As part of the Refugees Welcome initiative, Safe Passage (linked with Citizens UK and supported by Justice and Peace), will hold training on February 24th at Camden School for Girls in North London. Workshops will range from how to campaign in the forthcoming local elections, to how to involve your MP, run ESOL classes, fundraise and more. 
Sign up via link: https://actionnetwork.org/events/building-britains-welcome
Category: News
From ICN News-slaughter in Syria-Damascus and also in Afrin, North West Syria where Turkish air strikes are killing children, women and men; yet very little in the media
Source: ACN
A boy of three and a 17-year-old girl were among those who lost their lives in last week’s bomb attack on an ancient Christian district in Damascus, according to fresh reports received by charity staff in the country at the time. Toddler Elie Khoury (pictured) was walking with his parents in the Bab Touma area of the Syrian capital when three rockets landed. The young Christian died instantly and his parents were taken to Damascus’ St Louis ‘French’ Hospital, where their situation was described as serious but stable.
Detailed reports of the atrocity were received by Aid to the Church in Need staff who at the time of the attack were on a fact-finding and project assessment trip to Syria. ACN heard how student Rita Eid also lost her life when the blast exploded a week ago (Monday, 22 January).
At the time of the attack she was with her friend, Christine also 17, who lost a leg in the explosion. Doctors at St Louis Hospital were, according to latest reports, fighting to save her other leg. The two girls were among a number of students caught up in the bomb blast, which in total claimed up to 12 lives, with reports of 35 injured of whom 20 were taken to St Louis Hospital.
The students were returning home after finishing for the day at the nearby Church-run Al Riaya School, which Aid to the Church in Need has supported with desks, text books and other essentials after the students moved to new buildings to escape fierce fighting close to their original premises.
ACN Syria project partner Sister Annie Demerjian, whose convent in Damascus is close to the Al Riaya School, and who herself narrowly escaped a blast on 8th January, described the horror of last week’s attack. She said: “Everyone is deeply saddened by what has happened. People are very shocked.”
Referring to the young Al Riaya School pupil injured in the blast, she said: “Christine woke up in the hospital and said: ‘Where is my leg?’
“They had to send a psychologist to help her. She is in complete shock.”
The mortar bombs are reported to have come from the Ghouta district of eastern Damascus, under occupation by rebels. Bab Touma is between Ghouta and Damascus city centre, reportedly the principal target of rebel fire, although it is thought by some
Church sources that the extremists may also have intended attacks on local Christian communities. The attack is the latest in a series of blasts affecting Bab Touma.
During the 8th January attack Maronite Archbishop Samir Nassar of Damascus had a near miss when a shell landed in his bedroom. He said his life was spared as he was in the bathroom at the time.
Refugees flood into Nigeria to escape ethnic cleansing in Cameroon | ICN
Refugees flood into Nigeria to escape ethnic cleansing in Cameroon | ICN
Intergenerational European Pilgrimage – Calling young adult Christians!
We want to visit some of the key places which symbolise themes of justice and peace in Europe, as well as to link up with our Christian partners who share our concerns and who are working towards similar solutions. We do not wish to forget that the European Union was originally a peace project and not an economic one in the first place. We do not deny that Brexit makes our joint collaboration more challenging, but this is not a reason for abandoning contact. We hope ours will be only one of many groups trying to strengthen or renew links with our fellow European Christians.
So we are launching our
Intergenerational European Pilgrimage
April 2nd – April 11th 2018
Where? Why?
Calais– EU Borders and Refugees,
Brussels– Trade and Economics
Strasbourg– EU and Human Rights,
Taize– Reconciliation
Assisi– Care for creation
Rome– Inspiration of Pope Francis
Geneva– the UN and Human Rights
Contact the office for itinerary and application form.
tel 0208 888 4222
Fairtrade Fortnight 2018: Monday 26 February – Sunday 11 March
Along with other good news in the Justice and Peace world, we are delighted to tell you that the diocese is only 7 or 8 parishes short of being eligible to be a Fairtrade Diocese. For this status, we have to have over half of our parishes signed up to Fairtrade, which they have been doing little by little, over the last few years, by sending their registration forms to CAFOD and receiving a certificate.
