pillar, Sumpter Yard, St Albans Cathedral.

Online

6 August, 8.00-9.00pm: Hiroshima Day Online Prayer Vigil

The Anglican Pacifist Fellowship and Christian CND invite us to join their online prayer vigil on Hiroshima Day. The vigil starts at 8.00pm and you can register here:

APF and CCND Online Prayer Vigil Registration

Interfaith Walk and Peace Pagoda Vigil

9 August 2024, from c. 7:30pm: Interfaith Peace Walk from Holy Apostles Pimlico to the London Peace Pagoda

Nagasaki Day coincides with the anniversary of an important martyr for peace, Blessed Franz Jägerstätter, and every year Pax Christi combines these two anniversaries with an ecumenical service, followed by an interfaith walk and vigil.

This year the service will take place at the Holy Apostles Church in Pimlico, in memory of the 81st anniversary of Blessed Franz Jägerstätter’s execution in 1943 for refusing to serve in Hitler’s army. 

Following the service, there will be an interfaith Peace Walk to the London Peace Pagoda in Battersea Park for a Lantern-Lighting Ceremony around the pagoda (not in the Thames!) This will begin when the peace walkers arrive at the Peace Pagoda, to commemorate the 79th Anniversary for victims of Hiroshima and Nagasaki and all wars. The ceremony seeks to reflect on the horrors of war in an atomic age, and to pray together for peace and harmony between all peoples and nations. 

All are very welcome to join us at any point in the evening for the service, walk or vigil and to offer flowers and incense.

Pax Christi Website

Nagasaki Remembered

23 June 2024 – Walk with Me: Silent Peace Walk Parliament Square to Trafalgar Square

Representatives from the Diocese of Westminster will be joining the Second Multi-Faith Peace Walk – entitled Walk with Me – facilitated by Plum Village UK (Plum Village Tradition of Thich Nhat Hanh, Buddhist) and Quakers in Britain. All are invited to come along and walk with us.

Date: Sunday, 23rd June 2024

Time: 3pm – 5pm

Location: Gathering in Parliament Square

What to bring:

  • make and wear/bring a white flower (see video how to make one here)
  • wear clothes that you would wear to a funeral or to mourning to reflect the remembrance element of the walk
  • bring your own prayer to contemplate on during the vigil elements that will be held, if you choose to or write your prayer and use that sheet to create a paper flower to wear with you

To reflect the vigil and contemplative nature of this event, we ask you not to bring any banners, flags, or placards. You are enough.

Reasons for Walking in Silent Witness for Peace

In the face of escalating violence and loss of life in over 100 wars and armed conflicts (Geneva Academy) worldwide (e.g Palestine, Sudan, Ukraine, Myanmar among many others) we hold this event to reflect our shared commitment to nonviolence, reconciliation and a just peace, representing the spiritual and ethical values of all spiritual communities.

As exemplified in Palestine and Israel we witness the increasing destruction of life, starvation, displacement, lack of and attacks on humanitarian aid, hostage taking, unjust detentions, trauma and harm inflicted on children in all these wars and conflicts. We see and experience the escalation in retaliatory violence, polarisation and demonisation taking place right here in our countries as Islamophobia and Antisemitism grows.

Please join us, people of faiths and none, as we move together in silence to remember people killed in war, as we call for the cessation of killing, for nonviolence, reconciliation and a just peace. The peaceful coexistence of those on opposing sides is intertwined with one another. Our peace is interconnected. We have a shared commitment to live in peace and harmony in the world.

All welcome.

This short film below and the information on the Plum Village UK website offers a glimpse into the first Peace Walk on January 21st. The website includes a link to all the prayers and words offered on the day.

Gathering/Route 

We will assemble in Parliament Square, to commence at 3pm with short opening prayers offered by faith representatives and we will walk slowly from Parliament Square to Trafalgar Square and back. We will stop at key moments to hold vigil and offer prayers.

Event photo credit: Philip Wood from Quakers Britain

Chaplet of the Holy Spirit – Online Prayer for Peace in the Holy Land, 18th May 2024, 8pm

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

Register for Chaplet of the Holy Spirit with Eventbrite