16th – 24th MAY 2020 – Events are being organised worldwide to mark the 5th Anniversary of Pope Francis’ encyclical, Laudato Si’: On the Care of our Common Home. Parishes, schools and groups invited to view resources and register their events on the dedicated Laudato Si’ website…
No!!! We don’t think so. The Diocese of Westminster is close to achieving Fairtrade Status and we believe there is much more still to be done to encourage best business practice globally.
Read Maggie Beirne’s notes to get a flavour of the discussion on the Future of Fairtade from the JustShare event held at St Mary-le-Bow church on Wednesday 4th March 2020 which tackled this very question. The Justice and Peace Commission was delighted to be invited to this discussion which proved fascinating.
The Pope has today invited Catholic communities around the world to a week of celebration (16-24 May 2020) to mark the 5th Anniversary of the encyclical Laudato Si’ and to urge us to even greater efforts in the care of our common home. Individuals, schools, parishes and other groups in Westminster are invited to get in touch to let us know what they are doing to mark this week. We will announce more events and resources soon.
Extinction Rebellion joined Christian Climate Action on Ash Wednesday 2020 for the launch for 40 Days of Prayer and Action for climate justice during Lent.
Prayers were led by Fr Martin Newell CP outside Westminster Cathedral before the group processed along Victoria Street for another service outside Westminster Abbey. They ended up between the Ghandi statue and Millicent Garrett Fawcett statues on Parliament Square, where a multi-faith vigil will continue twenty-four hours a day for the whole of Lent until Easter Sunday on 12th April 2020.
Read more or sign up for the prayer rota…
These Angels helped us to demonstrate and protest the links between war, the excessive demands made on the planet’s resources by militarisation, and the current climate emergency.
The annual Ash Wednesday procession through Whitehall Gardens and prayer vigil outside the Ministry of Defence (MoD) took place yesterday. Organised by Pax Christi, Christian CND and the London Catholic Worker – the message of peace and reconciliation was emphasised with fresh urgency this year by the haunting presence of two ‘Ash Angels’ a performance art project of XR Peace.
The event began with a liturgy in Embankment Gardens. Water and ashes were blessed by Fr Joe Ryan, former Chair of Westminster Justice and Peace, and distributed ‘as a sign of repentance’ before the group processed to the MoD, led by Theresa Alessandro, director of Pax Christi. Read more…
Another big step to support climate justice has been taken as the Jesuits announce they are divesting from fossil fuels by the end of this year. We encourage all Catholic groups and individuals to consider their own financial arrangements to see what more can be done to bring about the reduction in harmful emissions we so urgently need to stabilise the climate and care for our common home. Read Report…
A lengthy internal investigation by L’Arche has revealed sexual abuse of several women by the founder Read more…
Our thoughts and prayers are with all at L’Arche as they process this news and communicate it so honestly with all who know, love and benefit from the L’Arche community. We stand in solidarity with the women who shared the truth of their experience of Jean Vanier.
Fr Dominic Robinson SJ (Chair) and Colette Joyce (Co-ordinator) on behalf of Westminster Justice and Peace.
The Bishop’s Conference of England and Wales have issued a helpful update for all EU, EEA or Swiss citizens living in the UK who seek to remain here following the UK’s exit from the European Union.
“Given the very large proportion of European citizens who are Catholic, this affects many of our parishioners across England and Wales.
While a significant number of people have already completed the process, almost 25% of European citizens living in the UK have not yet applied. This leaves them at risk of losing their rights to live and work here or access important services such as healthcare. We are particularly concerned about older and vulnerable people who may struggle to navigate the process, require assistance with the online application or not even know that their status is at risk. In many cases their main point of contact with society will be through the Church.”
A reminder of the Settlement Scheme’s main points:
Details of the application process can be found at gov.uk/eusettledstatus
Information on assistance for vulnerable citizens who may have difficulty in applying can be found at gov.uk/help-eu-settlement-scheme
Additional assistance is available if you:
Fr Dominic Robinson SJ, Chair of Westminster Justice and Peace Commission writes, “Our parishes and ethnic chaplaincies bring together a large number of citizens whose future may be uncertain in post-Brexit Britain. As such they are much needed centres of hospitality where people from diverse places can celebrate identity and put down roots in our multicultural society. Hopefully by publicising this information widely we can help those who need guidance in securing future residence and so see justice is truly being done in welcoming the stranger.”
Holocaust Memorial Day was marked around the country on 27th January 2020. Here is a report from a Year 12 pupil of an event held at his school:
“This year, St Mark’s was proud to host the London Borough of Hounslow’s Holocaust Memorial Day commemoration. The event was attended by several local dignitaries included the Mayor of Hounslow, Tony Louki; Steve Curran, the Council leader; local MPs, faith leaders from across the borough and 150 students from St Mark’s.
As the guests arrived, they were accompanied by the noble sounds of Elgar’s Nimrod, wonderfully played by the string section from St. Mark’s orchestra. Then, people’s attention turned with the processional entrance of the Mayoral party. After all guests had re-taken their seats the Mayor made his opening speech. In his speech they Mayor addressed the importance of the day, while emphasising the power of togetherness and the strength this brings to a society. After the Mayor’s speech, Reverend Richard Frank, Vicar of All Souls Church, Isleworth, took the opportunity to thank all guests present for being there and further emphasised the importance of the day. In commemorating the Holocaust and other genocides, “We count what needs counting”, Rev Frank movingly intoned.
