Dates for 2024
Tuesday 23rd January Discussion Forum 7pm
Monday 19th February Commission meeting, 11am
Monday 15th April Commission meeting, 11am
Tuesday 7th May Discussion Forum 7pm
Saturday 29th June Retreat – Selly Park
Monday 8th July Commission meeting, 11am
Friday – Sunday 19th – 21st July NJPN annual conference
Monday 9th September Commission meeting, 11am
Saturday 19th October Our Assembly – Grimshaw Room
Tuesday 19th November Commission meeting, 11am
Tuesday 26th November Discussion Forum 7pm
YouTube https://bit.ly/BirminghamJP
Commission meetings are now held using Zoom
If you are interested in joining the commission please contact our Chairman Canon Gerry
Current Justice and Peace Commission Members, with their profiles below, are:
- Fr Gerard Murray - Chair of the Commission
- Kris Pears (Pax Christi)
- Philip Mayland
- Sylvester Mutsigwa (CAFOD)
- Jim Quinn
- Sr Yudith
- Janet Vaughan (Administrator)
Justice and Peace Commission Member profiles:
Fr Gerald Murray - Chair of the Commission
Fr Gerry became Parish priest at our Lady of the Wayside in 1991 after the death of Fr Paddy O’Mahony. Fr Paddy was a well known figure in Justice and Peace circles in the diocese, nationally and beyond. He had been very active in his studies, writing and practical activity in the areas of human rights, ethical investment and development issues since the early 1960s. With his parishioners, Fr Gerry has sought to maintain and develop the long standing Justice and Peace tradition of the parish in its life and liturgy. The parish has an active Amnesty Group – the first church based group in the country and the Fr O’Mahony Memorial Trust was formed in 1995 to support development projects in many parts of the world.
Before Shirley, Fr Gerry was chaplain at Coventry Polytechnic (now University) 1983-91. He has always been interested in history, politics and international affairs. He specialised in Spirituality as part of his priestly training in Rome. He was asked to take over responsibility for the Justice and Peace Commission in succession to Fr David Oakley who did much to develop Justice and Peace work in the diocese and especially to implement an ethical investment policy on the foundations laid by Fr O’Mahony. Fr Gerry attends regular meetings of the Diocesan Finance Committee to monitor and develop this policy.
Fr. Gerry is Parish Priest at Sacred Heart, Rugby.
Fr Gerry became Parish priest at our Lady of the Wayside in 1991 after the death of Fr Paddy O’Mahony. Fr Paddy was a well known figure in Justice and Peace circles in the diocese, nationally and beyond. He had been very active in his studies, writing and practical activity in the areas of human rights, ethical investment and development issues since the early 1960s. With his parishioners, Fr Gerry has sought to maintain and develop the long standing Justice and Peace tradition of the parish in its life and liturgy. The parish has an active Amnesty Group – the first church based group in the country and the Fr O’Mahony Memorial Trust was formed in 1995 to support development projects in many parts of the world.
Before Shirley, Fr Gerry was chaplain at Coventry Polytechnic (now University) 1983-91. He has always been interested in history, politics and international affairs. He specialised in Spirituality as part of his priestly training in Rome. He was asked to take over responsibility for the Justice and Peace Commission in succession to Fr David Oakley who did much to develop Justice and Peace work in the diocese and especially to implement an ethical investment policy on the foundations laid by Fr O’Mahony. Fr Gerry attends regular meetings of the Diocesan Finance Committee to monitor and develop this policy.
Fr. Gerry is Parish Priest at Sacred Heart, Rugby.
Philip Mayland
Phil joined the Commission early in 2014. He is a retired Secondary School Teacher.
As a young teacher he worked in three schools in Zambia from January 1967 to September 1976, which experience has always motivated him to support development projects. Phil was a delegate to the National Pastoral Congress in 1980 and is a member of Pax Christi. He is a member of Holy Trinity Parish in Newcastle under Lyme, Staffordshire and has been the CAFOD parish contact. He maintains contact with an Aids Hospice in Lusaka, Zambia, which has been supported by the parish since the early 1990's. He is also the convenor of the parish Live Simply group and also currently a schools volunteer for CAFOD and the CAFOD representative for the North Staffs Deanery.