We were so pleased to sign up Newman House, the University parish, as number 100, but now need a further few to tip over the halfway mark (there are 214 parishes in the Westminster Diocese).
If your parish IS signed up, thanks so much for being a beacon for trade justice! Do keep it going. If NOT, please think of signing up to this international effort to ensure that producers in developing countries get a fair deal.
The Fairtrade Foundation tells us …
‘For hundreds of years, we were taught to serve, to be workers. Now with Fairtrade, we are entrepreneurs’ Marcial Quintero, member of Coobana, a Fairtrade banana co-operative in Panama.
It’s a scandalous reality that millions of farmers and workers are still being ripped off despite working hard to provide the products we love. Unfairness in global trade is rooted in centuries of exploitation. Yet across the globe, Marcial and hard-working producers like him are unravelling this legacy. They’re fighting for a fair deal, supported by Fairtrade, earning their way out of poverty and transforming their communities.
Our Big ‘Ask’
Could everyone hold a ‘Big Brew’ during the Fortnight, and send a picture in? Teaparties or coffee mornings across the diocese using Fairtrade goods, would be a great way to celebrate the diocese’s Fairtrade commitment. We could collate your pictures on our Facebook page for all to enjoy. And don’t forget to tweet your pictures with #westminsterbigbrew.
A big thank you to all who have stuck with this campaign for so long. Slow and steady ……
Westminster Justice and Peace Commission Newsletter – January 2018
Please click here to download.
Pilgrimage for Europe Easter 2018
Why a pilgrimage to ‘Europe’?
Reception posts for delivery of clothes and goods for refugees in Calais
We want to visit some of the key places which symbolise themes of justice and peace in Europe, as well as to link up with our Christian partners who share our concerns and who are working towards similar solutions. We do not wish to forget that the European Union was originally a peace project and not an economic one in the first place. We do not deny that Brexit makes our joint collaboration more challenging, but this is not a reason for abandoning contact. We hope ours will be only one of many groups trying to strengthen or renew links with our fellow European Christians.
So we are launching our
Intergenerational European Pilgrimage
April 2nd – April 11th 2018
Where? Why?
Calais– EU Borders and Refugees,
Brussels– Trade and Economics
Strasbourg– EU and Human Rights,
Taize– Reconciliation
Assisi– Care for creation
Rome– Inspiration of Pope Francis
Geneva– the UN and Human Rights
Contact the office for itinerary and application form. justice@rcdow.org.uk
tel 0208 888 4222
Download a flyer for the pilgrimage by clicking here
From Independent Catholic News
Archbishop Desmond Tutu: God is weeping over President Trump’s decision on Jerusalem
December 10th, 2017Jerusalem, Donald Trump, Holy Land, Archbishop Desmond Tutu
Archbishop Tutu
Archbishop Emeritus Desmond Tutu has condemned President Trump’s recognition of Jerusalem as the capital of Israel.
In a statement on Friday, he said:
‘Those who claim divine rights for themselves to physical property on earth are false prophets.
God does not discriminate between Christians, Muslims, Jews, Hindus, Buddhists, Taos, atheists – or any other people.
When God’s children make mistakes God does not directly intervene because God has pre-programmed us with the precious gifts to love, to reason and to discern right from wrong. It is our responsibility to use these gifts.
God is weeping over President Donald Trump’s inflammatory and discriminatory recognition of Jerusalem as the capital of Israel. It is our responsibility to tell Mr Trump that he is wrong.’
From Independent Catholic News
Holy Land Church leaders urge President Trump not to change status of Jerusalem
December 6th, 2017Jerusalem, Donald Trump, Holy Land,
Source: LPJ
The Patriarchs and Heads of Local Churches in Jerusalem have written an open letter to President Trump today, urging him not to change the present international status of Jerusalem.
They write:
We are fully aware and appreciative of how you are dedicating special attention to the status of Jerusalem in these days. We are following with attentiveness and we see that it is our duty to address this letter to Your Excellency.
On July 17, 2000, we addressed a similar letter to the leaders who met in Camp David to decide the status of Jerusalem. They kindly took our letter into consideration. Today, Mr President, we are confident that you too will take our viewpoint into consideration on the very important status of Jerusalem.
