In response to Pope Francis’ soon-to-be opened worldwide Year of Mercy, the Catholic Bishops in England and Wales have issued a joint Pastoral Letter to be read out at every Mass in both countries on Home Mission Sunday, 20 September.
Signed on behalf of all 33 members of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of England and Wales, by Cardinal Vincent Nicholas, President, and Archbishop Peter Smith, Vice President, the letter focusses on the importance of proclaiming God’s Mercy.
It reads:
“Today is Home Mission Sunday and to emphasise its importance this pastoral letter comes to you on behalf of all the Bishops of England and Wales together… Our response to Pope Francis is to make the task of proclaiming God’s mercy the priority in our own efforts. This we will strive to do most especially during the Jubilee Year of Mercy, established by Pope Francis, beginning this December. He writes: ‘How much I desire that the year to come will be steeped in mercy, so that we can go out to every man and woman, bringing the goodness and tenderness of God! May the balm of mercy reach everyone.’ (Misericordiae Vultus 5) So we ask your help. Together let us Proclaim God’s Mercy.”
The Bishops add that the key to effective proclamation is “…to be ready to live constantly in the presence of God, knowing that God never takes his eyes off us, not to catch us out, but because he loves us so much. When we are constantly aware of that loving gaze which is upon us, and of the mercy and encouragement that flows our way, then we are enabled to look on others in the same way.”
“These are the foundations of evangelisation. On them, other steps can be built: the opportunity to speak about our faith; the expression of that love in programmes of action towards those most in need; a loving care for those who have been hurt by life and hurt within the Church, for whom any return to the practice of their faith is particularly difficult. In this effort for evangelisation we seek out ways of accompanying others, through friendship, through prayer, through conversation, so that they sense in us the welcome that God most certainly extends to them. Our efforts need not be complicated or heroic. As Our Blessed Lady reminds us, through our humble efforts the Lord can do great things!”
Free resources about Home Mission Sunday have been sent to every parish and religious house in England and Wales; parishes are also invited to take a second collection on this day to support the work of evangelisation nationally.
As part of the Bishops’ ongoing Proclaim ’15 initiative, 20 September coincides too with the online launch of new evangelisation resources, which include: a film archive of talks and workshops that were delivered at the National Evangelisation Conference in Birmingham in July, along with a series of 11 themed sheets for download offering a breadth of simple ’tips’ to help parishes serve others and grow.
‘Open your hearts’ Catholics in England and Wales urged
Catholics in England and Wales are urged to respond to the refugee crisis with prayer, practical action and advocacy.
Whether it’s donating time, skills or money, all can make a valuable contribution to the humanitarian effort.
The response will be coordinated locally through the dioceses, each with a named contact person.
For further details: https://www.catholicnews.org.uk//Home/Featured/Refugee-Crisis-Open-Your-Hearts
‘Faith and Creation: A Call to Mission’
Join Columban missionaries, Archbishop Malcolm McMahon OP, the Liverpool Justice & Peace Commission and others for a day exploring responses to Pope Francis’ recent encyclical Laudato Si’, on Saturday 24th October 2015, 10.00am to 4.00pm at The Conference Centre at LACE in Liverpool.
Laudato Si: On the Care of our Common Home is a reminder to all Christians that care for creation is a core element of our faith. The Columban missionaries have long been a prophetic voice in the campaign for greater awareness of climate change and its impact on the poorest communities.
Ellen Teague of Columban JPIC and Dominican John O’Connor OP will speak and set the scene for participants to engage in practical action. The day will continue with the celebration of Mass by Archbishop McMahon OP and an afternoon dedicated to exploring Laudato Si’ more deeply towards arriving at practical ways in which all those who attend can contribute to the care of our common home.
Facilitated by James Trewby of Columban Justice & Peace Education, the day is organised as a gesture of thanks for the welcome and generous support we have received from Liverpool’s parishes when we visited for the Annual Mission Appeal and is open to anyone interested in taking part. The Columban Mission Appeal Team will be there and we are delighted that Archbishop Malcolm McMahon OP will be joining us.
About the speakers
Ellen Teague has been working with the Columban Justice, Peace and Integrity of Creation Team for 25 years and is a life-long campaigner for greater awareness of the devastating impact of climate change, especially on the poor. Ellen will draw on Laudato Si’ and the experience of Columban missionaries to illustrate the ecological crisis facing the world and its human roots.
John O’Connor OP is Prior and Secretary of Studies at Blackfriars in Oxford, a Dominican Friar, Catholic priest and moral philosopher. He will give an introduction to the theology of creation presented in Laudato Si’ and the lines of approach and action we can take from a faith perspective.
