NJPN E-Bulletin 26th June 2022
May we always have the courage to act with boldness when a brave action is required. May we know how to let go and move on with grace and forgiveness when confrontation is best avoided. May God grant us the wisdom to choose accordingly in each situation.
Amen.
(Taken from CAFOD’s Weekly Reflection on 24th June 2022)
Dear Friends,
Dominating the news this week has been the train strikes, and the threat of other Unions balloting their members to walk out, plus the news that the US Supreme Court has overturned the landmark Roe v. Wade decision from 1973, which gave women the right to make decisions about their own body.
The former has been very reminiscent of the train strikes of around 40 years ago (also in very hot weather, and in the days when you couldn’t work from home), and of the Winter of Discontent.
The latter is a very emotive subject, and not one that I want to include in this e-bulletin as there are many differing opinions on it, plus you can find details about the case everywhere on the internet.
We have been celebrating Refugee Week, and we lead with articles on Refugees and Migrants again. The good news is that the first flight to Rwanda was cancelled, but those plans are still in the pipeline. I would love to have been a fly on the wall when Prince Charles met with Boris Johnson in Rwanda this week…
Please feel free to share this e-bulletin with your friends and family – or better still, get them to sign up for their own copy. The next edition will be out in around two weeks time.
God bless,
Sharon (Editor)
Click here to download NJPN E-Bulletin 26th June 2022
NJPN Open Networking Meeting – Save the date
The next NJPN open networking meeng will take place on Saturday 24 September in the Northeast. Darlington, working with Middlesbrough will host the event with Refugees and Migrants as the topic.
Look out for further details.
NW NJPN Justice and Peace E Bulletin Mid June 2022
The NW NJPN E BULLETIN FOR MID JUNE 2022 is an extra edition with a special focus on two current news stories: the shameful deportation of asylum seekers to Rwanda by the British government which at the time of writing appears to be going ahead despite widespread protest and the sad news that veteran peace campaigner Bruce Kent has died. This issue contains an in-depth tribute to Bruce by Ellen Teague plus links to many other tributes. He will be greatly missed. A new food plan to address the problems of obesity and food poverty in the UK has been strongly criticised by a lead advisor. There are details of a new book from Church Action on Poverty DIGNITY, AGENCY, POWER. This anthology of stories, prayers, reflections and liturgy has been published to coincide with the organisation’s 40th anniversary and is available to order in print or digital format. Two US writers contribute challenging opinion pieces – on liturgy to advance the pursuit of peace and a compassionate response to clergy sexual abuse from a woman priest. If you haven’t done so already don’t forget to book a place on the NJPN Conference 22-24 July on the theme Hope is a Verb with Its Sleeves Rolled Up’.
Please pass on to others.
Click here to download NW NJPN Justice and Peace E Bulletin mid June 2022
Best wishes
Anne O’Connor
NJPN E-Bulletin 12th June 2022
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But those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength, they will grow wings like eagles, they will run and not grow weary, walk but never tire.
Isaiah 40: 31
Dear Friends,
Apologies for the delay in sending this. I had a very busy and stressful week or two in my parish job, and spent most of last weekend working.
Around three weeks ago, a lone gunman walked into Robb Elementary School in Uvalde, Texas, and fatally wounded nineteen children and two teachers, plus injured seventeen other people. You cannot help but ask yourself ‘where was God in that; where was the hope in that situation.’ I guess the hope has to come in that with every tragedy of this kind, eventually those who make the laws in the US will come to their senses and change things for the better. I have included a couple of articles which I think are worth sharing.
After reading this e-bulletin a few weeks ago, one of my sons commented that it was a particularly depressing edition, with all of the bad things happening to the environment, with the whole Rwanda business, and everything else that was going on at the time. I felt bad that there was nothing positive to share. Unfortunately, though, I feel there is a duty to share things that you may not be aware of, particularly when our actions now make for bad consequences in the future. My hope, indeed our hope, is that by sharing the facts, enough people will want to get involved and start making a difference. As the famous quote from Saint Teresa of Calcutta says: –
We ourselves feel that what we are doing is just a drop in the ocean. But if that drop was not in the ocean, I think the ocean would be less because of that missing drop.
Talking of hope, this leads me to advertise our Conference, ‘Hope is a Verb with Its Sleeves Rolled Up’ taking place between the 22nd to 24th July at the Hayes in Derbyshire. Last year’s Conference was excellent, with great speakers, workshops, and a real sense of working together to make the world a better place. Don’t be shy – come and join us. We look forward to meeting you there. If you have young people in your family they will be especially welcome. I am taking my 21 year old, and my 14 year old. It really can appeal to all ages.
Last weekend, the extended Bank Holiday meant that as a country we could officially celebrate Queen Elizabeth’s 70 years as monarch. What an achievement this is. How many people do you know who have worked tirelessly for 70 years? She has been in the public eye for all of this time without breaking down or wavering from her duties. Only recently has she cut back on her engagements, and suffered more frequent bouts of ill-health.
