The EASTER edition of the NW NJPN E Bulletin leads with a Gospel nonviolence response to the attacks on Iran from Pax Christi Chaplain Sr Katrina Alton. Pope Leo calls for stability and peace to be built through dialogue and there are reactions from Christian, Jewish and Muslim leaders as well as a joint statement from the UK, France and Germany. UN Human Rights Chief Volker Türk says, “As always, in any armed conflict it is civilians who end up paying the ultimate price.”

Regular contributor Heather Kiernan offers a poem ‘Worse than War’ from David Kreiger and I found ‘Words whispered to a child under siege’ from US writer Joseph Fasano, following a link to another of his poems, ‘The children speaking from the rubble’ from a post by Tina Beattie on Facebook.  February 24, 2026 marked the 4^th Anniversary of the war in Ukraine – Yuliia, now exiled in Wales, shares her thoughts four years on.

James Gordon Read reveals the forced clearance of Makoko in Lagos State, Nigeria, a tragedy that has received little attention in Western Catholic media. He says, ‘Makoko … is part of a global story in which the urban poor—often Black, Indigenous, or otherwise marginalised—are displaced in the name of “modernisation”’ (see page 5 for his challenging article).

March 8 is International Women’s Day.  There will be celebrations and services in many areas and you can also join an evening of prayer, reflection and dialogue on Zoom, hosted by Pax Christi Chaplain Sr Katrina Alton – details on page 6.  Pax Christi also has news of an ecumenical peace conference “Healing from Conflict” with keynote speakers, panel discussions, practical workshops and creative sessions to be held in Milton Keynes at the end of April – details on page 6. 

Page 7 focuses on the International Day of Forests (21 March) and there are Lent materials on pages 8-9 plus a suggested service at the end of the bulletin for Good Friday evening following a pattern, now in its fifth year, established in my parish. In a time of quiet prayer and silent reflection we gather around the cross on the altar to watch and wait. You can download the song from the Northumbria Community – their fresh rendition of ‘When I survey the wondrous cross’ is hauntingly powerful. The Taizé chant is best sung unaccompanied.

The packed diary spans over two pages from 10-11 and includes details of this year’s NJPN Conference on the theme ‘Just Talk’. The next event in NJPN’s ‘Shining a Light’ Series – on Food and the Environment’ will be in Sheffield (contact: admin@justice-and-peace.org.uk for more info). 

Please read and pass on to others. 

Anne O’Connor

Click here to open – NW NJPN Justice and Peace E Bulletin EASTER 2026