Phil is a founder member of the North Staffs Justice and Peace Group.
Phil joined the Commission early in 2014. He is a retired Secondary School Teacher.
As a young teacher he worked in three schools in Zambia from January 1967 to September 1976, which experience has always motivated him to support development projects. Phil was a delegate to the National Pastoral Congress in 1980 and is a member of Pax Christi. He is a member of Holy Trinity Parish in Newcastle under Lyme, Staffordshire and has been the CAFOD parish contact. He maintains contact with an Aids Hospice in Lusaka, Zambia, which has been supported by the parish since the early 1990's. He is also the convenor of the parish Live Simply group and also currently a schools volunteer for CAFOD and the CAFOD representative for the North Staffs Deanery.
Phil is a founder member of the North Staffs Justice and Peace Group.
J&P commission profile – Jan 2020.
Kris Pears.
I joined the commission in November 2020 as the Pax Christi representative following Ann Kelly’s retirement.
Kris Pears.
I joined the commission in November 2020 as the Pax Christi representative following Ann Kelly’s retirement.
- I have been involved in areas of Social Justice since my sixth form days at Bishop Ullathorne in Coventry when I was part of a small group who became involved with Coventry Church Housing Association, helping to move individuals and families and get their properties cleaned up and decorated.
- Since then I have spent many years as a CAFOD volunteer speaker and activist (including being fortunate enough to be a member of the lobby group in Paris for COP21 in Dec 2015). I hope to be in Glasgow for COP26 later this year.
- I am an MP correspondent and write regularly to my MP about both local & national issues. I used to have a very good relationship with Jim Cunningham until his retirement at the last election, I met him on a number of occasions both in Coventry and in the House, including a CAFOD event in the Speakers’ rooms.
- I’ve attended major demonstrations like Drop the Debt, in Birmingham in the 1990s and the anti-Trident march in London about 3 years ago.
- I belong to my parish’s J&P and Live Simply groups St Thomas More in Coventry was an early parish to achieve the LS Award.
- I am also a member of the Coventry Deanery J&P group, we have been working for a number of years to get the West Midlands Pension Fund to disinvest in companies which manufacture arms, especially those who sell them to conflict zones such as Yemen.
- I’ve been involved with NJPN for 5 or 6 years attending the annual conference at Swanwick.
- More recently I joined Pax Christi participating in activities locally, such as our silent vigils at Coventry Cathedral marking Hiroshima & Nagasaki anniversaries and outside HSBC bank to protest about their financing of companies who either arm Israel or fund equipment that destroys Palestinian homes and olive tree plantations.
- I am a member of the Community of the Passion, we work at sites of suffering both locally and nationally for example CAPS (Catholics for Aids Prevention & Support) and work with refugees & asylum seekers.
- I worked as a volunteer with the Coventry Winter Night Shelter for 6 years until we were forced to close by the pandemic last March. We were not able to open as usual in December this winter, for obvious reasons.
- I am Trustee (& the current Treasurer) of WorkCare Coventry & Warwickshire Ltd, an ecumenical charity which puts chaplains into the workplace, where they are a listening ear for staff who don’t find it easy (or sometimes possible) to talk to their managers or colleagues about issues which are either work related or personal. We have also run Job Clubs for many years, a service which is likely to be in high demand when the Pandemic is over and it looks as though there could be more than 3 million people unemployed.
CAFOD: Sylvester Mutsigwa
Sylvester is part of the CAFOD Birmingham Community Participation team and represent CAFOD on the Commission. He works from the CAFOD volunteer centre in Walsall. The major part of his role is supporting and managing CAFOD volunteers, who represent CAFOD around the Archdiocese in many ways, such as being the CAFOD representative in their parish or giving talks in parishes and schools about global justice and CAFOD's work.
Sylvester is part of the CAFOD Birmingham Community Participation team and represent CAFOD on the Commission. He works from the CAFOD volunteer centre in Walsall. The major part of his role is supporting and managing CAFOD volunteers, who represent CAFOD around the Archdiocese in many ways, such as being the CAFOD representative in their parish or giving talks in parishes and schools about global justice and CAFOD's work.
