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‘No Hands but Ours’ - Clifton Justice and Peace Day


What has work on issues such as trade justice, climate change, human trafficking to do with the teachings of Jesus and the Church? How can the command to love God and love neighbour be translated into practical action? These were some of the questions explored at an event in Bath last Saturday, arranged by Clifton Diocesan Justice and Peace Commission and using a theme inspired by St Teresa’s prayer ‘Christ has no body now on Earth but yours’.

Ozzie Ffield, lead organiser of the event, wrote in the day’s programme leaflet: ‘We aim to celebrate and sustain by this gathering. Let us join our hands with His hands and each other’s hands, and renew our joy in faith and love, and be a people of hope…people in action. We hope that participants leave better informed about God’s Word, about what can be done, and why we should act.’

Three speakers from the Columban Justice, Peace and Integrity of Creation team helped to achieve this aim. They were Fr Peter Hughes, a Columban priest with 27 years of experience working in Chile; James Trewby, the team’s Education officer; and Ellen Teague, of the Columban Media Desk and a contributer to the Tablet, Independent Catholic News and other media. Fr Peter’s presentation provided a summary of Biblical references and Catholic Social Teaching which underpins the call to work for justice, and he used his experiences in Chile to illustrate some of the issues raised. James Trewby looked at ways of linking faith with action that would appeal particularly to younger people. Ellen Teague’s contribution, entitled ‘Praying the News’, encouraged discernment in judging what is significant in the media while focusing on Gospel values, and looked at prayer resources.

Ways of translating love of neighbour into practical work were illustrated by a series of short presentations from local people. These included providing friendship and English lessons to isolated Muslim women in rural Wiltshire, planning a social occasion to raise awareness of poverty and increasing inequality in the UK, and setting up a group of grandparents campaigning for a safer earth for the poor and future generations. We heard how a young teenager had been so moved by local examples of human trafficking that she and friends had taken action to raise awareness including producing a film. Fr Michael Clothier of Downside Abbey talked of working with other churches to set up a team of street pastors to help young people avoid exploitation in Somerset.

Councillor Martin Veal, chairman of Bath and North East Somerset Council, and Peter Downey, chairman of the Bethlehem-Bath Links charity, told us of the work that they are doing to build bridges between the local community and Bethlehem. Workshops were held on some of these issues and others, including campaigning for trade justice in the light of the proposed TTIP agreement (the Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership).

The whole day was woven together with music, prayer and readings from the Bible. Fr Peter Hughes rounded off the day by leading us in celebrating Mass.

Link: www.cliftondiocese.com/departments/services-commissions/justice-peace-commission/

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