Our land is called to be a land of peace. Jerusalem, the city of God, is a city of peace for us and for the world. Unfortunately, though, our holy land with Jerusalem the Holy city, is today a land of conflict.
Those who love Jerusalem have every will to work and make it a land and a city of peace, life and dignity for all its inhabitants. The prayers of all believers in it – the three religions and two peoples who belong to this city – rise to God and ask for peace, as the Psalmist says: “Return to us, God Almighty! Look down from heaven and see!” (80.14). Inspire our leaders, and fill their minds and hearts with justice and peace.
Mr President, we have been following, with concern, the reports about the possibility of changing how the United States understands and deals with the status of Jerusalem. We are certain that such steps will yield increased hatred, conflict, violence and suffering in Jerusalem and the Holy Land, moving us farther from the goal of unity and deeper toward destructive division. We ask from you Mr President to help us all walk towards more love and a definitive peace, which cannot be reached without Jerusalem being for all.
Our solemn advice and plea is for the United States to continue recognizing the present international status of Jerusalem. Any sudden changes would cause irreparable harm. We are confident that, with strong support from our friends, Israelis and Palestinians can work towards negotiating a sustainable and just peace, benefiting all who long for the Holy City of Jerusalem to fulfil its destiny. The Holy City can be shared and fully enjoyed once a political process helps liberate the hearts of all people, that live within it, from the conditions of conflict and destructiveness that they are experiencing.
Christmas is upon us soon. It is a feast of peace. The Angels have sung in our sky: Glory to God in the highest, and peace on earth to the people of good will. In this coming Christmas, we plea for Jerusalem not to be deprived from peace, we ask you Mr President to help us listen to the song of the angels. As the Christian leaders of Jerusalem, we invite you to walk with us in hope as we build a just, inclusive peace for all the peoples of this unique and Holy City.
With our best regards, and best wishes for a Merry Christmas.
Patriarchs and Heads of Churches in Jerusalem
+Patriarch Theophilos III, Greek Orthodox Patriarchate
+Patriarch Nourhan Manougian, Armenian Apostolic Orthodox Patriarchate
+Archbishop Pierbattista Pizzaballa, Apostolic Administrator, Latin Patriarchate
+Fr Francesco Patton, ofm, Custos of the Holy Land
+Archbishop Anba Antonious, Coptic Orthodox Patriarchate, Jerusalem
+Archbishop Swerios Malki Murad, Syrian Orthodox Patriarchate
+Archbishop Aba Embakob, Ethiopian Orthodox Patriarchate
+Archbishop Joseph-Jules Zerey, Greek-Melkite-Catholic Patriarchate
+Archbishop Mosa El-Hage, Maronite Patriarchal Exarchate
+Archbishop Suheil Dawani, Episcopal Church of Jerusalem and the Middle East
+Bishop Munib Younan, Evangelical Lutheran Church in Jordan and the Holy Land
+Bishop Pierre Malki, Syrian Catholic Patriarchal Exarchate
+Msgr Georges Dankaye’, Armenian Catholic Patriarchal Exarchate
WANTED – VOLUNTEERS FOR JUSTICE AND PEACE OFFICE – a chance to help with the Refugee/Climate/Fairtrade/Palestine subcommittees, or with the nuts and bolts!
HELP WITH SUBCOMMITTEES:
INTERESTED? Email the office: justice@rcdow.org.uk
Attend meetings by arrangement, roughly once a quarter, participate in actions or simply convening and circulating information
HELP WITH FILING AND KEEPING PUBLICATIONS IN ORDER
INTERESTED? Email the office: justice@rcdow.org.uk
Once a fortnight, two hours every fortnight
COMPILING E-BULLETIN ONCE A MONTH
INTERESTED? Email the office: justice@rcdow.org.uk
Once a month for about 3 hours in the office, about 3 or 4 days before the end of the month
FAIRTRADE FOLLOW-UP AND CAMPAIGNING
INTERESTED? Email the office: justice@rcdow.org.uk
Only 8 parishes to go. How can we get them on board, and find out what we need to do to become a fairtrade diocese? One day a week or fortnight, in the office.
Diocese of Westminster Justice and Peace Commission 