Category: News

Interfaith vigil commemorates victims of Paris attacks

Paris vigil

Praying for Paris

On the evening of Sunday 16th November, around 100 people braved the cold to attend an interfaith candlelit vigil in memory of those who lost their lives in the horrific attacks in Paris last Friday.

The event, organised by Citizens UK, took place on the riverbanks next to City Hall and was attended by representatives of Jewish, Muslim and Christian faith groups. Participants stood in solidarity with Parisians, lighting a candle to burn through the darkness.

Barbara Kentish, who represented Justice and Peace with Fr Joe Ryan, said: “We all felt that there was a strong sense of solidarity with our sister capital city. This attack was also an attack on the multicultural values of London.”

Our thoughts and prayers are with the people of Paris.

Cycling pilgrimage to Paris is just around the corner

Phase 1 of cycle ride

Barbara Kentish and Fr Joe Ryan in front of Westminster Cathedral at the launch of the pilgrimage

With only two weeks to go until our small band of intrepid cyclists pedal to Paris, we are making our last minute preparations, oiling our bike chains and stocking up on puncture repair kits.

There are 17 cyclists in total who will be making the journey, and they represent a diverse group of people of all ages and from different walks of life. We have Catholics, Anglicans, Baptists and Quakers, who have all been inspired to show their support for the upcoming UN climate talks and to lend their voices to the thousands of people who will converge on France’s capital to call for action to lower global carbon emissions. Continue reading →

Westminster Justice & Peace Annual Day 2015

Laudato Si’ – On Care for our Common Home

Fr Joe with J&P supporters

Fr Joe Ryan with J&P supporters

Nine  years after  Columban theologian Sean McDonagh first addressed the Diocesan Justice and Peace Commission he returned to give a wonderfully enriching overview of Pope Francis’s letter, Laudato Si’.  Over seventy people from across the diocese attended the occasion at St John Vianney Parish Centre In Tottenham, as Father Sean rolled out gem after gem of the encyclical, published in May, with illustrations from his own observations and experiences of over 40 years speaking out for the environment.  Continue reading →

Refugee crisis has inspired generosity

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Things have moved on a long way since August, when we publicised the collaborative outreach work for the Calais migrants on both sides of the Channel.  Early on in this crisis Westminster Justice and Peace was contacted by Marian Hopkins of Our Lady and St Vincent Parish Potters Bar, who asked how one might send funds.  No easy mechanism existed then, and we phoned Secours Catholique (Caritas France) in Calais for bank details.  Marian pursued the matter, and 5 weeks later she has told us that her parish has raised £4,233.76 in a collection for Calais migrants, and the money has been transferred to Secours Catholique!  Please email us if you want to raise money for this appeal and need assistance on international bank transfers.

Congratulations to Marian and all the parishioners of Potters Bar! Continue reading →

Day Trip to Calais (Refugee Camp)

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Under the flyover of the road leading from the exit of the Channel port were a huddle of lightweight tents, the portable kind you might put up on a beach or carry on a walking trip. These are the latest arrivals at the Jungle, the shanty town housing 3000+ refugees hoping to cross to England. I had arrived for a Welcome to Refugees rally, where there would be an agreement of solidarity signed between English and French bishops to support and welcome these unwanted guests of Calais town. Continue reading →

What they found in Calais: Paris students are inspired by shanty town

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CALAIS A young person’s experience – Summer 2015 (account circulated by Secours Catholique Emergency Services)

When we approached Secours Catholique to take part in the ‘Youth Solidarity Summer’, we didn’t know what to expect. We gathered some shreds of information from the media, but nothing precise. Despite this vague solidarity, we decided to take part in the project because we knew that it would be beneficial not only from the humanitarian viewpoint but would make links. In fact, with Manon who also left for Calais, we have created a solidarity group at the Sorbonne, called ‘You Are’. So we made up our minds with great enthusiasm to set off for Calais in the You Are spirit, in partnership with Secours Catholique. Continue reading →