Category: Events

Event Moved Online – Saturday 17th September 2022, 10.30am-1pm, ‘To Accompany Refugees’ Westminster Social Justice and Peace Forum

 NB – Owing to the planned rail strikes on Saturday, 17th September 2022, this event has been moved online. Participants will be able to log-on from 10.15am and the meeting will start at 10.30am

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All are invited to join Bishops Nicholas Hudson and Paul McAleenan to explore our Diocesan response to refugees. Guest speakers giving input and facilitating discussion will include:

Megan Knowles: Communications and Development Manager at the Jesuit Refugee Service (JRS) – Megan manages a team of staff and volunteers responsible for raising awareness and amplifying the voices and experiences of refugees, which can lead to positive changes in their lives. Megan also leads on fundraising at JRS and her varied role takes her across the UK speaking to schools, parishes and communities about the work of JRS and the importance of welcoming refugees in our own communities.

Teresa Clarke: St Bartholomew’s Church, St Alban’s, Herts – There are 140 asylum seekers housed near St Alban’s and the ecumenical group of South St Alban’s Churches has been organising English conversation groups for some of them since January 2022. These groups have led to closer links with St Alban’s Cathedral and Greenwood United Reformed Church. They have developed networks with other organisations, such as the Jesuit Refugee Service, Herts Welcomes Refugees and the local MP’s office, and look forward to sharing their learning.

Invitation from Bishop Paul McAleenan ‘To Accompany Refugees’:

In his message for World Day of Migrants 2014 Pope Francis wrote, ‘We ourselves need to see, and then to enable others to see, that migrants and refugees do not only represent a problem to be solved, but are brothers and sisters to be welcomed, respected and loved’.

Undeniably, the displacement of people due to war, poverty and persecution is a major problem. The victims are our brothers and sisters. It is our Christian duty to enable them find a home where their basic needs are met and an environment where they can flourish. A truly Christian approach towards refugees seeks not only to provide but also to communicate a welcome, to accompany them on their journey.

How are we to move ‘Towards a Better World’, the title of Pope Francis’ 2014 message? As those seeking shelter and sanctuary continue to arrive on our shores, Westminster Social Justice and Peace Forum invites you to be part of the solution and To Accompany Refugees.

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Kew Gardens Outing Thursday 15th September 11am

Praying at Kew Gardens with CAFOD, Caritas and Justice & Peace, 9th August 2022

We liked our visit to Kew Gardens in August so much that we want to go back!

All are welcome to join Colette Joyce & Fr Dominic Robinson SJ on 15th September, 11am-4pm for another opportunity to see the famous botanical gardens – this time during the Season of Creation.

We will visit the Food Forever exhibition in the morning with time to explore the gardens in the afternoon.

Purchase own tickets in advance via the Kew website (for a small reduction) or on arrival and meet inside the ticket barriers at the Victoria Gate at 11.00am where we will begin and end the day with prayers. You can bring a picnic or buy food in the café for lunch.

Contact Colette to let her know you are coming on colettejoyce@rcdow.org.uk or 07593 434905.

Westminster Justice and Peace E-Bulletin September 2022

The new term has seen a plethora of events dropping into my inbox so there are THREE pages of Diary Dates this month. No-one can do it all, but I hope you will find one or two things of particular interest to you among this myriad of ideas for putting our faith into practice.

Two highlights for us are:

The Season of Creation, 1st September – 4th October 

This year’s theme is “Listen to the Voice of Creation.” As the Psalmist declares:

“The heavens are telling the glory of God; 
and the firmament proclaims God’s handiwork.
Day to day pours forth speech, and night to night declares knowledge…their voice is not heard;
yet their voice goes out through all the Earth
and their words to the end of the world.” 
(Psalm 19: 1-4)

Find resources for the Season of Creation

Westminster Social Justice and Peace Forum ‘To Accompany Refugees’, 17th September, 10am-1pm.

Join Bishops Nicholas Hudson and Paul McAleenan along with guest speakers including Megan Knowles (Jesuit Refugee Service) and Teresa Clarke (St Alban’s Hostel Visiting Group), for sharing and discussion of our response to the worldwide movement of peoples. 

Register with Eventbrite

Westminster Justice and Peace E-Bulletin September 2022Download

Mass for the Season of Creation – Farm Street Church, Saturday 3rd September 2022, 4.00pm

All are invited to join the Southern Dioceses Environment Network for their first ever Mass for the Season of Creation.

The celebrant is Fr Dominic Robinson SJ, Parish Priest at Farm Street and Chair of the Westminster Justice and Peace Commission.

