A special Mass and prayer vigil to mark the one-year anniversary of the hijacking of the Galaxy Leader will take place in London on Tuesday, 19th November.
On this day last year, Houthi rebels seized the car carrier in the Red Sea, taking its 25 crew members hostage. Their whereabouts is not publicly known.
Stella Maris will be holding this service to stand in solidarity with the seafarers from the Galaxy Leader and their families, offering comfort and support as they continue to endure captivity. We will also pray for all seafarers who have faced threats and attacks while carrying out their vital work, as well as for peace and stability in the region.
This is an opportunity for the community to come together in reflection and prayer, remembering those who remain in danger and praying for their safe release.
The Mass and prayer vigil will take place on 19 November, 7pm in the Church of St Anselm and St Cecilia, Kingsway, London WC2A 3JA
A record number of Christians from different denominations – clergy, religious and laypeople – gathered for prayers at St Anselm & St Cecilia’s Catholic church in Holborn on Saturday 5th October 2024, before joining the 20th National March, from Russell Square to Whitehall, to appeal to the government to stop arming Israel and demand a permanent ceasefire in Gaza, Lebanon, Yemen, Israel and Iran.
The prayers were led by Revd Sam Fletcher, an Anglican priest from Exeter, and Colette Joyce, Westminster Justice and Peace Coo-ordinator.
The Jewish Bloc was also the largest ever.
Organisers say more than 300,000 people took part in the demonstration.
John Sloboda, academic, musician, and co-founder of Iraq Body Count , told ICN: “As a British Catholic I consider that participating in these marches and rallies is an important act of witness that I can offer, in the face of the ongoing decimation of the Palestinian people.
“What our taxes are paying for goes against everything I hold dear as a Christian. Marching together with fellow Christians jointly asserting “not in our name” brings some relief and encouragement, in the face what would otherwise be an overwhelming sense of despair about our country and the ultra-timid role our church leaders are playing at this potentially apocalyptic juncture in world history…” More
Our schools reopen, our parishes restart catechetical programmes, search for new volunteers and, in some cases, welcome new priests.
The work of Justice and Peace goes on in and out of season as does the Church’s mission in the world but a new year is also an opportunity to pause, reflect, discern priorities, and, strengthened hopefully by holidays, we take up our work again with a new enthusiasm.
One event which aims to draw together as many as possible involved in the work of Justice and Peace in our diocese is our inaugural lecture at Farm Street Church on November 1st by Baroness Scotland, the Commonwealth Secretary General. Baroness Scotland has a huge experience and an enormous heart for putting Catholic Teaching into action. We really hope you can make it.
In a message to mark the World Day of Migrants and Refugees, Bishop Paul McAleenan has praised the Catholic community in England and Wales for the generous welcome and kindness many offer to refugees and migrants.
“Fundamental to our Christian faith is the belief that we are all a pilgrim people on our journey to our true homeland. God is with us and we travel together,” says Bishop McAleenan, the Lead Bishop for Migrants and Refugees for the Bishops’ Conference. “They are looking for a place to settle, where they can live in peace with their families and have the opportunity to prosper. They are, indeed, a pilgrim people. And God walks with them.”
Bishop McAleenan believes that many parishes have responded positively to those fleeing harm and seeking sanctuary to rebuild their lives:
“I wish to thank all of you in parishes and communities who are providing support and welcome to migrants and refugees who reach these shores… There are many, many parishes in this country who have positively responded to the stranger seeking asylum… Surely through your actions, migrants and refugees who experience such hospitality can more easily believe that God is with them.”
Participation
The theme of the World Day of Migrants and Refugees is ‘God walks with His People’. We have many days of prayer in the Catholic calendar, so it is always useful to offer some practical advice to the faithful to encourage participation in the day.
“I’d like to suggest how you might celebrate this day in your parish, in your school or community,” says Bishop McAleenan. “Perhaps you can have a short prayer vigil, reflecting upon on a scripture passage which recounts how God accompanied his people on a long and dangerous journey through the desert and ask him to protect those on the move today.
“If you do have a prayer vigil, please invite migrants and refugees to join you. If your parish is blessed with grounds, you may consider having a procession – walking around the area in silence, or reciting an appropriate prayer – that would be a demonstration of solidary with all those on the move.
“If you know someone who is a refugee you may wish to invite them to join you and your friends for a tea or coffee. Why? Simply to encounter them – a word beloved by Pope Francis – to speak to them, to listen to their story, if they wish to share it.
“In such ways, we open our minds and hearts to our brothers and sisters and perhaps any prejudices or misunderstanding we may have will be dispelled.”
Saturday 28 September: An International Mass with the Ethnic Chaplaincies will be celebrated at Westminster Cathedral by Cardinal Vincent Nichols
A big concern on our hearts at the moment is the need for peace in the world as we approach nearly a year of war in Gaza, as well as remembering the on-going conflicts in Ukraine and Russia, Sudan, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Yemen and elsewhere.
The guest speaker at our Inaugural Justice and Peace Lecture at Farm Street on 1 September is Baroness Scotland, Commonwealth Secretary General, who will address the theme of ‘Delivering Peace in a Multi Polar World’.
