RC Archdiocese of Birmingham
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Welcome
The Commission aims to inform on the theology, spirituality and practice of Justice & Peace throughout the Birmingham Roman Catholic Archdiocese and provide the Archbishop with advice when required in matters regarding Justice & Peace. 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 activities. 
Columbans launch Schools Journalism Competition 2019
Following on from the success of last year’s inaugural Columban Schools Journalism competition, the Columbans have launched a 2019 competition with the title: ‘The Challenge of Climate Change’. http://www.columbancompetition.com/ Students aged 15-18 inclusive are invited to write an article or make a video report that informs and raises important issues on the topic. Two separate competitions will be held, one for students in Ireland and one in Britain (England, Scotland, Wales). Each has two categories - writing and video. Closing date for entries: 8 February 2019 The objective of the competition is to encourage students to use their journalistic writing and mobile skills to look at a topical issue which is relevant to society today and resonates with both Catholic Social Teaching and Columban mission. The Pope’s environment encyclical of 2015, Laudato Si, is a major inspiration. 
Generation Y, Spirituality and Social Change published in March 2019, is a collection of stories and interviews with young people exploring how the next generation are living spiritual values through social action. St Ethelburga’s will be putting a percentage of the book sales towards an annual award and seed corn grant for young people.
Who do you know who puts their faith or spirituality into action? To win the award they need to have spark, innovation and a commitment to faith or spirituality. They need to be under 38 years old and based in the UK or Ireland. In 2019, it’s inaugural year, as there are not yet any proceeds from the book, the awards will come with a small cash prize of £200, and be presented at the book launch on 7th March: Exploring the Future of Faith. GREENPEACE
Clingfilmed coconuts? Shrink-wrapped turnips? Cauliflower 'steaks' in plastic bags? Many of us have experienced the frustration of unpacking our weekly shop and finding we're filling our fridges, rubbish bins and recycling with pointless plastic - and it's no surprise when supermarkets are producing 800,000 tonnes of plastic a year! Enough is enough. Will you help expose supermarkets' ridiculous packaging practices? Here's how: 1. Next time you spot some excessive plastic packaging, take a photo. 2. If you use Twitter, tweet the photo using #PointlessPlastic (don't forget to tag the supermarket too!) 3. If you don't use Twitter, you can either post it on another social media channel (like Facebook or Instagram) or alternatively email your picture to us at packaging.uk@greenpeace.org and we'll post it for you! Some people are concerned that plastic is necessary to reduce food waste - but a new study has shown that in some cases it might actually be making the problem worse. When plastic packaging requires food to be a specific size or shape, edible food is rejected because it doesn't look the right way. And whilst some people need pre-prepared fruit and vegetables because of mobility issues, no one needs them to be provided in plastic. If hundreds of us share these pictures of pointless plastic packaging online, together we can show supermarkets that their use of plastic is out of control, and that their customers have had enough. 'Unwrapped: How throwaway plastic is failing to solve Europe's food waste problem (and what we need to do instead)' Link to Green Peace video clip on reusable energy Don’t Ditch Fairtrade: CAFOD has asked Sainsbury’s not to ditch the Fairtrade mark on their own-brand tea. Fairtrade tea empowers farmers and producers in some of the world’s poorest communities. While Sainsbury’s has said the ‘Fairly Traded’ scheme it will trial for its tea will operate in a similar way to Fairtrade, small scale producers say they are concerned that they will lose control over how the money made from their goods can be spent. We’re asking supporters to hand in letters to store managers and sign our online petition. Information on the CAFOD website: https://cafod.org.uk/News/UK-news/Sainsbury-s-blow-to-Fairtrade Link to update 08/03/2018
Dear Friends
January's newsletter can be downloaded directly on https://tinyurl.com/y868s9g Reports and posters mentioned and previous newsletters can be downloaded at: http://www.lancasterfaithandjustice.co.uk/newsletter/ Peace and best wishes Margaret McSherry Administrator Lancaster Diocesan Faith & Justice Commission St Bernadette's Parish House, Bowerham Road, Lancaster LA1 4HT PostReferendum Statements:
Archbishop Nichols' "No To Racism...." Catholic Association for Racial Justice "Supporting One Another" Holy Land
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Pope Francis has appealed to Christians across the world to pray and to work for full Christian unity, reminded the faithful that "Ecumenism is not something optional."