The Mass will be followed by refreshments in the Arrupe Hall, with a chance to view displays and find resources on the care of creation.

From the Celebration Guide

This year we will unite around the theme, “Listen to the Voice of Creation.”

The Psalmist declares, “The heavens are telling the glory of God; and the firmament proclaims God’s handiwork. Day to day pours forth speech, and night to night declares knowledge…their voice is not heard; yet their voice goes out through all the Earth, and their words to the end of the world.” (19: 1-4)

During the Season of Creation, our common prayer and action can help us listen for the voices of those who are silenced. In prayer we lament the individuals, communities, species, and ecosystems who are lost, and those whose livelihoods are threatened by habitat loss and climate change. In prayer we centre the cry of the Earth and the cry of the poor.

“I have heard their cry…I know their sufferings…Come, now! I will send you…I will be with you” (Ex 3:1-12)

Links

Southern Dioceses Environment Network

Ideas and Resources for the Season of Creation

Remembering Hiroshima and Nagasaki

Hiroshima Day, 6th August 2022, Outside Westminster Cathedral

Westminster Justice & Peace joined Pax Christi, London Catholic Worker and other peace campaigners to remember the devastation caused by the atomic bombs dropped on the Japanese cities of Hiroshima and Nagasaki on 6th and 9th August 1945.

We mourned for those who lost their lives, prayed for an end to nuclear weapons and handed out leaflets to visitors to the Cathedral.

On 9th August, the 77th anniversary of the atomic bombing of Nagasaki, we also joined a procession from Westminster Cathedral – following the memorial service for Blessed Franz Jagerstatter – to the Peace Pagoda by the Thames in Battersea Park, led by Buddhist monk the Rev Gyoro Nagase with several monks and a nun from the Nipponzan Myohoji Buddhist Order.

Arriving at the Peace Pagoda, we were welcomed by Mr Shigeo Kobayashi from Japan Against Nuclear (JAN).

Colourful lanterns on the steps of the pagoda represented souls of the 74,000 people who perished in the bombing in 1945.

The monks led prayers and ceremonies with incense and chanting for all victims in Nagasaki and offered prayers for peace in the world.

Fr Alan Gadd, from the South London Interfaith group, offered a Christian prayer. Hannah Kemp-Welch, CND co-chair, gave a brief address in which she voiced fears over the increasing tensions in the world where so many countries have nuclear weapons.

Shigeo Kobayashi spoke about the urgent necessity of implementing promises made in the nuclear non-proliferation treaty and hopes for the tenth Review Conference of Parties to the treaty (#NPTRevCon) which is currently taking place at the UN in New York. He said the danger of a catastrophic accident has never been greater – pointing out that the bomb on Nagasaki was actually an accident – the original intention was to drop it somewhere else but plans were changed because of the weather.

The Peace Pagoda was presented to London in 1984 by the Venerable Nichidatsu Fuji, founder of the Japanese Buddhist movement, Nipponzan Myohoji. Following the atomic bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki, he pledged to build pagodas worldwide as shrines to peace. Altogether, there are now 80 peace pagodas worldwide.

“Civilisation is not to kill human beings, not to destroy things, nor make war; civilisation is to hold mutual affection and to respect one another.”

Rev Fuji

All are invited to join us next year to mark the 78th anniversary of the bombings and to continue, in the meantime, to work for an end to these weapons so that all may live without fear of them ever being used again.

Full Report: Independent Catholic News

Visit to Kew Gardens, Tuesday 9th August at 11am

Tony Sheen (CAFOD Westminster Community Participation Co-ordinator), Niki Psarias (Caritas Westminster Lead for Food) and Colette Joyce (Westminster Justice and Peace Co-ordinator) are coming together to lead this summer outing, enjoying the beauty of nature and visiting the ‘Food Forever Festival‘ sculptures and art works at the world famous botanical gardens at Kew. You are welcome to join us!

Protecting sustainable food sources is a major theme of social justice that is of great concern to CAFOD, Caritas and Justice & Peace.

Meet inside Kew Gardens at the Victoria Gate entrance at 11.00am.

We will begin together with a short introduction to the Festival and an opening prayer and convene again in the same place at 4.00pm for a time of sharing and a closing prayer. You are welcome to walk with us or to explore the gardens at your own pace.

You can choose to bring a picnic to eat together (weather permitting!) or you can go independently to any of Kew’s restaurants or food outlets.

You will need to book your own tickets. We recommend doing this at the earliest opportunity, booking in advance on the Kew website, to ensure your place, although tickets can also be purchased on the day. Tickets vary in price depending on number and type bought. A standard single adult ticket booked online in advance costs £15.

