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Site last updated - 2nd September 2010

Welcome to the Birmingham Diocesan Justice & Peace Commission Website. 

The Commission aims to inform on the theology, spirituality and practice of Justice & Peace throughout the Birmingham Roman Catholic Archdiocese.

The Commission particularly encourages parishes and schools to get involved in the Justice & Peace movement. It covers areas as diverse as global issues such as cancelling the debts of the world's poorest countries; the International Peace Movement; environmental issues; housing; homelessness; supporting refugees and asylum seekers and human rights.

Within this site you can find information about important dates within the Justice & Peace year, links to other agencies involved with Justice & Peace and  resources to download to help in your existing or new Justice & Peace group. Newly included in these resources is a PDF downloadable copy of the 2008/9 events calendar and other agencies.

The latest issue of the diocesan J&P Newsletter, Summer 2010, and previous Newsletters, are available to read and download from the Documents to Download tab, left, as pdf documents.

Westminster Diocese are producing a booklet called "Your Kingdom Come" - daily meditations and group reflection on Catholic Social teaching. It costs £1 per copy, 80p  for more than ten copies. Designed for their faith sharing groups it could be used at any time and contains material for six weeks. More on rcdow.org.uk or Mark Nash 020 7931 6043 begin_of_the_skype_highlighting              020 7931 6043      end_of_the_skype_highlighting begin_of_the_skype_highlighting              020 7931 6043      end_of_the_skype_highlighting begin_of_the_skype_highlighting              020 7931 6043      end_of_the_skype_highlighting or marknash@rcdow.org.uk

The Encyclical Letter from our Holy Father Pope Benedict XVI "Caritas in Veritate" is available to read and download from the Documents to Download tab (left) both in full and as a summary produced by Progressio.

"Choosing the Common Good": statement by the Bishops' Conference of England and Wales, is available to read and to download from the "Documents to Download" tab at the left.


Minutes of recent J&P Commission Meetings are also available to read and download as above.
The Sixth Birmingham Diocesan Justice and Peace Assembly, 2010 is to be held on Saturday 16th October in St Peter's Secondary School in Solihull as before.

 

The full Programme for the day with Registration Form is accompanied again this year with expanded details of the Workshops, their leaders and subject matter, enabling you to make an informed decision.


These are can be read and downloaded from the tab "Documents to Download" on the left of this main website home page.

 

We wish to reassure you that the audio facilities at the school are much improved, and apologise to those delegates whose enjoyment was curtailed last year; we hope this will be an even more spiritually uplifting Assembly, to encourage us all forward with a high degree of Hope, optimism and action where appropriate.

 

Do please make your application as early as possible since this will help us enormously in the planning of Workshops, catering and budgeting to enable the day to run efficiently.

 

We should be grateful if you could pass these details on to anyone else you know who may be interested in attending the Assembly, and who may wish to receive Justice & Peace information, now and in the future, and send me their contact details (name, postal address and/or Email address) to add to our Database.

 

More Programme/Registration Forms, and A4 posters to be displayed on notice boards, can be sent to you - please request these from :


Administrator:

David Jenkins,

Yew Tree Cottage,

Hailey, Witney, Oxfordshire OX29 9UB

 

Tel: 01993 702654 begin_of_the_skype_highlighting              01993 702654      end_of_the_skype_highlighting begin_of_the_skype_highlighting              01993 702654      end_of_the_skype_highlighting begin_of_the_skype_highlighting              01993 702654      end_of_the_skype_highlighting (Home)

Email: jenkins@woxon.freeserve.co.uk                               

 


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5th Birmingham Justice and Peace Assembly 2009 


 "God or Mammon?" a focus on the Global Financial crisis and Action at Parish Level - A Report on the Fifth Annual Assembly, appearing in Catholic Today and the Universe.

 

The impact that the global financial crisis of the last twelve months has had at a national and parish level, and in particular its impact on families and individuals, was the focus of the Fifth Annual Assembly of the Birmingham Justice and Peace Commission., held at St Peter’s Secondary School in Solihull in the West Midlands, on Saturday 17th October 2010.

 

The successful day-long conference on the theme of “God or Mammon?” was attended by more than 150 delegates from parishes throughout the Archdiocese of Birmingham, other churches, organisations and justice and peace groups around the West Midlands.

 

The opening reflection was given by Bishop William Kenney CP, at present Diocesan Administrator, and a member of the Justice and Peace Commission.

Bishop Kenney with Clifford Longley & George Gelber Bishop Kenney with the two keynote speakers, Clifford Longley (left) and George Gelber.

A Workshop in Progress Delegates listened intently to two thought-provoking keynote addresses and took part in 14 discussion groups and workshops (right), where plans of action were formulated to help people at parish level to understand the key issues more deeply.
George Gelber, until recently Senior Policy Adviser at CAFOD, spoke vividly about the financial crisis and its impact on the poor. He described how the initial financial crisis had broadened out into a fully-fledged development crisis, affecting numerous areas where deprivation already existed, and highlighting the lack of balance in the world economy.

 


George Gelber Addressing the Assembly George Gelber addressing the Assembly
Mr Gelber gave specific examples of countries that depend on world market prices for minerals, agricultural products and commodities in general, which are all at the mercy of price fluctuations beyond their control.
Clifford Longley addressing the Assembly Clifford Longley, the distinguished Catholic journalist and broadcaster on religious affairs, spoke about the crisis in capitalism and the common good during which he emphasised that the recent Encyclical  Letter “Caritas in Veritate” by Pope Benedict XVI, provided a coherent spirituality for Justice and Peace activity.

                                                             Clifford Longley addressing the Assembly
The Panel during Discussion Time The two keynote speakers were joined by Helen Moseley CAFOD Diocesan Manager in the West Midlands office, in a lively question and answer session, Chaired by Derek Smith,  that brought home the enormity of the current global financial situation.

Afterwards a spokesman for the Justice and Peace Commission, said: “This was a most worthwhile Assembly. The enormity of the global financial crisis is overwhelming. But delegates left determined to take small initiatives and help raise awareness of the social teachings of the Catholic Church in parishes and among individuals.”
The Closing Liturgy


An inspirational Liturgy organised by Sister Anna O'Connor with students of the University, closed the day's proceedings. 
 
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