Pax Christi AGM reports new ways of working despite falling income

Pax Christi England and Wales has had to find new ways of working this past year during the pandemic restrictions and with reduced income. Around 60 people who attended its AGM online on Saturday heard Chair Ann Farr report on the success of zoom services, education courses online and twitter storms, alongside valued partnership with such groups as Christian CND and the National Justice and Peace Network. But all this was despite an income shortfall during the pandemic.

It was reported as "worrying" that Peace Sunday income has reduced significantly. Only £16,000 has come in so far from parishes for Peace Sunday 2021. There was concern that just a quarter of Catholic parishes opened the e-mail from Pax Christi with resources to mark Peace Sunday in January. There was hope that more people will join Pax Christi membership to boost funds and provide a bigger pool of local animators, and that existing members will follow up with their parishes. The generosity of members was applauded and "legacies have kept us afloat" said administrator Fausta Valentine. The question was asked: "Have you updated your will to include Pax Christi?" The recent 'Pilgrimage for Peace', which featured cycle rides and educational walks, raised more than £14,000.

Education worker Aisling Griffin reported more than 250 downloads of resources over the year and new materials on nonviolence were advertised on Pax Christi's youth Twitter, Facebook and Instagram, as well as on the TES resource website. There were zooms with schools and collaboration with Columban J&P education for online sessions with educators on asylum issues, militarism, peace activism and interreligious dialogue. Pax Christi chairs the Peace Education Network and collaborates closely with youth organisations CYMFED and Million Minutes. A new Extractives project will be available soon, looking at mining through the lens of conflict.

Valerie Flessati, Editor of the Justpeace newsletter, reported on new resources, including greeting cards, and books linked to the Catholic Nonviolence Initiative. Fr Rob Esdaile was thanked for his podcast and materials for Peace Sunday. A colourful display stand for the 75th anniversary of Pax Christi, containing Pax Christi themes and timeline, is available for hire.

Rachel Sweetman, on Communications and Resources, talked of the popularity of the youtube video 'Peace, Perfect Peace' produced for Peace Sunday by Holy Apostles Parish in Pimlico and the new design of the Pax Christi online shop on the website, which includes 26 peace books. Online resources have boosted income for Pax Christi this year.

In other reports at the AGM, it was noted that peace heroes such as Franz Jägerstätter, the women martyrs of El Salvador and conscientious objectors were celebrated. Members around the country marked the 75th anniversary of the bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki, and the new Nuclear Weapons Ban Treaty in January. There were ongoing calls to divest from arms trading and lobby against arms fairs. Pax Christi supported statements from Church leaders internationally and in the UK on the recent "appalling violence" in Palestine and Israel, calling for an end to arming Israel and "keeping in constant touch with friends and partners in Palestine." Ann hoped Pax Christi people would continue to be bold and creative peacemakers.

Members attended from around England and Wales, including London, Abingdon, Coventry, York, Shrewsbury, Birmingham, Guildford and Mold, and among them were such well-known peace campaigners as Bruce Kent, Valerie Flessati, Pat Gaffney and Henrietta Cullinan. The National Justice and Peace Network and Columban missionaries were well represented. Sr Wamuyu Wachira, a co-president of Pax Christi International, sent a message from Kenya saying, "together may we weave the fabric of our future." Peace awards were given during the meeting to members Ellen Teague and John Williams.

Archbishop Malcolm McMahon, President of Pax Christi England and Wales, talked at the conclusion about the importance of Pax Christi partnering with the Bishops' Conference of England and Wales and other groups, in the context of the pandemic wrecking finances, some charities closing and staff losing their jobs in the dioceses and at national level. He was thanked for his solid support and attendance at all key meetings, and readiness to lend his name to Pax Christi letters.

LINK

Pax Christi - https://paxchristi.org.uk/