Join us to reflect deeply on how we might contribute to building a culture of peace and not war.
Colette Joyce, Justice and Peace Co-ordinator with Westminster Diocese is currently on a pilgrimage to Jordan with Friends of the Holy Land. The visit has been hosted by the Jordanian Tourist Board who are keen to show that Jordan is still a country of peace and safety, despite the regional conflicts raging all around its borders.
Colette writes:
If there is one word that springs to mind after my first few days in the country it is ‘hospitable’. Every where we go people call out, ‘Where you from?’ ‘London, UK.’ Ah, welcome to Jordan!’ We have been extraordinarily well looked after by the hotel, restaurants, shops and site staff who want to show us the best that Jordan has to offer.
As we travel, we can see a country just getting on with life. It is hard to believe, at times, that there is so much turmoil just a few miles from here. While we’ve been here there have been attacks in Lebanon with pagers and walkie-talkies connected to Hezbollah exploding in streets and homes, killing dozens and injuring thousands more. Rockets have been fired at Israel, bombings continue in Gaza, arbitrary arrests take place in the West Bank and hostages from Israel still languish in Palestinian bunkers. Peace negotiations have faltered, as the risk of escalation rises, and it is hard to know how peace can possibly be restored.
For me, a strong motivation for making the trip was to show solidarity with the people of Jordan who are suffering from the effects of conflict in the region and also with all those in the Holy Land who are desperate to see an end to the fighting. Now that I am here, it is clear that they need that solidarity more than ever.
Before 7th October, Jordan would receive 7,000-8,000 tourists a day to its historic sites at Jerash and Petra. The sites are still open in all their glory but the visitors can now be counted in dozens. I have been stunned by their historic significance and beauty and hope very much to return to spend longer learning about them, hopefully with others, in the near future.
For Christians there is the added significance that these are Biblical lands and we have visited sites connected to Moses, Elijah and Jesus. Most deeply moving of all is the Baptism site, where Jesus was baptised by John the Baptist ‘on the far side of the Jordan’ which was only identified in 1995 when excavations became possible following reduced military operations. It has been endorsed by Pope John Paul II and visited by Pope Francis in 2016.
Here, between the river and the desert, I felt for myself a deep sense of connection to what our guide, Bashar, called ‘the sunrise of Christianity.’ Here is located the origin of Christian baptism that I experienced at six weeks old and which I have witnessed many hundreds of times since, most recently at Farm Street Church last Sunday. Priests from the new Catholic church rising above the shores of the Jordan poured water over our heads from a font beside the river to ‘Remember your baptism in the name of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit.’ From the actions of John and Jesus sprang a faith tradition that now connects two billion people around the world and across two thousand years of time.
For Rustom Mkhjian, the Armenian Christian Director of the Baptism Site Commission who showed us round, one of the most remarkable aspects of the restoration of the Baptism Site is that it has been sponsored by the Muslim royal family who deeply understand the significance of the site for Christians and why they should protect it and make it accessible to pilgrims. “This,” he said, “is how it should be everywhere in the world.” Relations between Christians and Muslims are good here and there are deep lessons for peace to be learnt from the Jordanian approach to welcome and hospitality.
Prisoners’ Sunday falls this year on 13 October. With the support of Liaison Bishop for Prisons Richard Moth, Pact invites parishes across England and Wales to bring people in prison, and their children and families, before the Lord in prayer.
Pact is the national Catholic charity supporting prisoners, people with convictions, and their families. This year marks 125 years since the charity’s formation as the Catholic Prisoners’ Aid Society. Today Pact supports people of all faiths and none, working in more than 60 prisons, in courts, and in communities across England and Wales. The support of Catholic parishes has been and continues to be invaluable.
Our prisons are in crisis. There are record numbers of people behind bars. Inspectors regularly report instances of vermin, violence, self-harm and people languishing in cells with nothing to do. At the same time, too many people are released with no home, no job, no family and no hope.
The ripple effects of this crisis are felt well beyond the prison walls. The lives of hundreds of thousands of families and children are affected as they too serve a hidden sentence.
Having a mother, father, husband or wife in prison can have a devastating impact – more than half of families tell us they are struggling to afford the basics for them and their children.
In September, every Catholic parish will receive a Prisoners’ Sunday pack with a poster, bidding prayers, and a message from Pact President Cardinal Vincent Nichols. The charity encourages all parishes across England and Wales to mark the day on 13 October – or another nearby Sunday – respectfully requesting a second collection for those who choose and are able to donate. The money raised will help Pact to do more in the year ahead to support women and men in prison and their children and families.
Pact CEO Andy Keen-Downs shares: “Every day, I hear how our prisons are in crisis…” Read more
A monthly Memorial Prayer Vigil for refugees and asylum-seekers takes place on the 3rd Monday of every month outside the Home Office, SW1P 4DF, 12:30pm to 1:30pm.
Did you know that over 500 Catholic parishes across England and Wales are certified Fairtrade?
Fairtrade Fortnight 9-22 September has the theme, ‘Be the Change,’ highlighting how consumer power can support farmers overseas to build stronger, more resilient communities.
