The September issue of the NW NJPN E Bulletin leads with a stirring reflection from Sr Katrina Alton, National Chaplain to Pax Christi England and Wales given at the start of a silent vigil at the recent DSEI Arms Fair, followed by a challenge to the UK Government to recognize Israel’s actions in Gaza as genocide by priest, peace campaigner and poet Rev’d Jon Swales. This plea is echoed by a statement from July’s NJPN Conference which calls for “a Just Peace – a peace that refuses to dehumanise, that dismantles injustice, and that centres the common good of all people.”  Jon Swales’ powerful poem When stone learned to speak links the statues of those commemorated in Parliament Square with the mass arrests of protestors.

The current proliferation of St George and Union Jack flags has caused feelings to run high with graffiti and malicious messages appearing on walls and buildings. A report from the Religion Media Centre gives a positive take on the situation from an Iman in Birkenhead who, despite hostility from local people, says: “We are British. Now is the time to say we do belong here. We’re embedded in this country and we’re a part of the fabric of society.”

Upcoming events include the Week for Peace in Palestine and Israel, World Day of Migrants and Refugees and the Season of Creation with resources and prayers.

Continuing the theme of ‘Throwing Open the Doors’ during this Jubilee Year, NJPN are hosting a  webinar entitled: NJPN – ‘Throwing Open the Doors to Children Living in Poverty in the UK’ on September 18. Guest speakers include Liam Purcell, CEO of Church Action on Poverty, Paul Morrison, Policy Advisor for Joint Public issues Team and Carol Cross, Trustee of the CAUSE Foundation (Helping families across Teesside)

We include tributes to Kathy Galloway, Minister, feminist, social justice leader, writer, poet and former Leader of the Iona Community who died recently. 

There are details of two plays coming (briefly) to the local region: The Telling, the imagined testimony of Hildegard von Bingen and The Invaders’ Fear of Memories, a one-man play by Ben Rivers which brings to life his own great-grandfather’s story. With songs in Ukrainian, Yiddish, Hebrew and Arabic woven throughout, the play confronts us with the tragic cycles of history in which we are still caught. It could not be more relevant in today’s violent world.

There’s also a packed diary of events across the NW and beyond.

Please read and pass on to others.

Anne O’Connor

NW NJPN Justice and Peace E Bulletin September 2025

The NW NJPN E Bulletin for August 2025 focuses on Gaza, leading with two excellent analyses from Professor Ian Linden who asks ‘Is it too late for the two-state solution?’ Unlike many commentators, he gives the historical context of this troubled region to help put the current conflict into perspective. On page 4 Pat Gaffney, Vice President of Pax Christi, Executive of Catholic Nonviolence Initiative and a stalwart of weekly Women in Black vigils, shares her concerns about the government new anti-terrorism legislation. 

Regular contributor Heather Kiernan provides poems on Gaza (page 5) and also Hiroshima (page 8) to go alongside a heartfelt appeal from the Catholic Bishops of Japan to mark the 80^th anniversary of the nuclear bombing – a timely message as President Trump announced this week that the US has moved two ballistic missile submarines to change course for Russia.  

Also included in this bulletin are reports of the recent NJPN Conference with links to video presentations on page 7, news on page 9 that St John Henry Newman is to be declared a ‘Doctor of the Church’, and resources on pages 10-11 for the Season of Creation including the introduction of a new Mass “For the Care of Creation” into the Roman Missal, a clear sign that caring for our common home is not merely an environmental issue, but a deeply moral and faith-centered calling. This September the Columban Missionaries in Britain, in collaboration with the Laudato Si’ Centre in the Diocese of Salford, are hosting ‘Hope for Our Common Home’ to celebrate the Jubilee year – details on pages 11-13.

Please read and pass on to others.

Best wishes

Anne O’Connor

NW NJPN Justice and Peace E Bulletin August 2025 

Ian Linden looks at what he calls “Trump’s selective memory” re Iran and other issues.

We also welcome the appointment of Liam Purcell, previously Communications Officer for Church Action on Poverty, to the role of Chief Executive following the retirement of Niall Cooper who worked tirelessly in support of the poor and disadvantaged in the UK for the past 28 years.

Other items featured the ongoing conflict in Gaza with a stirring poem from Michael Rosen, the work of the Child Rights International Network raise the age of military enlistment in the UK armed forces from 16 to 18, led by the late David Gee who featured prominently in the June issue, as well as a report from Steve Hucklesby for The Joint Public Issues Team challenging the proposed introduction of a new range of tactical nuclear weapons for the UK and Sajid Javid and Jon Cruddas announce a new cross-party Independent Commission on Community and Cohesion to help build a peaceful, diverse UK focusing on what unites rather than what divides.

Ellen Teague gives news of the Climate Lobby of Parliament next Wednesday organised by The Climate Coalition with additional information from Chris Myers, Environmental Lead, Diocese of Hexham and Newcastle Justice and Peace Co-ordinating Council. 

And some good news: the Vatican made a historic announcement: the introduction of a new Mass “For the Care of Creation” into the Roman Missal. This marks the first time the Church formally includes a liturgical prayer focused on creation as part of its public worship — a clear sign that caring for our common home is not merely an environmental issue, but a deeply moral and faith-centered calling.

Please read and pass on to others.

Anne O’Connor

NW NJPN Justice and Peace E Bulletin July 2025