Dear friends

Attached to this mailing is a leaflet produced recently by our parish CAFOD/Justice and Peace Group at St Vincent’s, Altrincham (adapted here for wider use) on Catholic Social Teaching and the Jubilee Year of Hope. Feel free to download and circulate.

The June edition of the NW NJPN E Bulletin pays tribute to two gifted thinkers who made a difference to the world around them. David Gee, UK peace activist and writer died with courage and grace aged only 52, his final blog shining light, hope and love in the midst of all that often seems hope-less. Extracts from some of David’s blogs are included – do follow the links for further reading. US theologian Walter Brueggemann was an inspirational writer and speaker. You can read the text of a talk from 2018 which is startingly relevant today – a long read but so rich in content that it was difficult to cut anything.

Professor Ian Linden looks at the current situation in Gaza and asks: “Is the tide turning in Israel?” He suggests that World opinion about Israel is changing with support for Benjamin Netanyahu waning: (recent) “protests may signal the beginning of the end to the intolerable suffering in Gaza.”

Ellen Teague reports on Pax Christi’s AGM last Saturday on the theme ‘Prophets for Peace in a Changing World’ with guest speaker Oliver McTernan whose talk focused largely on the Gaza conflict. Several participants asked: “Why don’t all Catholic parishes have a Pax Christi Group?” Indeed, and we could also ask: “Why don’t all Catholic parishes have a Justice and Peace Group?”

To mark the 80th anniversary of the atomic bombing of Hiroshima, students from the Jesuit-run Universities of Manchester Catholic Chaplaincy have folded one thousand origami cranes in a powerful gesture of peace and solidarity (photo on page 12). Do visit if you can.

In an expression of welcome and unity, St Patrick’s Church in Coventry recently held an LGBTQ+ Vigil Welcome Mass, inviting all – especially members of the LGBTQ+ community and their families – to come together in worship. Organized by the Coventry Deanery LGBTQ+ group and Parish Priest Fr George Bennett, this gathering embodied the spirit of Christ’s message of compassionate love and acceptance. Read the report on page 13.

We have a stirring homily from Pope Leo to mark Pentecost Sunday on pages 14-15 and a packed diary of regional and national events on the final pages.

This month’s bulletin ends with the sad news just in that Ann Gill, who will be known to many readers, has died. Ann worked tirelessly for Justice and Peace for many years and was a former J&P Worker for Shrewsbury Diocese with a strong commitment to Pax Christi. Please send me any memories of Ann to be included in the next bulletin to go alongside a full tribute. May she rest in peace.

Best wishes

Anne O’Connor

NW NJPN Justice and Peace E Bulletin June 2025  

CST BOOKLET