Jim Quinn
I joined the Commission in the summer of 2021 having resisted, over many years, previous invitations to join due to other commitments. My primary involvement in Justice and Peace issues has been in my role of a volunteer diocesan CAFOD campaigner since the late 1980s. I continue to be active within CAFOD although in more recent years with a greater focus on local activism. I was a co-founder of CAFOD groups in both my former parish of St. Mary's Harborne and my current one - Our Lady of Mount Carmel, Redditch.
My involvement with CAFOD has equipped me to identify and understand issues of justice and hold them up to a critical mirror of faith. Catholic Social Teaching is no longer, for me, a church secret!
I have been blessed with many memorable experiential moments during my CAFOD work, including: whole parish involvement (and I mean whole) in CAFOD’s Renewing the Earth Campaign in 1988-91; visiting CAFOD funded projects in Burma (and refugee camps on the Thailand/Burma border); discovering creation theology with Sean McDonagh; a Thirst for Change campaign walk from St Chad’s Cathedral to Romero House (CAFOD’s head office) alongside canals and rivers and being part of CAFOD’s lobby group to COP21 in Paris in 2015.
I am member of CAFOD’s Campaign Advisory Group and an MP Correspondent. I have run workshops at J & P assemblies. Working ecumenically on justice issues is a priority for me. Our parish group has recently launched a climate project which we hope will include achieving Livesimply status. I am also an active advocate and promoter of fairtrade. I am a member of the National Justice and Peace Network.
I am a retired town planner and environmental matters, professionally, as a leisure pursuit and as a campaigner have been an important part of my life for many, many years. So you can imagine my delight when Pope Francis published Laudato Si!
I joined the Commission in the summer of 2021 having resisted, over many years, previous invitations to join due to other commitments. My primary involvement in Justice and Peace issues has been in my role of a volunteer diocesan CAFOD campaigner since the late 1980s. I continue to be active within CAFOD although in more recent years with a greater focus on local activism. I was a co-founder of CAFOD groups in both my former parish of St. Mary's Harborne and my current one - Our Lady of Mount Carmel, Redditch.
My involvement with CAFOD has equipped me to identify and understand issues of justice and hold them up to a critical mirror of faith. Catholic Social Teaching is no longer, for me, a church secret!
I have been blessed with many memorable experiential moments during my CAFOD work, including: whole parish involvement (and I mean whole) in CAFOD’s Renewing the Earth Campaign in 1988-91; visiting CAFOD funded projects in Burma (and refugee camps on the Thailand/Burma border); discovering creation theology with Sean McDonagh; a Thirst for Change campaign walk from St Chad’s Cathedral to Romero House (CAFOD’s head office) alongside canals and rivers and being part of CAFOD’s lobby group to COP21 in Paris in 2015.
I am member of CAFOD’s Campaign Advisory Group and an MP Correspondent. I have run workshops at J & P assemblies. Working ecumenically on justice issues is a priority for me. Our parish group has recently launched a climate project which we hope will include achieving Livesimply status. I am also an active advocate and promoter of fairtrade. I am a member of the National Justice and Peace Network.
I am a retired town planner and environmental matters, professionally, as a leisure pursuit and as a campaigner have been an important part of my life for many, many years. So you can imagine my delight when Pope Francis published Laudato Si!
Janet Vaughan (Administrator)
My name is Janet Vaughan and for many years I have been an active parishioner at St. Elizabeth’s Church in Coventry. We started a Justice and Peace group in our parish a number of years ago and have been involved in a variety of activities including fund raising for a water well for the people of Lokiliri Village South Sudan, supporting the Purple Community Fund by having Philippian evenings and collecting ring pulls from drink cans. In 2016 I attended World Youth Day with one of our altar Servers. This year I visited India to see the work of the Batthula Trust. While there I visited the Leper Colony, the trust has built 14 homes and helps support the families. In the summer of 2017 I took over from David Jenkins as the Administrator of the Birmingham Justice and Peace Commission. In this role, I am always looking for information about J&P related activities that we can promote on the website and in our newsletters. In 2021 I successfully completed the Laudato Si’ Animators Program.
