West London Justice and Peace Network: 'So much going on!'

Called to be Peacemakers' cover

"There is so much going on!" - the positive reaction of one of the participants at this weekend's meeting online of the West London Justice and Peace Network. Representatives of 10 parishes were joined by Richard Harries, CEO of Caritas Westminster, which encourages parishes to engage with their own social action projects. Also, Sr Silvana Dallanegra, a Religious of the Sacred Heart and a Development Worker of Caritas Westminster, covering seven deaneries.

Those present talked of their parishes' efforts organising hustings in relation to the general election; Autumn efforts around the Season of Creation and Fairtrade Fortnight; CAFOD Harvest fundraising efforts; the DEC Appeal and action for the Middle East; and advance preparations for Advent and Christmas. Often big events were organised (eg a Green Living Fair); sometimes the parish newsletter and social media were used as vehicles to encourage reflection, prayer and fundraising efforts; sometimes Bidding Prayers, musical choices, or special liturgical events were planned to mark key events. Some parishes have been successful in drawing in their young parishioners - colouring books for the children's liturgy; badges to promote Fairtrade and CAFOD; and looking at wider issues of diversity (in their church iconography etc).

Nearly all the parishes have a range of activities linked also to more immediate local concerns - with foodbank collections; winter night shelter arrangements; social gatherings to reduce isolation and so on. Most parish reps also reported how they had followed up in lobbying their local MPs in response to the Cardinal's recent statement on Assisted Suicide.

The group also discussed common problems and exchanged practical suggestions about the way forward - how to avoid 'funding fatigue' when there are competing demands for second collections; should we hand out CAFOD envelopes in person, or is it better to attach them to all the newsletters; how do we get more volunteers to come on board; how do we best coordinate across Justice and Peace/CARITAS/SVP/Laudato Si locally without losing our distinct charisms? There was a lot of information shared about local, national and international resources available to help.

The network was particularly interested to hear more about the bishops' statement, 'Called to be Peace Makers,' issued in May 2024. It is a very strong document sub-titled 'A Catholic Approach to Arms Control and Disarmament,' though several of those present had not been aware of it previously. Given how important this debate is currently, resources like this need to be more widely disseminated - both to those in the pews and to the wider world. It was suggested that the Bishops' Conference might offer printed copies. Some members of the Network are particularly active in Pax Christi and Christian CND and are taking ahead specific projects - including a Nuclear Morality flowchart - and hoping to lobby parliament to move this issue further up their agenda.

So, to finish where we began with "so much going on!" Sometimes parishioners feel overwhelmed about the competing demands and needs for action - and particularly now when the world seems to be in a specially bad place on peace and environment issues, and people's immediate concerns about cost of living, family, health, or work can be demanding. But three times a year, the network gets together virtually and by putting together all our individual scraps of 'good news' and activities, we are amazed at the result. It gives us all the energy and commitment to carry on and indeed increase our efforts for the coming of justice and peace in our hearts, homes and world!

LINKS

'Called to be Peacemakers': www.cbcew.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2024/05/Called-to-be-Peacemakers.pdf

Nuclear Morality flowchart: www.nuclearmorality.com

Caritas Westminster: https://caritaswestminster.org.uk/

Westminster Justice: https://westminsterjusticeandpeace.org/

November 1 Lecture with Baroness Scotland at Farm Street. https://westminsterjusticeandpeace.org/2024/09/26/inaugural-westminster-justice-and-peace-lecture-friday-1-november-2024-7pm-farm-street-church/