Event registration
Register to attend via Eventbrite or contact Helen Dufficy in the Columban Mission Office
Tel: 01564 772 096 E-mail: helen.dufficy@columbans.co.uk
There is no charge for this event, but a voluntary donation of £10 per person is suggested. All those attending will receive a welcome pack, with a copy of Laudato Si’, and lunch.
ALL ARE WELCOME!
Notes:
The Missionary Society of St. Columban (Columban Missionaries) is a Catholic organisation working in fifteen countries with a special commitment to Asia and Latin America. Columbans are missionaries who go in the name of the Church to announce, by deed and word, the Good News of Jesus Christ.
In Britain, the Columban presence aims to encourage and listen to the local Church in its efforts to reach out beyond its boundaries. Sharing our Columban mission experience, we respond to our call in Britain by raising awareness of Columban mission overseas; working in solidarity with the poor and the exploited Earth, for justice, peace and the integrity of creation; promoting life-giving relationships between peoples of different cultures and religions; and facilitating the exchange of personnel and resources between Britain and other places where Columbans work.
Young people at NJPN Conference 2015
NJPN is working to encourage the participation of families in the annual justice and peace conference, aiming to provide:
‘a great opportunity for families to grow together in faith’
Printed below are three reports written by young attendees at the conference in July of this year.
‘As we know networking starts small and grows like a plant. Inspiration starts here, networking starts here and people grow.
Some of you may remember that last year at the conference, the children in YKids raised some money for a charity called Toilet Twinning.
We raised enough money to give to some people in poor countries so that they could learn more about sanitation and so that they could get a toilet.
Last year we did a collection for the toilets and last year I was inspired.
This year I have given toilet twinning a lot more thought and told my parish about it. I also told my youth group and they have been incredibly supportive, now my church knows about toilet twinning and wants to help.
I have promoted toilet twinning even further by informing my Bishop about this charity and my MP was also sent a letter.
We wanted to tell even more people about toilet twinning and this gave our youth group the idea to sing carols in our local pub with our ‘new best friend’, a donated never-before- used toilet. We added this to the money raised at Church to twin two toilets.
We told everyone in the pub about toilet twinning and our MP sent his secretary, in his place, to sing with us.
Soon after, she came to one of our youth group meetings and told us that our MP wants to hold a coffee morning for our charity. This should give us the opportunity to meet the head of the borough council and hopefully we can inspire him to help our town become a ‘Toilet Twinning Town’
Our MP also told us he plans to nominate us for a humanitarian award so hopefully lots more people will hear about us and, most importantly, will learn more about toilet twinning.
And finally, I’d like to thank everyone who makes this conference what it is, by coming, by praying and by helping. Without being given the opportunity to come to this conference last year and YKids, I would never have known about toilet twinning.
Without NJPN this seed would never have been planted.
I’ve been inspired and I know others have too.
Thank you so much’
AM. Aged 11
‘In July I went to the Justice and Peace conference. While at I was at the Hayes Centre I got to try new things that I wouldn’t normally try and I remember some unforgettable things.
I had the chance to meet the man who had been to the prime minister of the Philippines to protest about how his people are not getting the treatment they need to survive in these long days.
I’d like to thank all the people who made it possible for me and my friends to go to Swanwick.
Being at the justice and peace conference has taught me something, among everything else I experienced, that we should all be true to who we are and accept the challenges life throws at us.
And I hope that we will be able to go to the NJPN conference next year.
Thank you,
T McG aged 11
‘Today I am here to tell you about ‘Pockets for Peace’
It all started right here last year. My sister and I were talking about peace and how we could bring about more of it. Then my sister said three words that started the whole thing. P4P
From that day on I have been making pockets whenever I am able to and have made 100 for this occasion.
Now, you might be wondering what these look like, they come in a range of simple crosses, flowers and some more complicated designs.
Inside each pocket you will find 2 fairtrade sweets, kindly donated by our Church Fairtrade Group, as well as a small message of peace.
They are £1 each but any further donations are gratefully appreciated, all the money goes to Pax Christi.
Finally I’d like to say please come and have a look at my stall; hopefully if we keep pushing we could really help people at war. Thank you.
EM Aged 9
Prior to this year’s conference the network introduced the ‘Rosemary Read Bursary Fund, to help families and others on low income attend the annual conference. So far the fund has provided support for 7 children and young adults.
