The summer 2026 edition of MouthPeace is available,
There is information on a variety of topics – peace issues with Pax Christi, reports on the NJPN day in Sheffield on Food Sustainability from various perspectives and details of Green Week Events in the North West. There are also links to Pope Leo’s Encyclical, the Caritas report on The Dignity of Workers, the Columban’s Vocation for Justice summer edition which is now digital and recordings of speakers at the National Emergency Briefing at Westminster Hall last November. There are online petitions to sign and webinars to join.
The videos from our ‘Shining a light on Food Sustainability’ event are available on YouTube:
Paul Kelly Talks About The Northern Diocesan Environment Group –
Below is a Novena to the Holy Spirit for the period of Pentecost, produced by Anne O’Connor
The Novena is available in 2 formats: an 8 page small booklet and a 5 page A4 sheet.
8 Page small booklet – PENTECOST NOVENA [A]
A4 version – PENTECOST NOVENA [A4]
The Novena includes contributions from the following;
Jan Richardson https://www.janrichardson.com/
Lisa Ann Moss Degrenia https://revlisad.com/
Rev’d Jon Swales https://www.cruciformjustice.com
The Gospel of the Wild Goose https://www.cruciformjustice.com/post/the-gospel-of-the-wild-goose
The Gospel of the Wild Messiah https://www.cruciformjustice.com/post/the-gospel-of-the-wild-messiah
Hope Whispers my Name and Weep with Eyes Wide Open from Let Me Be the Kind Who Weeps
https://www.lighthousewestyorkshire.org.uk/books
Anne O’Connor Prayers and Reflections
All contributors have given permission for their work to be included here – please give full acknowledgement for
distribution or for use in services.
The NW NJPN E BULLETIN for May 2026 is packed with events, online and in person, plus a wide range of resources for events in the Justice and Peace calendar for the coming months. Regular guest contributor Rev’d Jon Swales, in an article for Jon Kuhrt’s Grace and Truth blog, comments on the UKIP march in Leeds last weekend. He says: “something feels fractured in the UK right now. There is a new hardness in the air. You can feel it on the streets, hear it in conversations, see it in our politics.” Christian leaders in Leeds have issued a strong statement emphasising a “God-given duty to stand up for people of all faiths and none who are victims of racism.”
The conflict in Sudan has now reached its third anniversary. It continues to exact a devastating toll on the country and its people. It has led to one of the world’s most severe humanitarian crises, with reports estimating that around 12 million people have been displaced and some 150,000 killed. Bishop Paul Swarbrick, Lead Bishop for Africa for the Conference of Bishops (England and Wales), said: “The people of Sudan are owed peace. Let us not forget them. Let us continue to pray, to speak out, and to act in solidarity, so that hope may prevail over suffering.” UN Women, the United Nations organization for gender equality, has produced a chilling report on the violence suffered by women in Sudan as a result of the war.
James Gordon Reid Haveloch-Jones reflects on ‘The God who Sings: Music and Cosmic Reconciliation’ He suggests that “to pray for the peace of the Holy Land, to bless rather than curse, to care for the earth and for one another: these are acts of resistance against the world’s dissonance. They are the notes by which we join the great song of reconciliation that God is still singing over creation.”
Dr Gee Walker MBE, the mother of Anthony Walker, who was murdered in a racially motivated attack in 2005, visited St Mary’s Catholic College in Wallasey, Wirral, to deliver a powerful talk to the school’s Year 9 students – details on page 13.
We have a packed diary of local and national events and details of the 48th Annual NJPN Conference in July on the theme ‘Just Talk’.
Please read and pass on to others.
Best wishes
Anne O’Connor
NW NJPN Justice and Peace E Bulletin MAY 2026
The NW NJPN E Bulletin for April 2026 leads with the full text of Pope Leo’s prayer for peace at Saturday’s Vigil for Peace. In a direct challenge to the current crisis, Pope Leo writes: ‘Enough of the idolatry of self and money! Enough of the display of power! Enough of war!’ He asks us each of us to ‘turn to a Kingdom of peace that is built up day by day – in our homes, schools, neighbourhoods, and civil and religious communities.’
In Easter Sunday’s Urbi et Obi message the Pope warned that the world is ‘growing accustomed to violence’ and ‘becoming indifferent, not only to the deaths of thousands of people, but to the ‘’hatred and division’ war causes, as well as its ‘economic and social consequences.’ Stirring words!