My name is Janet Vaughan and for many years I have been an active parishioner at St. Elizabeth’s Church in Coventry. We started a Justice and Peace group in our parish a number of years ago and have been involved in a variety of activities including fund raising for a water well for the people of Lokiliri Village South Sudan, supporting the Purple Community Fund by having Philippian evenings and collecting ring pulls from drink cans. In 2016 I attended World Youth Day with one of our altar Servers. This year I visited India to see the work of the Batthula Trust. While there I visited the Leper Colony, the trust has built 14 homes and helps support the families. In the summer of 2017 I took over from David Jenkins as the Administrator of the Birmingham Justice and Peace Commission. In this role, I am always looking for information about J&P related activities that we can promote on the website and in our newsletters. In 2021 I successfully completed the Laudato Si’ Animators Program.
Retired Commission Members
Bishop William Kenney
Bishop Kenney was ordained bishop on 24 August 1987 and appointed Auxiliary Bishop of the diocese of Stockholm and Vicar General. One of his major concerns has been to build up the Caritas organisation of the diocese. In 1988 Bishop of Kenney was awarded an honorary doctorate of Philosophy at the University of Gothenburg for his work in internationalising studies at the university and for his work among immigrant students.
Bishop Kenney returned to the Birmingham Diocese in December 2006 as Area Bishop for Oxfordshire, Warwickshire and Coventry.
He represents the Archbishop on the Birmingham Diocesan Justice and Peace Commission, using his vast experience in justice and peace internationally to inform and advise the Commission
Bishop Kenney was ordained bishop on 24 August 1987 and appointed Auxiliary Bishop of the diocese of Stockholm and Vicar General. One of his major concerns has been to build up the Caritas organisation of the diocese. In 1988 Bishop of Kenney was awarded an honorary doctorate of Philosophy at the University of Gothenburg for his work in internationalising studies at the university and for his work among immigrant students.
Bishop Kenney returned to the Birmingham Diocese in December 2006 as Area Bishop for Oxfordshire, Warwickshire and Coventry.
He represents the Archbishop on the Birmingham Diocesan Justice and Peace Commission, using his vast experience in justice and peace internationally to inform and advise the Commission
Deacon Nick has been ordained for four and a half years. He ministers in the Parish of the Immaculate Conception in Bicester, Oxfordshire. Nick is married to Clare, and they have two children in their twenties, Tom and Charlotte, who live in London. Nick runs a consultancy business helping mainly public and charity organisations to improve their leadership and staff engagement to delver successful change. He has no plans to retire just yet! As part of his parish ministry Nick is involved in Adult Catechesis, Evangelisation, Youth work, and with Christians in Bicester. He aims to try and help wherever he can! Nick is also involved with the Archdiocese Ecumenical Commission, and work to support parishes in the roll-out of the Archdiocesan vision.
Supporting the Archdiocesan Vision priorities of Evangelisation, Formation, Liturgy and Worship and Social Outreach is what led Nick to accept a request for a Deacon to join the J&P Commission. He is excited about the impact it can have in social action and tackling the climate emergency.
Supporting the Archdiocesan Vision priorities of Evangelisation, Formation, Liturgy and Worship and Social Outreach is what led Nick to accept a request for a Deacon to join the J&P Commission. He is excited about the impact it can have in social action and tackling the climate emergency.
Barbara Nicholson
I first became interested in the environment in the late 1960’s when I did my extended essay (nowadays a business plan!) for my Business Diploma on better ways of waste disposal. My findings were to generate electricity by burning the waste (I estimated that the amount of waste produced by London at that time would generate enough electricity to power a small city and, of course, in those days air pollution wasn’t a great issue!).
In 1990’s I did a CCRS course with Northampton Diocese and a two-year Pastoral Ministry course at Osterley. In 2010 I obtained a Post-grad Diploma in Christian Theology from Heythrop.
I worked for the Northampton Diocese for nearly twenty years and about eight years ago retired and moved to Lichfield where I now live.
I was an active member of the CAFOD group in my then parish and was also a member of the local Christian Aid group.
I have two children and three grandchildren.
