Westminster: Celebrating Fr Joe Ryan's 15 years as Chair of J&P

Around 60 people, including parishioners, former workers and activists joined to pay tribute to Fr Joe Ryan on Wednesday, 27 November for his sterling work and witness to justice and peace since 2005 at St John Vianney parish in North London.

Fr Joe was asked by Cardinal Cormac Murphy O'Connor to chair the J&P Commission and agreed to do so until a worker was found. The worker was appointed but Joe stayed on to help expand and develop the work across the diocese.

The Commission focused particularly on justice for the climate many years before Pope Francis's landmark encyclical, Laudato Si, which Joe celebrated by leading a cycle ride to the Paris Climate talks. Joe also spoke out against oppression in Israel-Palestine and about the long term imprisonment of Abdullah Ocalan, the Kurdish leader. He will be remembered by many for his determination to keep the Commission solvent, spectacularly undertaking a skydive in 2017.

Speakers anxious to pay tribute to his years of witness included Bruce Kent from Pax Christi, Ellen Teague of the Columbans Justice and Peace, Martin Pendergast, former parishioner of Joe's at Somerstown parish, Angie Harris, a former parishioner from Hanwell parish - both parishes where Joe has served (out of an impressive six), Anne Lamont, a former volunteer at Justice and Peace, doing much to further the Fairtrade campaign, Richard Zipfel of CARJ, and ACTA, and Mirjam Johansson of the London Catholic Worker. All quoted his consistent witness to justice causes. Bishop Nicholas Hudson sent a written message of thanks and goodwill, saying:

"Only the Lord himself knows to the fullest all the individuals and groups whom Joe will have helped through his persistent advocacy and practical, material assistance. By his leadership and example, he will have inspired and empowered countless members of the Justice & Peace Commission - and so many others associated with it - to deepen their commitment to helping relieve the plight of the most needy in our midst."

Joe has visited several countries in an endless quest to understand the dynamics of world politics, including the Philippines with CAFOD, Nigeria and Ghana, El Salvador, Turkey, India, and many European countries, whether on pilgrimages or delegations. A brief joint trip to Bidgoscz, Poland to deliver a talk on justice and peace stands out in my memory, as fieldworker, as neither of us had a word of Polish!

Joe will not, of course, say goodbye either to his beloved parishioners, or to his concerns for justice and peace. The baton for Commission Chair now goes to Fr Dominic Robinson sj, parish priest of Farm Street church, to whom Joe sent good wishes and prayers for success.

Barbara Kentish is former fieldworker for Westminster Justice and Peace Commission