On page 4 we feature three poems on the subject of war, one a translation from the 13th century Persian poet Rumi that could easily have been written today.
An aid worker in Beirut says people feel ‘dehumanised’ as Lebanon buckles under the bombings and an opinion piece ‘Lebanon: The Real War & The War of Words’ from Ian Linden takes up the theme of a comment from Cardinal Pierbattista Pizzaballa, Patriarch of Jerusalem, in March who said: ‘The abuse and manipulation of God’s name to justify this and any other war is the gravest sin we can commit at the present time’.
April is a busy month, with a World Week of Prayer for Peace in Sudan (page 7), talks in Manchester, London and online by Precious Kalombwana, a visiting activist from Zambia who says the debt crisis is combining with the climate emergency to push communities into poverty, an ecumenical conference on healing from conflict and a screening of ‘The People’s Emergency Briefing’ on the topic of climate change in Chester (all on page 8).
Sometimes the bad news from around the world can be overwhelming, so it’s refreshing to read the winning entries and view the winning artwork in the recent Columbans’ competition on the subject ‘Becoming a refugee is never a choice, but how we respond is.’ All the entries were positive, including an uplifting account from someone who was forced to flee their homeland and also the story of how a parish welcomed a group of refugees into their community offering friendship and solidarity. (see pages 9-13)
There’s just a few days left to enter an art and poetry competition for Curlew week – see page 14 for details. Also on page 14, details of this year’s Refugee Week in June and news of a series of online study event in April and May from Sabeel-Kairos to unpack the message of the Kairos II document and how it can inform us in our advocacy work as we campaign for justice and peace for Palestinians.
Following the recent enthronement of Dame Sarah Mullally as the first female Archbishop of Canterbury we look at the issue of greater involvement for women in the Catholic Church with articles from Cardinal Jean-Claude Hollerich SJ, Archbishop of Luxembourg and writer Tina Beattie.
Finally, plenty of dairy dates for the coming weeks and don’t forget the NJPN Day in Sheffield on 25 April on the theme ‘Shining the light on Food and the Environment’ and the NJPN Conference ‘Just Talk’ at Swanwick on 24-26 July.
Please read and pass on to others.
Best wishes,
Anne O’Connor, Editor
NW NJPN Justice and Peace E Bulletin APRIL 2026 [A]
In response, Catholic leaders and authorised representatives of Catholic organisations endorsed this call from Catholic leaders and organisations to express strong moral opposition to the legislation and call for immediate action to protect Palestinian life, uphold human dignity, ensure respect for international law and accountability.
Below you can find Pax Christi International’s press release in English, French, Spanish, and Italian.
Catholics-Call_IS-Death-Penalty_PRESS-RELEASE_April-2026
We, Catholic leaders and organisations committed to justice, peace, and the dignity of every human person, express our grave concern and unequivocal moral objection to the recent legislation expanding the use of the death penalty, particularly its application in the context of prolonged occupation¹.
This measure cannot be viewed in isolation or only as a legal matter². It must be understood against the reality of the ongoing occupation of Palestinian territory and the persistent denial of the Palestinian people’s fundamental right to self-determination³. Any legal framework imposed in such a context carries profound moral and legal implications, especially when it concerns the irreversible taking of human life.
The legislation represents a deeply troubling and historic shift. By introducing and normalising the death penalty within military courts operating in occupied territory, it institutionalises a system of state-sanctioned killing on discriminatory grounds. The fact that Israeli citizens are excluded from these provisions highlights the inequity and discrimination inherent in this law. In the context of ongoing allegations of genocide, if intent is proven, a law designed specifically to target specifically Palestinians could constitute an act of genocide, being a part of a wider pattern of genocidal conduct in violation of the Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide⁴.
We are particularly alarmed by provisions that limit judicial discretion, restrict access to legal counsel, and accelerate the implementation of executions. Within a military court system already widely criticised for its lack of safeguards, such measures risk facilitating grave miscarriages of justice. These courts have a high conviction rate of 96%⁵, often relying on confessions obtained under coercive conditions, intensify fears that innocent lives may be irreversibly lost.