Book Tickets on the Kew Gardens website

Note that there are special rates for children, families, young people, students, visitors with disabilities and senior citizens 65+

There is a special price of £1 for people on Universal Credit, Pension Credit or Employment and Support Allowance (ESA).

For more information, or to let us know you will be joining us, please contact Colette Joyce colettejoyce@rcdow.org.uk   or call her on 07593 434 905

Kew Gardens Food Forever Festival

NJPN Conference Report, 22-24 July 2022

Angel, Chris, Amy, Tra-My and Colette on the Westminster Justice & Peace stall at the NJPN Conference Just Fair 2022

Source: Ellen Teague, Independent Catholic News

About 160 people gathered from across the country for the 44th Annual Conference of the National Justice and Peace Network at the Hayes Conference Centre in Swanwick, Derbyshire. There were 12 representatives from the Diocese of Westminster. Particular thanks go to Assumption Volunteers Angel, Chris, Amy and Tra-My who ran the Just Fair stall for Westminster Justice and Peace this year. Over the course of the weekend they collected answers to synod-style questions on the environment and racial justice (two priority areas for Westminster Justice and Peace) which we hope to collate and publish soon.

Keynote speakers throughout the weekend explored the conference theme of ‘Hope’.

Irish diplomat Philip McDonagh explored the meaning of hope, drawing on Pope Benedict’s encyclical Spe Salvi, especially the statement that “all serious and upright conduct is hope in action.” He felt “we should ‘image’ or visualise peace as the rightful possession of the human community as a whole,” despite current global conflicts. He felt that, “through developing a culture of dialogue or encounter in national, regional, and global politics we can transform our understanding of effective action and create the conditions for a different kind of civilisation.” He felt, “the National Peace and Justice Network is living proof that individual interventions in the name of justice and mercy reinforce one another and can support wider social objectives as well.” He pointed to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) as already providing a medium-term common plan for humanity and called for consultative processes to include representatives of religion to underpin their implementation. “In this moment of fractured politics and dissolving ethics, renewed attention to religion as a source of unity is a bold and much-needed initiative,” he suggested.

Rev Dr Patrick Devine SMA spoke of his peace-building work in East Africa as chairman of the Shalom Center for Conflict Resolution and Reconciliation. Shalom seeks to identify, understand and address the underlying causes of conflict rather than just address the symptoms. Fr Devine spoke of dramatic, life-changing results in the areas of conflict transformation, peace education and poverty alleviation. Shalom researches root causes of inter-ethnic conflicts, trains local peace-builders, organises workshops to facilitate resolution and reconciliation processes between factions, and develops inter-ethnic and inter-religious schools. “Theory without practice is empty and practice without theory is blind,” he said.

‘Getting beyond Optimism to Hope: demonstrating or building the Kingdom in the world of politics,’ was the title of a presentation by Andy Flanagan of Christians in Politics and a singer-songwriter. He spoke of leading parliamentarians in singing about integrity, truth and justice at a parliamentary prayer breakfast in early July and a spate of government ministerial resignations which took place hours later! Christians believe that, “integrity is leadership is really important.” A firm believer in tackling the causes of injustice, he praised NJPN for its campaigning work over the years to promote justice and compassion. His music provided the Saturday evening entertainment.

Liturgies were organised by the Lay Community of St Benedict and both Catholic and ecumenical worship was offered. Conference planning partners included ACTA, Christians Aware, Joint Public Issues Team, and Stella Maris. Rev Ruth Gee, a Methodist pastor and patron of NJPN who led a service on Saturday afternoon, spoke of “being united by concern and passion for justice and peace and by a shared faith.”

Workshops included issues of domestic poverty and universal credit, Salford’s ‘Guardians of Creation’ project, restoring dignity to prisoners and their families, Church Action for Tax Justice and Interfaith work on Justice and Peace.

A preview of the film, ‘Finite: The Climate of Change’, which looks at non-violent direct action in Germany and UK to protect ancient forests from coal mines, attracted an audience of 60. https://www.finite-film.com/

A Just Fair hosted 25 stalls, including Together for the Common Good, Green Christian, Christian Climate Action, Columbans, Missio, World Community for Christian Meditation, Fairtrade, Palestinian Goods and Global Justice Now.

Food at the conference was guided by LOAF principles (Local, Organic, Animal Friendly, Fairly Traded).

Full National Justice and Peace Network Report

Mark Hiroshima and Nagasaki Anniversaries with Pax Christi in Westminster

Pax Christi outside Westminster Cathedral 2021

Next Saturday, 6th August, is the anniversary of dropping the first atomic bomb in 1945 on Hiroshima, Japan, killing around 146,000 people, devastating the city and leaving a legacy of radiation-induced cancers and disability. The second nuclear bombing on the city of Nagasaki, which killed up to 80,000 people, is commemorated three days later on Tuesday 9th August.