I first became interested in the environment in the late 1960’s when I did my extended essay (nowadays a business plan!) for my Business Diploma on better ways of waste disposal. My findings were to generate electricity by burning the waste (I estimated that the amount of waste produced by London at that time would generate enough electricity to power a small city and, of course, in those days air pollution wasn’t a great issue!).
In 1990’s I did a CCRS course with Northampton Diocese and a two-year Pastoral Ministry course at Osterley. In 2010 I obtained a Post-grad Diploma in Christian Theology from Heythrop.
I worked for the Northampton Diocese for nearly twenty years and about eight years ago retired and moved to Lichfield where I now live.
I was an active member of the CAFOD group in my then parish and was also a member of the local Christian Aid group.
I have two children and three grandchildren.
Joanne O’Meara
I commenced working for CAFOD at the end of October 2019 as a Community Participation Coordinator. My role includes recruiting and supporting volunteers who represent CAFOD across the Archdiocese of Birmingham in a variety of ways for example as a campaign volunteer or as a volunteer in their local parish.
Ann Kelly
Ann was born in Manchester and came to Birmingham in 1972 to study at Newman College. She became a member of Pax Christi in 1977 and was on their Northern Ireland Working Group. She was part of the North Birmingham Pax Christi group, based in Erdington, during the 1990's.
Ann has also been active in the past in West Midlands Christian CND, Iraqi People First (campaigning against sanctions in Iraq prior to the 2003 invasion) and Birmingham Catholic Association for Racial Justice, based at the West Indian Chaplaincy in Birmingham where she is a member. She has also been involved in her local community through the Credit Union and currently as part of the Newtown Neighbourhood Forum.
Ann worked with older people in sheltered housing for 20 years before taking up her current post as Administrator for the National Justice & Peace Network.
She served on the J&P Commission from 1993 to 2003 and re-joined in 2010, representing Pax Christi.
Ann was born in Manchester and came to Birmingham in 1972 to study at Newman College. She became a member of Pax Christi in 1977 and was on their Northern Ireland Working Group. She was part of the North Birmingham Pax Christi group, based in Erdington, during the 1990's.
Ann has also been active in the past in West Midlands Christian CND, Iraqi People First (campaigning against sanctions in Iraq prior to the 2003 invasion) and Birmingham Catholic Association for Racial Justice, based at the West Indian Chaplaincy in Birmingham where she is a member. She has also been involved in her local community through the Credit Union and currently as part of the Newtown Neighbourhood Forum.
Ann worked with older people in sheltered housing for 20 years before taking up her current post as Administrator for the National Justice & Peace Network.
She served on the J&P Commission from 1993 to 2003 and re-joined in 2010, representing Pax Christi.
Brian Austin
Brian is a retired Secondary Teacher. He works for Justice and Peace locally through Justice and Peace at St Peter's at St Peter Apostle Catholic Church, Leamington Spa, attending their monthly meeting (previously its convenor until 2014) with a view to keeping the parish informed on current issues and up-to-date on actions that can be taken, so that parishioners can make informed decisions as to how they can participate. In the Parish he has been involved over the years with St Peter’s Aid for the Needy (SPAN) and was their Chairperson for a time; he was also instrumental in re-establishing a regular monthly Traidcraft stall, which has now resulted in St Peter’s becoming an active FairTrade Parish. More recently he actively pursued the idea of St Peter's being a LiveSimply Parish, which has now materialised. Locally he has been active in ‘One World Link’, a community-friendship link with Bo Town in Sierra Leone and visited Bo in 2006. He has been a life-long member of The Christian Life Community. Brian has now retired from the Commission - he will be sadly missed - we thank him for all the work he has done for the Justice and Peace Commission
Brian is a retired Secondary Teacher. He works for Justice and Peace locally through Justice and Peace at St Peter's at St Peter Apostle Catholic Church, Leamington Spa, attending their monthly meeting (previously its convenor until 2014) with a view to keeping the parish informed on current issues and up-to-date on actions that can be taken, so that parishioners can make informed decisions as to how they can participate. In the Parish he has been involved over the years with St Peter’s Aid for the Needy (SPAN) and was their Chairperson for a time; he was also instrumental in re-establishing a regular monthly Traidcraft stall, which has now resulted in St Peter’s becoming an active FairTrade Parish. More recently he actively pursued the idea of St Peter's being a LiveSimply Parish, which has now materialised. Locally he has been active in ‘One World Link’, a community-friendship link with Bo Town in Sierra Leone and visited Bo in 2006. He has been a life-long member of The Christian Life Community. Brian has now retired from the Commission - he will be sadly missed - we thank him for all the work he has done for the Justice and Peace Commission
Sr Anna O’Connor
Anna is a member of the Congregation of Sisters of Charity of St Paul the Apostle, Selly Park, Birmingham. She has worked as a teacher, psychotherapist, and spiritual director and is currently chaplain at the University of Birmingham.