For Palestinians living under occupation, this legislation introduces urgent and existential threats to life and security. It contributes to an environment of fear and vulnerability, where legal protections are weakened and the possibility of redress is severely curtailed. Rather than advancing justice, such measures risk entrenching cycles of violence and injustice. As of March 2026, there are approximately 9446 Palestinians held in Israeli prisons, many of whom are detained without trial or due process, who are now facing heightened risk under this bill⁶.
From the perspective of Catholic social teaching⁷, the use of the death penalty is inadmissible. It violates the dignity of the human person and undermines the moral responsibility of societies to protect life, even in the face of grave wrongdoing. This principle applies universally and without exception.
We therefore call for the urgent protection of Palestinian life and rights. This demands that all people and institutions act in solidarity, respecting due process, equal treatment under the law, and international human rights standards in occupied territories. The right to self-determination is sacred and must be upheld.
We call upon:
At this critical juncture, we reaffirm our commitment to nonviolence and justice. We stand in solidarity with those whose lives are placed at risk and call for renewed efforts towards a just and lasting peace grounded in human dignity.
Signatories:
Catholic Leaders
Catholic Organisations
¹. “Israel: Discriminatory Death Penalty Bill Passes’, Human Rights Watch, March 30th 2026, https://www.hrw.org/news/2026/03/31/israel-discriminatory-death-penalty-bill-passes
². “Kairos Palestine II A Moment of Truth: Faith in a Time of Genocide”, Kairos Palestine, November 14th 2025, https://www.kairospalestine.ps/index.php/about-kairos/kairos-palestine-ii;“Israel/OPT: Newly adopted death penalty law must be repealed”, Amnesty International, March 20th 2026, https://www.amnesty.org/en/latest/news/2026/03/israel-opt-newly-adopted-death-penalty-law-must-be-repealed/
³. “UNRWA chief ‘appalled’ by Israel’s ‘extraordinarily discriminatory’ death penalty law”, Beyza Binnur Donmez for Anadolu Agency, March 30th 2026, https://www.aa.com.tr/en/europe/unrwa-chief-appalled-by-israels-extraordinarily-discriminatory-death-penalty-law/3886177
⁴. United Nations Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide, 1948, https://www.ohchr.org/en/instruments-mechanisms/instruments/convention-prevention-and-punishment-crime-genocide
⁵. Israel turning execution of Palestinians into official state policy”, B’Tselem, March 30th 2026, https://www.btselem.org/press_releases/20260330_israel_turning_execution_of_palestinians_into_official_state_policy
⁶. “Israel turning execution of Palestinians into official state policy”, B’Tselem, March 30th 2026, https://www.btselem.org/press_releases/20260330_israel_turning_execution_of_palestinians_into_official_state_policy
⁷. Catechism of the Catholic Church, https://www.vatican.va/archive/ENG0015/__P7Z.HTM;
Encyclical Letter Fratelli Tutti of The Holy Father Francis on Fraternity and Social Friendship, October 2020, https://www.vatican.va/content/francesco/en/encyclicals/documents/papa-francesco_20201003_enciclica-fratelli-tutti.html
NJPN: ‘Shining a light on Food Sustainability’
Saturday 25 April 2026 10.30 am – 3.30 pm
St. Mary’s Church, Bramall Lane, Sheffield. S2 4QZ
Dear Friends,
Continuing the theme of ‘Shining a Light’ on issues of concern, you are warmly invited to attend an open meeting hosted by the National Justice and Peace Network (NJPN)
There will be input from Professor Peter Jackson, Co-Director of the University of Sheffield Institute for Sustainable Food and from local community projects.
There will be opportunity for discussion about justice and peace activities from around the country, including suggestions on practical ways of becoming involved in campaigning for peace and social justice.
Look out for further details at: https://www.facebook.com/njandpnetwork/
The EASTER edition of the NW NJPN E Bulletin leads with a Gospel nonviolence response to the attacks on Iran from Pax Christi Chaplain Sr Katrina Alton. Pope Leo calls for stability and peace to be built through dialogue and there are reactions from Christian, Jewish and Muslim leaders as well as a joint statement from the UK, France and Germany. UN Human Rights Chief Volker Türk says, “As always, in any armed conflict it is civilians who end up paying the ultimate price.”