Both days now provide annual opportunities to foster peace, pray and work towards a world free of nuclear weapons.

Saturday 6 August – Hiroshima Remembrance – Pax Christi will be present with a stall in front of Westminster Cathedral from 11.00am – 1.00pm. Prayer at 1.00pm. 

Tuesday 9 August – Nagasaki Remembrance – Pax Christi will be present with a stall in front of Westminster Cathedral from 11.00am – 1.00pm. Prayer at 1.00pm. 

All supporters of Justice & Peace and friends of Pax Christi are welcome to come along to show their support and especially to join in the time of prayer at 1.00pm.

Franz Jägerstätter Memorial Service

Pax Christi are also organising a service to commemorate Blessed Franz Jägerstätter in the Crypt at Westminster Cathedral on Tuesday 9 August, 6.30pm. Franz Jägerstätter was executed on 9th August 1943 at Brandenburg Prison for his conscientious objection to serving in Hitler’s army. He was beatified in 2007.

Following the service, people may wish to join the interfaith walk to the London Peace Pagoda for the Nagasaki Day memorial.

Pax Christi Events

ICAN (International Campaign to Abolish Nuclear Weapons) – Hiroshima and Nagasaki

More on the life of Franz Jägerstätter

Westminster Justice and Peace E-Bulletin July 2022

Kew Gardens, West London

We are reflecting on the theme of summer holidays for this month’s E-Bulletin.

Every year the first weekend of the school summer holidays, 22nd-24th July, witnesses the annual National Justice and Peace Network conference in Swanwick, Derbyshire, at the beautiful The Hayes Conference Centre. Fr Dominic and Colette will be attending and would love to see you there. It is always a great event with speakers, workshops, prayer, music, social time and networking to refresh and re-inspire your enthusiasm for peace and justice in our complicated world. Everybody is welcome and there are special programmes for children and teenagers, so the whole family can come along.

22nd-24th July – National Justice and Peace Network Annual Conference at Swanwick

Or perhaps you would like to join us in Kew Gardens on Tuesday, 9th August? More details are in the newsletter and on the website:

9th August – Kew Gardens Outing

If you are the festival-going type, you might like to consider Greenbelt, the ecumenical Christian festival at Boughton House, near Kettering, 26th-29th August, the bank holiday weekend. Colette is a regular attendee and happy to tell you all about it if you give her a call!

26th-29th August – Greenbelt Festival, Boughton House

There are the many other events to note across the usual array of issues. Please note that there is no E-Bulletin in August so the deadline for items for the September E-Bulletin is 30th August.

Westminster Justice and Peace E-Bulletin July 2022Download

Join us at Kew Gardens on 9th August, 11am, to visit the Food Forever Festival

Kew Gardens Outing to the ‘Food Forever Festival’ with Westminster Justice & Peace, CAFOD and Caritas

This summer holidays, why not join us for a visit to see the world-famous botanical gardens and explore Kew’s exhibition on the future of sustainable food?

Protecting sustainable food sources is a major theme of social justice that is of great concern to CAFOD, Caritas and Justice & Peace.

Tony Sheen (CAFOD Westminster Community Participation Co-ordinator), Niki Psarias (Caritas Westminster Lead for Food) and Colette Joyce (Westminster Justice and Peace Co-ordinator) are coming together to lead this day out, enjoying the beauty of nature at Kew Gardens while learning more about this essential topic.

We will meet together inside the Gardens at the Victoria Gate entrance at 11am for an introduction to the festival and again in the same place at 4pm for a time of sharing and a closing prayer.

You are welcome to walk with us or to explore the gardens at your own pace.

There will be the option to bring a picnic to eat together (weather permitting!) or you can go independently to any of Kew’s restaurants or food outlets.

You will need to book your own tickets. We recommend doing this at the earliest opportunity, booking in advance on the Kew website, to ensure your place, although tickets can also be purchased on the day. Tickets vary in price depending on number and type bought. A standard single adult ticket booked online in advance costs £15.

Book Tickets on the Kew Gardens website

Note that there are special rates for children, families, young people, students, visitors with disabilities and senior citizens 65+

There is a special price of £1 for people on Universal Credit, Pension Credit or Employment and Support Allowance (ESA).

For more information, or to let us know you will be joining us, please contact Colette Joyce colettejoyce@rcdow.org.uk   or call her on 07593 434 905

Kew Gardens Food Forever Festival