To make a donation to our families bursary fund:
Please send a cheque, specifying that it is for the bursary fund to:
The Administrator, NJPN, 39 Eccleston Square, London. SW1V 1 BX
To make a payment by BACS Transfer to: National Justice and Peace Network,
Sort code: 16-31-15 Account No: 10089516
Please notify the Administrator when you have done so at: admin@justice-and-peace.org.uk
Archbishops welcome the defeat of the Assisted Dying Bill
Archbishop Peter Smith, Chair of the Bishops’ Conference Department for Christian Responsibility and Citizenship:
“I welcome Parliament’s recognition of the grave risks that this bill posed to the lives of our society’s most vulnerable people. There is much excellent practice in palliative care which we need to celebrate and promote, and I hope now the debate on assisted suicide is behind us, that this will become a focus for political action.
“I am encouraged by the participation of so many Catholics throughout England and Wales in this important discussion and hope that everyone involved will continue to support calls for better quality care as life nears its end.”
Cardinal Vincent Nicols, President of the Bishops’ Conference added:
“I thank all Catholics in our parishes who took the time to write to or visit their Member of Parliament to express their concern about the Bill.
“It was an important moment of witness to our Christian faith and the value it places on each and every human life.
“Now let’s strengthen personal palliative care and see it developed in all our hospitals!’
11/09/2015 2:29 pm
https://www.catholicnews.org.uk/Home/News/Assisted-Dying-Statement
Francisconomics:The Saint, the Pope and the Economy of Enough
Don’t forget the NJPN open meeting in Coventry this coming Saturday.
Paul Bodenham, Chair of Green Christians, is to be the main speaker.
For further details go to the ‘Meetings’ page
NJPN Environment Group: Useful resources
Resources for Creation Time – 1 Sept – 4 October
https://www.indcatholicnews.com/news.php?viewStory=28212
Cambridge Carbon Footprint has produced an excellent leaflet giving details of eco homes in the area that people can visit. See www.openecohomes.org
The London Mining Network, chaired by Catholic Richard Solly is a good source of information on mining company activity and its impact on local communities globally.
https://londonminingnetwork
Global Catholic Climate Movement
https://catholicclimatemovement.global/
Catholic Climate Covenant (US-based)
https://catholicclimatecovenant.org/
Green Christian website
https://www.greenchristian.org.uk
magazine at https://www.greenchristian.org.uk/publications/green-christian
‘Climate Change and Conflict’ DVD
A Climate Change and Conflict film has been produced by the Movement for the Abolition of War and Kevin Mayhew Publications. Vandana Shiva, Mary Colwell and Mary Robinson all appear in it.
https://www.kevinmayhew.com/conflict-and-climate-change-book-and-dvd.html#.VTDB28t0yM8
Link to the Catholic Bishops’ website Environmental section:
https://www.cbcew.org.uk/environment.html
Read more about climate change, theology, ethics, spirituality and advocacy on the
website of ECEN, the European Christian Environmental Network.
https://www.ecen.org/content/climate-change-and-climate-justice-ecumenical-ethical-aproach
The Forum on Religion and Ecology at Yale is at https://fore.research.yale.edu/ You can sign up to receive their excellent monthly newsletters by e-mail.
Ecojesuit – Ecology and Jesuits in Communication
Ecojesuit is an online newsletter that promotes global collaboration and networking on ecology.
To subscribe Ecojesuit and obtain access to articles and stories twice a month, visit:
https://www.ecojesuit.com/
Update from Green Christian
Lots of things happening at Green Christian.
For a list of the upcoming green Church events this autumn please visit the recently updated Green Christian Whatson page https://www.greenchristian.org.uk/whats-on
The Oil Justice Project: Telling the Stories
Tom Lebert, Senior International Programmes Officer (Resources & Conflict) at War on Want writes:
Globally the operation of big oil companies has been devastating. Communities have been displaced from their lands, local environments have been irreparably polluted, and violations of human rights have been widespread. This has certainly been the case with BP and other oil companies who started operating in the Casanare region of Colombia in the early 1990’s. There is evidence of kidnapping, torture, murder and disappearances. According to the Colombia Human Rights Data Analysis Group, an estimated 9000 people were murdered and 3000 have disappeared in Casanare over the past two decades. One of those kidnapped was Gilberto Torres, who is bringing a case for compensation against BP and other oil companies in the High Court in London, with the help of law firm Deighton Pierce Glynn (DPG) in the UK and Francisco Ramirez Cuellar in Colombia.
The Oil Justice Project, https://oiljustice.org/ which is a collaboration between War on Want, DPG, and the Colombian NGO COSPACC, aims to tell the stories of the victims of ‘Big Oil’ and to hold these companies to account where corporate crimes have been committed. To highlight these abuses in Colombia the Oil Justice Project is welcoming Gilberto Torres and Francisco Ramirez Cuellar on a UK-wide speaker tour from 11 to 23 October 2015.