This Fortnight, over 550 local community activities will be taking place, including talks, coffee mornings, breakfasts, film screenings, stalls, town displays and church services.
St Luke’s Catholic Church in Pinner, Westminster Archdiocese said on its Facebook page on Monday: ‘Every time each of us goes shopping, we cast a vote for the sort of world we want. So please choose goods with the Fairtrade Mark – it means the growers are paid a fair price. All our local supermarkets have some – look for bananas, tea, coffee, chocolate, nuts, jams, marmalade, sugar, wine and more. So let’s all BE THE CHANGE and choose Fairtrade.’
The Fairtrade Foundation is celebrating 30 years of Fairtrade products on UK shelves, having been established by CAFOD, Christian Aid, Oxfam, Traidcraft, the World Development Movement and the National Federation of Women’s Institutes. Over the course of 30 years, Fairtrade has worked with more than 10,000 local Fairtrade groups and institutions in the UK, including almost 7,000 Fairtrade Places of Worship and more than 2,500 Fairtrade Schools. There are almost 5,000 Fairtrade products from coffee and tea to flowers and gold.
New YouGov research has found that almost nine in ten Britons value fair pay for farmers and workers and 69% say they have bought a Fairtrade product. Two new YouGov research studies commissioned by the Fairtrade Foundation show that Britain’s most popular Fairtrade buy is bananas (57%), closely followed by chocolate (54%) and coffee (43%). And four in every five adults in the UK (79%) are concerned about the potential effect of climate change on the price of food in the UK. A similarly high number – 69% – are concerned about the potential effect of climate change on the supply of food in the UK.
The ecumenical group Christian Concern for One World has produced a Guide ‘Fairtrade Fortnight in your Church’ and, every day is suggesting ‘a small step to support Fairtrade.’
St James’ Piccadilly, was the gathering place for the Christian Bloc taking part in the 18th national march for Palestine in London on Saturday. Some participants, from churches of different denominations, came from as far away as Hertfordshire, Surrey and Sussex. After prayers together they joined the main march in Regent Street, walking alongside Jewish, Muslim and secular campaign groups, passing Hyde Park before ending near the Israeli embassy on Kensington Road. Organisers say more than 100,000 people took part.
Speaking from a stage, broadcast on screens, a series of speakers described the catastrophic humanitarian situation in Gaza and the West Bank and appealed for the British government to stop arming Israel.
Daniel Kebede from the National Education Union said: “Across the UK and in many parts of the world thousands of children are returning to school. But for the children of Gaza there is no such respite from the relentless war that has blighted their young lives for almost a year now. Palestinians place a high value on the education of their children and young people. 625,000 in Gaza have been denied the inalienable right to education since October 7 last year.
“Now we are in a second school year which there is no prospect for returning to school. No respite from the relentless bombardment that is terrorising their young lives. Scholasticide is taking place in Gaza. The destruction of all education infrastructure with the deliberate targeting of schools and universities and the indiscriminate killing of children and their teachers. Almost 10,000 schoolchildren have been killed along with over 400 of their teachers.
“According to NGOs working in Gaza, 93 per cent of their schools which have specific protection under international law have sustained major damage. 156 UNRWA schools have been hit directly, despite the fact that many are providing refuge for displaced people.
“All twelve of Gaza’s universities have been bombed, leaving 88,000 students unable to continue their education. 90 percent of the Palestinian population has been displaced. Over 40,000 killed. 94,000 injured. Many more missing beneath the rubble.
“How long must this be allowed to continue? We need a ceasefire now. The ICJ has ruled that there is a credible case that Israel is committing genocide against the Palestinian people. The UK must now ban all arms sales to Israel. My union, the National Education Union will continue to stand up for the Palestinian people. We will continue to stand up for the rights of children to have an education.”
Sophie Bolt, CND Vice Chair questioned why the UK government has no money for pensioners’ cold weather payment; no money for families with more than two children – yet they have money to supply weapons to Israel.
Dr Ismail Patel from Friends of Al Aqsa expressed his grief at the barbaric behaviour of Israeli forces towards prisoners, and Palestinian civilians. By acting like this “Israel dehumanizes itself” he said.
Husam Zomlot, Palestinian Ambassador to the United Kingdom gave a heartfelt speech in which he said: “Israel has failed for 76 years to erase the Palestinian people and it will continue to fail. It must leave occupied territory now and third parties must end their support for Israel’s unlawful occupation.”
See his full address here:
Saturday’s march was organised by a coalition of organisations, including the Palestine Solidarity Campaign, Friends of Al Aqsa, the Muslim Association of Britain, the Stop the War Coalition and the Palestine Forum in Britain. The Christian Bloc included Catholic, Anglican and Methodist clergy and religious, representatives from the London Catholic Worker, Pax Christi, Christian CND and Westminster Diocese Justice and Peace.
One Christian campaigner, a retired schoolteacher, told ICN: “These marches are tiring, but they are nothing compared to the hardships experienced by people in Gaza. I can’t imagine how they survive, sleeping in makeshift tents with severe shortages of food and water. This is the least we can do.”
Diocese of Westminster Justice and Peace Commission 