Speaking during the weekly General Audience yesterday, the Pope looked ahead to the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity that takes place from 18 to 25 January. He noted that the annual Week of Prayer, on the theme 'Justice, and only justice, you shall pursue', begins with the celebration of Vespers in the Basilica of St Paul Outside the Walls on Friday. "Again, this year we are called to pray so that all Christians may once again be a single family, according to God's will 'so that they may all be one'" he said. Pointing out that "ecumenism is not something optional," he said it aims "to develop a common and consistent witness that promotes true justice and support for the weakest through responses that are concrete, appropriate and effective". The annual Week of Prayer for Christian Unity is a time in which Christians are reminded of Jesus' prayer for His disciples that "they may be one so that the world may believe" (John 17.21). It is an occasion for Christians of different denominations to come together to pray for their unity and participate in special ecumenical celebrations and prayer services. The theme in 2019, "Justice, and only justice, you shall pursue ..." is inspired by Deuteronomy 16:18-20. The annual visit of RC (and one CofE) bishops to Palestine and Israel begins next week. The Co-Chairs of Pax Christi International, Marie Dennis (US) and Bishop Kevin Dowling (South Africa) will travel with them. This year the focus is on Palestinians in Israel. https://www.indcatholicnews.com/news/36319#.XDZf2l5W1Wo.facebook More volunteer befrienders needed: Restore is looking for new ways to promote its befriending scheme and to attract new volunteers. In 2018, we made 44 new befriending matches which have offered additional support to refugees and asylum seekers. However, that figure is lower than for 2017 and 2016, so we are eager to find more new recruits. Our next training course will be on Thursdays 31 January, 7 and 14 February 2019 from 7.15pm to 9.15pm at Carrs Lane Church, B4 7SX. Please pass on the following information to anyone who may be interested: Restore Training Course Many Voices 2019: Restore will be participating in #pray24brum through contributing an hour entitled 'Many Voices' from 11am to 12 noon on Saturday 19 January at Carrs Lane Church, B4 7SX. Many Voices will focus on prayer for refugees around the world and here in our city. We hope there will be contributions in a number of languages. Supporters, volunteers, refugees and those seeking sanctuary are welcome to join us. Church Action on Poverty Can you help on Sunday 3 March by taking a collection or holding a soup lunch? Please see attached letter sent to Archbishop Bernard Longley for full details of how to get involved, and visit www.church-poverty.org.uk 
You may have heard that Traidcraft will finish trading at the end of the year and that may have frightened you to death. How can we continue to run our Traidcraft Stall or get supplies? Fear not! The information we have received from Traidcraft is that, although details are not yet available, we WILL be able to continue to get supplies, although the set-up will be different. However, the new arrangements in 2019 will take time to put in place, so we think it would be wise to stock up before the end of the year. If you want any further information, you can phone their Customer Services on 0191 491 0855. "Our Common Home: Caring for God's Creation" an example of a Study Course for Lent that you may find interesting. 
NewsletterNJPN Newsletter
The latest NW NJPN E Bulletin covers January to February with articles on the recent COP24 talks in Poland, contributions from CAFOD, Christian Aid, the Fairtrade Foundation, Church Action on Poverty, Pax Christi, the Conference of Religious and the Jesuit Refugee Service, plus a packed diary of NW and national events. Look out too for an interesting opinion piece from Professor Paul Rogers from the Department of Peace Studies at Bradford University. Regular guest contributor Jon Kuhrt, former Director of the West London Mission, has been appointed as a specialist advisor with the government's Rough Sleeper Initiative team. We wish him every success. Link to Brush Stokes newsletter January 2019 Brushstrokes Community Project Strengthening and supporting refugees and migrants across Sandwell, West Birmingham and beyond St Philips Parish Centre Watt Street Smethwick B66 3DA Phone: 0121 565 2234 E-mail: info@brushstrokessandwell.org.uk Website: www.brushstrokessandwell.org.uk 
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The Birmingham Diocesan Justice and Peace Commission is funded by the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Birmingham and the Catholic Agency for Overseas Development (CAFOD) and is a member of the Caritas - Archdiocese of Birmingham Network
Birmingham RC Diocesan Justice and Peace Commission 2015