Gilberto Torres is a former trade unionist with Union Sindical Obrera (USO) (representing workers in the oil industry) who was abducted and tortured by paramilitaries in 1992, and now lives in exile. He believes his abduction was ordered and assisted by Ocensa, a joint venture pipeline company part-owned and operated by BP.
Francisco Ramirez Cuellar is a trade unionist and lawyer with the Colombian Unified Trade Union Federation. As a result of his legal and campaign work challenging multinationals who have committed serious environmental and human right abuses in Colombia, amounting to war crimes, he has been targeted and threatened.
As part of this speaker tour the following events have been planned:
- Speaking Engagement and Cultural Event – London (12 October)
Venue: Unite House, 128 Theobalds Road, Holborn, WC1X 8TN Time: 6pm
- Public Speaking Event – Brighton (14 October)
Venue: University of Sussex Time: 5:30pm
- Public Speaking Event – Oxford (15 October)
Venue: Okinaga Room, Wadham College, Oxford University Time: 7:30pm
- Public Speaking Event – Bristol (16 October)
Venue: To be confirmed Time: To be confirmed
- Speaking Engagement and Cultural Event – Cardiff (17 October)
Venue: Temple of Peace, Kind Edward VII Avenue, Cathays Park, CF10 3AP Time: 6pm
- Public Speaking Event – Newcastle (19 October)
Venue: To be confirmed Time: To be confirmed
- Public Speaking Event – Edinburgh (20 October)
Venue: To be confirmed Time: To be confirmed
- Public Speaking Event – Cambridge (21 October)
Venue: Department of Criminology, Cambridge University Time: 5pm
- Public Speaking Event – London (22 October)
Venue: School of Oriental and African Studies, University of London Time: 6pm
- Fundraising Event – London (23 October)
Venue: Garden Court Chambers, 57-60 Lincolns Inn Field, WC2A 3LJ Time: 6:30pm
If you are interested in attending any of these events please RSVP to Tom Lebert at tlebert@waronwant.org
Refugee Crisis: Response from CBCEW
As a response to the overwhelming concern demonstrated by faith communities around the country the following statement has been issued jointly by Cardinal Vincent Nicholls and Archbishop Peter Smith.
Statement reads:
‘Whatever you did for one of these least brothers of mine, you did for me (Mt 25:40)’
At last Sunday’s Angelus, Pope Francis invited every parish, religious house and monastery in Europe to respond to the growing refugee crisis by offering a place of sanctuary to families fleeing from war and persecution in their home countries. The Pope calls on our generosity and solidarity to recognise and act upon our common humanity.
The UK government has agreed to receive and resettle up to 20,000 Syrian refugees from the camps in neighbouring countries over the next five years. The Catholic Church in England and Wales will work alongside Government and local authorities to offer welcome and support to those in need. The refugee crisis is a huge challenge, not only in Europe and the Middle East, but in many others parts of the world where large numbers of refugees live deeply uncertain and perilous lives. Consequently, as a Catholic community, and as a country, we need to be committed to helping refugees over a long period. To sustain that effort we need moral imagination.
We recognise that we can all contribute and play a part in helping to support the most vulnerable of refugees. Such assistance includes:
- Prayer
- Financial support
- Time and professional skills (eg language teaching, legal help)
- Shelter and accommodation
We can all be attentive to those who are vulnerable and newly arrived in our local communities and parishes. A warm welcome can be the most simple yet effective of gifts we can all offer.
Practically, we are working to ensure, as far as possible, that every diocese has a contact nominated to co-ordinate your parish/individual response; they will liaise with the local authority and other faith groups to match offers of time, talents and accommodation with the pressing humanitarian needs of the local area. Please look at www.catholicnews.org.uk for additional information which will be regularly updated
Prayer from Pope Saint John Paul II
Hear my voice, for it is the voice of the victims of all wars and violence among individuals and nations.
Hear my voice, for it is the voice of all children who suffer and will suffer when people put their faith in weapons and war.
Hear my voice when I beg You to install into the hearts of all human beings the wisdom of peace, the strength of justice, and the joy of fellowship.
Hear my voice, for I speak for the multitudes in every country and in every period of history who do not want war and are ready to walk the road of peace.
Hear my voice and grant insight and strength so that we may always respond to hatred with love, to injustice with total dedication to justice, to need with the sharing of self, to war with peace.
O God, hear my voice and grant unto the world Your everlasting peace.
Amen.
Cardinal Vincent Nichols Archbishop Peter Smith
President Vice-President
Catholic Bishops’ Conference of England and Wales 39 Eccleston Square, London, SW1V 1BX
For more information and further guidance – www.catholicnews.org.uk
Statement ends