If you feel you had no cause to celebrate, there is an article in News and Comments that will cement that view.
The next edition will be out around the 26th June, all being well.
Wishing you a hope-filled couple of weeks,
Sharon (Editor)
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Click here to download – NJPN E-Bulletin 12th June 2022
44th Annual Conference-Swanwick 22-24 July 2022
After months of sadness and uncertainty the NJPN Conference ‘Hope! a verb with its sleeves rolled up’ aims to inspire us to look for signs of hope in our communities and in our wider world. Our hope is that, following the Conference we will all return to our communities with enthusiasm and increased commitment to work for a more just and peaceful world for all God’s creation. We will consider, how, as activists and people of faith, we might support those in most need and enable them to envisage a more hopeful future. Over the weekend we will be identifying hopeful possibilities in our world.
We will listen to inspiring keynote speakers, take part in interactive workshops as well as in liturgical celebrations. There will be time to relax, enjoy meeting friends old and new. The peaceful atmosphere of the surroundings will provide a space for reflection and enjoyment.
See outline programme here.
Summer 2022 MouthPeace issue
Today is the first day of Summer ( meteorologically speaking) so I am pleased to send you Summer Mouthpeace.
Although this long weekend most of the nation will in some way be thinking about the Platinum Jubilee, I have deliberately not mentioned it in this edition of Mouthpeace as we will all have our own maybe very different take on this.
Instead I have included things we can do or be involved with in the coming Summer months plus some reports on past events in our area.
In case you are wondering I have heard from Justine Silcock , Liverpool J & P Commission Chair that this year they won’t be having an Annual Assembly in June/July due to unforeseen difficulties but they are hopeful that they will be able to have another event a bit later.
So enjoy the Summer🌻🌻🌻 and hope for some real summer weather🌞
Best wishes
Marian
Editor
Towards a Civilisation of Hope: Philip McDonagh
The opening address at the NJPN Annual Swanwick Conference is to be given by Philip McDonagh. He will speak of a hope that requires courage – upright action for the sake of the future. Hope is rational – an escapist fantasy does not qualify as hope in action.
“Philip is co-author of the recently published work “On the Significance of Religion for Global Diplomacy” (Routledge 2021), Adjunct Professor in the Faculty of Humanities at Dublin City University, and Director of the Centre for Religion, Human Values, and International Relations.
As a serving Irish diplomat, as Political Counsellor in London, Philip played a part in the Northern Ireland peace process in the build-up to the Good Friday Agreement. He later served as Head of Mission in India, the Holy See, Finland, Russia, and the OSCE (Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe).
Philip has published poetry and works for the theatre, including The Song the Oriole Sang (Dedalus Press, Dublin, 2010) and Gondla, or the Salvation of the Wolves (Arlen House 2016), a translation of Nikolai Gumilev’s Irish-themed play written during WWI”
Further details and booking form at:
https://www.justice-and-peace.org.uk/conference/
NW NJPN Justice and Peace eBulletin June 2022
The NW NJPN Justice and Peace E Bulletin for June 2022 picks up the theme of this year’s NJPN Conference ‘Hope is a Verb with Its Sleeves Rolled Up’ (22nd to 24th July) and looks at areas where we might seek to find and foster hope. There are some hard-hitting opinion pieces as well as news reports and an inspiring reflection by Fr Robin Gibbons who contributes a regular column to Independent Catholic News.
Please pass on to others.
Best wishes
Anne O’Connor
NW NJPN Justice and Peace E Bulletin June 2022
NJPN E-Bulletin 22nd May 2022
There can be no renewal of our relationship with nature without a renewal of humanity itself. There can be no ecology without an adequate anthropology
Pope Francis – Laudato Si’
Dear Friends,
All of a sudden we are two weeks further on into the year, and I am wondering where the time is going. The war in Ukraine is still ongoing, meanwhile violent atrocities are being committed around the world. We really need to find hope in things, and hold onto it.
This leads me onto a plug for the fantastic Conference, ‘Hope is a Verb with Its Sleeves Rolled Up’ that we have planned at the Hayes Conference Centre during the 22nd to 24th July. More details will follow nearer the time, but if you haven’t signed up for it, please check out the link above and think about joining us. You will need to get booked in quickly, though, to avoid disappointment.
Our Action of the Week is based around Laudato Si’ Week, which runs from today. Lots of things to get involved in, plus our lead articles are also based on the climate and environment.
Please share this with any of your friends/relatives that you feel would be interested; and if they really like it, please get them to add their name to the mailing list. They can unsubscribe at any time.
The next edition will be out, all being well, on Sunday 5th June. If you can send any articles through by Friday 3rd June that would be very much appreciated.
Have a good fortnight,
Sharon (Editor)
Download the eBulletin by clicking here – NJPN E-Bulletin 22nd May 2022
Summer 2022 NJPN Newsletter
The Summer 2022 NJPN Newsletter is now available to read,
This issue features a number of interesting articles looking at issues such as the Synodal Process, Common Church Practices, the 2022 NJPN conference and more
Click here to download