As vicar for religious for the Archdiocese of Birmingham, Anna was invited to represent religious onto the J+P Commission.
She is one of the founder members of the Selly Park Justice and Peace group set up in 1993. She is responsible for the combined University SVP and J+P student group.
Anna’s Congregation has St Paul as its patron and the Congregation motto comes from 1Corinthians 9:22 where St Paul preaches about being “all things to all people”.
I see J+P as a way of putting this into action by working for the common good, respecting the dignity of the human person and caring for creation.
The moral test of a society is how it treats its most vulnerable. The one who calls him/her self a Christian is bound to act justly, love tenderly and walk humbly with God.
Rev Deacon Patrick J Jeary sfo
Pat was appointed to the Commission late 2006 as Deacon’s rep, to act as a link between the Commission and the 100 deacons in the Archdiocese (plus those in training).
He taught for 31 years in a Catholic Comprehensive School, the last 28 working with children with special education needs. He was Diocesan Deacon Delegate to the National Conference of Diaconate Directors & Deacon Delegates in the late 90’s.
Pat is Area Pastoral deacon (Coventry & Warwickshire) responsible for the welfare and care of the local deacons, their wives and widows; and part-time assistant in the Coventry & Warwickshire University Hosptial RC Chaplaincy Team.
Pat was his parish CAFOD contact for many years.
He has been a professed Franciscan, member of the Secular Franciscan Order for some 46 years, holding office at both at national council and regional level. During the 80’s he was involved with Franciscans for J&P.
One initiative Pat helped to organised with Franciscan Missionaries of Mary sisters, was an Interfaith Peace Prayer Meeting in Coventry, on the World Day of Prayer for Peace in Assisi, 27 October 1986, to which Pope John Paul II invited the World Leaders of All Faiths. Some 16 Christian and other Faith Leaders lead the Prayer, each lighting a candle for peace using the text of the Pope’s service in Assisi. Over 500 people of all faiths attended.
Pat was appointed to the Commission late 2006 as Deacon’s rep, to act as a link between the Commission and the 100 deacons in the Archdiocese (plus those in training).
He taught for 31 years in a Catholic Comprehensive School, the last 28 working with children with special education needs. He was Diocesan Deacon Delegate to the National Conference of Diaconate Directors & Deacon Delegates in the late 90’s.
Pat is Area Pastoral deacon (Coventry & Warwickshire) responsible for the welfare and care of the local deacons, their wives and widows; and part-time assistant in the Coventry & Warwickshire University Hosptial RC Chaplaincy Team.
Pat was his parish CAFOD contact for many years.
He has been a professed Franciscan, member of the Secular Franciscan Order for some 46 years, holding office at both at national council and regional level. During the 80’s he was involved with Franciscans for J&P.
One initiative Pat helped to organised with Franciscan Missionaries of Mary sisters, was an Interfaith Peace Prayer Meeting in Coventry, on the World Day of Prayer for Peace in Assisi, 27 October 1986, to which Pope John Paul II invited the World Leaders of All Faiths. Some 16 Christian and other Faith Leaders lead the Prayer, each lighting a candle for peace using the text of the Pope’s service in Assisi. Over 500 people of all faiths attended.
David Jenkins
Was the Administrator to the Commission from 1st June 2008 until 2017, succeeding Anne-Marie Tibbits. David has helped to organise the Witney Parish CAFOD Group for over 25 years, serving as Treasurer for part of the time. He was also active with Aid to the Church in Need in the Birmingham and Portsmouth Dioceses as well as service in other charities locally. |