This was followed by a powerful performance, by a group of Year 9 Drama students combining words, music and movement, of the poem Tormented Hearts by Misba Sheikh which was written in response to the atrocities committed in Srebrenica in 1995.
Next up was the guest speaker for the event, Natalie Cummings. Natalie’s talk was absolutely mesmerising as all eyes were glued to her for the entirety of her speech. At the beginning of her speech Natalie presented the audience with some family context. Natalie, stated that her father was of Jewish heritage and violin tutor to the Tsar’s children in Russian in 1917 when they were forced to flee the Bolsheviks and endure a lengthy, daring walk across Western Russia in order to escape. The walk lasted nearly a year and they were phased with hazardous conditions and lack of basic necessities such as food and drink for the entirety of the walk to Minsk. Upon arrival to Minsk, Natalie’s dad and her family were met by other Jews who told them not to enter the village or they would be faced with harsh punishments. After this the family were left with no choice but to look for safety elsewhere.
Eventually they would be given the opportunity to come to England and the family started their new life in Leeds. The family settled down and found comfort in the form of their music, more importantly the violin as Natalie’s grandfather, father and auntie were all successful violinists. Her auntie Rosa was especially successful. In 1935 Rosa was invited to perform with the Berlin Philharmonic. Of course she gratefully accepted the offer, however this would have disastrous consequences for Rosa. In 1938 when the Nazi’s reign of terror was gathering pace, Rosa was arrested and brought to a small concentration camp where she was later transferred to Auschwitz. Upon arrival Rosa’s pride and joy her violin was confiscated by a Nazi officer. Rosa believed that she would never see that violin again. To her disbelief after a few days she was asked to perform in the Auschwitz orchestra who played to those coming into the camp in an attempt to lure them into a false sense of hope. Due to playing in the orchestra Rosa’s violin was given back to her and she managed to survive in Auschwitz all the way up to its liberation.
Unfortunately, Rosa did not live for long after, although she lived long enough to tell Natalie her story and now her story will live on through Natalie and future generations through Natalie’s own talks and her recounting of the family history in her book, The Fiddle. Natalie’s powerful talk, was followed by questions from the assembled students.
After all events had concurred Reverend Frank introduced closing moment of contemplation where all guests participated in a 2 minutes’ silence with candles lit in memorium in front of a very evocative painting of the memorial site in Srebrenica, specially painted for the occasion by the Art department.
The closing speech was made by Council Leader, Steve Curran, who further emphasised the importance not just of commemoration but learning from the events of history to remain vigilant against a current re-emergence of prejudice and ethnic hatred. His words “not only do we need to stand together, but we also need to act together” beautifully summed up the overall message of living together in a peaceful society where nobody is discriminated, thus bringing to close a wonderful ceremony.”
Cormac Divers, Year 12 Pupil, St Mark’s Catholic School, Hounslow
Colette Joyce has been appointed as the new Justice and Peace Coordinator for the Diocese of Westminster. She began her new job on Monday, 6 January.
Originally from Great Dunmow in Essex, Colette was previously working as a Parish Catechist at St Michael and St Martin’s in Hounslow, West London, and has also served in the Catholic Parishes of Borehamwood, Hertfordshire, and Stephendale Road in Fulham.
Colette has a particular interest in migration issues, and was the Coordinator of the St Mary Magdalene Centre for Refugees and Asylum Seekers (now the Islington Centre) for five years from 2007-2011. She was a project worker for the Westminster Justice and Peace Commission during the year of the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games and continues to enjoy exploring the links between peace and sport. Colette has acted as an accredited representative for the Faith Workers Branch of the trade union Unite since 2010 and in 2018 was elected as the Equalities Officer for the National Executive of the Branch.
Commenting on her new job, Colette said: “Promoting justice and peace seems a very daunting challenge as we face the threats and uncertainties that have heralded the start of this new decade. Nevertheless, I am hopeful that 2020 will also bring many opportunities for dialogue and action to bring about positive change.
“In particular, all eyes will be focused this year on the COP26 Climate Conference to be held in Glasgow in November. I look forward to helping to encourage and promote the contribution of Westminster Catholics to that critical debate.”
Fr Joe Ryan, former chair of Westminster Justice and Peace said: “Everyone is delighted that Colette has taken up this new post, working with the new Westminster J&P chair, Fr Dominic Robinson SJ, in collaboration with Caritas Westminster. I’m hopeful that they will encourage and inspire all in the diocese on environmental issues, justice and peace. We send them our best wishes and prayers.”
Fr Dominic Robinson SJ, said: “The work of justice and peace as a central core of Catholic life is more urgent than ever in our society so I’m really looking forward to getting down to working hard with our new co-ordinator Colette Joyce to support, promote, and discern vision for the impressive and vital network of initiatives through which Catholic Social Teaching is put into practice in the parishes, schools and chaplaincies of the Diocese.
“In conjunction with the Justice and Peace Commission and with the Caritas Network I hope we can as a team help to develop this work together. Colette’s commitment, theological background, experience of work in the field and knowledge of the Diocese will bring an exciting new dimension to this work and I’m sure she will be warmly welcomed.”
Colette is based in Vaughan House and can be contacted on colettejoyce@rcdow.org.uk or justiceandpeace@rcdow.org.uk
Diocese of Westminster Justice and Peace Commission 