Regular contributor Heather Kiernan offers a poem ‘Worse than War’ from David Kreiger and I found ‘Words whispered to a child under siege’ from US writer Joseph Fasano, following a link to another of his poems, ‘The children speaking from the rubble’ from a post by Tina Beattie on Facebook. February 24, 2026 marked the 4th Anniversary of the war in Ukraine – Yuliia, now exiled in Wales, shares her thoughts four years on.
James Gordon Read reveals the forced clearance of Makoko in Lagos State, Nigeria, a tragedy that has received little attention in Western Catholic media. He says, ‘Makoko … is part of a global story in which the urban poor—often Black, Indigenous, or otherwise marginalised—are displaced in the name of “modernisation”’ (see page 5 for his challenging article).
March 8 is International Women’s Day. There will be celebrations and services in many areas and you can also join an evening of prayer, reflection and dialogue on Zoom, hosted by Pax Christi Chaplain Sr Katrina Alton – details on page 6. Pax Christi also has news of an ecumenical peace conference “Healing from Conflict” with keynote speakers, panel discussions, practical workshops and creative sessions to be held in Milton Keynes at the end of April – details on page 6.
Page 7 focuses on the International Day of Forests (21 March) and there are Lent materials on pages 8-9 plus a suggested service at the end of the bulletin for Good Friday evening following a pattern, now in its fifth year, established in my parish. In a time of quiet prayer and silent reflection we gather around the cross on the altar to watch and wait. You can download the song from the Northumbria Community – their fresh rendition of ‘When I survey the wondrous cross’ is hauntingly powerful. The Taizé chant is best sung unaccompanied.
The packed diary spans over two pages from 10-11 and includes details of this year’s NJPN Conference on the theme ‘Just Talk’. The next event in NJPN’s ‘Shining a Light’ Series – on Food and the Environment’ will be in Sheffield (contact: admin@justice-and-peace.org.uk for more info).
Please read and pass on to others.
Anne O’Connor
Click here to open – NW NJPN Justice and Peace E Bulletin EASTER 2026
The March edition of the NW NJPN E Bulletin opens with an article by Professor Ian Linden entitled ‘Solidarity in a Time of Global Crisis’ in which he suggests that “the creative power of the Spirit is at work, bringing the prophetic voices of women to bear.” He says, “Christians are called to be its head, heart and hands.”
Whilst President Trump plans lavish celebrations for the 250th Anniversary of American Independence on July 4, Pope Leo has announced an extensive tour of Italy this summer, arriving at the island of Lampedusa that same day. In a video message sent to the island in September, he spoke of a desire to visit and thanked local organizations who assist arriving migrants.
Brian O’Toole reports on the recent NJPN webinar “Shining a Light on Racism in England: From Lived Experience to Collective Action”. The consistent message throughout was clear: confronting racism is intrinsic to the Christian calling to love one’s neighbour and uphold human dignity. Also featured is an inspirational story of a close friendship between an Iman and a Rabbi in South Manchester who have given joint talks to dozens of schools in the area and have their own podcast, The Rabbi, the Imam and the Power of Dialogue (available on most platforms).
Many readers will remember the Kairos document of 2009 compiled by a group of Christian Palestinians which called for peace and reconciliation in the Holy Land with a special reference to Gaza. In recognition of the current situation a new document has been issued: Kairos II: A Moment of Truth: Faith in a Time of Genocide. Links to both documents are given plus a link to several reports from a Pax Christi International Delegation to the Holy Land which took place in November2025.
Priests Against Genocide USA, part of a global network of 2,200 priests from 58 countries, along with 22 bishops, archbishops, and two cardinals have issued an open letter to the US Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) calling on Catholic leaders in the United States to speak with moral clarity regarding President Trump’s convening of the ‘Board of Peace’ on February 19, 2026 in Washington, DC. The group warns that the initiative risks side-lining Palestinian voices and legitimizing ongoing injustice amid the deepening humanitarian crisis in Gaza.
In an article first published in The Church Times, James Gordon Reid Haveloch-Jones argues that Assisted Dying would commodify death and asks that dignity be extended to all.
There’s a packed diary with several upcoming Pax Christi events and also seasonal resources, including a poem from Rev’d Jon Swales and a Stations of the Cross to download in an easy to print A4 format.
Please pass the bulletin on to others who may be interested.
Anne O’Connor
NW NJPN Justice and Peace E Bulletin March 2026
