JPIC E-NEWS BRITISH REGION
AUTUMN - WINTER 2016
ACTIVITY REPORT
Conference on Nonviolence and Just Peace Eddie, with 40 NJPN activists attended the Open Networking Day at Cafod’s offices in November to listen to Pat Gaffney, General Secretary of Pax Christi reporting on the Rome Conference on NONVIOLENCE and PEACE – Pat invited agencies, orders and religious (including our own Mill Hill Pat Gaffney Society Council and Regional Councils) to affirm the vision and practice of nonviolence at the heart of the Catholic Church. LISTEN to the presentation on at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-0nqIMgpI2U Look Pax Christi 2017 Peace Sunday resourses at: http://paxchristi.org.uk/news-and-events/peace-sunday/
VISIT Pax Christi’s website for lots of information, resources and relevant links at: http://paxchristi.org.uk/
Pax Christi welcomes Pope's World Day of Peace Message 2017 Tuesday, December 13, 2016 In his message 'Nonviolence: A style of politics for peace' for the 50th World Day of Peace, celebrated each year on 1 January, Pope Francis urges people everywhere to practice active nonviolence and notes that the "decisive and consistent practice of nonviolence has produced impressive results." In England and Wales, the message is celebrated on 15 January with resources produced by Pax Christi. The Catholic Nonviolence Initiative, a global effort to affirm the vision and practice of active nonviolence at the heart of the Catholic Church, is heartened by and deeply grateful for the Holy See's Pontifical Council for Justice and Peace, Pax Christi International, and other organizations. See: http://www.indcatholicnews.com/news.php?NewsSectionId=36
October 2016
A member of Cafod’s Campaigns advisory group, Eddie joins some of a two dozen strong group of fellow campaigners at a planning session in October at Cafod HQ. Maria Elena Arana, head of campaigns - to his right – conducts the meeting. Eddie says: “There’s a lot of energy and enthusiasm generated by all members of the group (lay and religious) who come together from England and Wales and it’s a privilege and joy to be associated with the group on behalf of our society”. See lots more: http://cafod.org.uk/News/Latest-news and http://cafod.org.uk/Campaign/Latest-campaigns
Lots of JPIC and independent catholic news from around the world at ICN’s website. Try the link: http://www.indcatholicnews.com/index.php
Catholic Missionaries Stay in South Sudan despite Attack on Foreign Aid Workers http://www.canaafrica.org/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=719:catholic-missionaries-stay-in-south-sudandespite-attacks-on-foreign-aid-workers&catid=16:latestnews&Itemid=103&lang=en
Tablet Correspondence
(from our own members) (FR) JOHN BALL MHM POOR CLARE MONASTERY BARNET. “Sisters doing it for themselves” (Aug. 27th 2016) As chaplain to the Poor Clare Monastery in North London, I expect you to speak severely to the cartoonist who illustrated Patricia Rumsey’s article “Sisters doing it for themselves” (6 August). Send her in sackcloth to the monastery in north London where Patricia (Sr Francisca) is abbess, and rather than the grim, gloomy gorgons of her imagination she will be welcomed by a cheerful, gracious and generous community who, far from angrily cutting up the guidelines of the Sacred Congregation with large scissors, always welcome such documents, weighing them carefully in the light of their perception of their charism. Rome could ask no more. Were your cartoonist to offer to sweep the leaves off the drive in reparation, she would find tea and buns put out for her in munificent forgiveness.
(Fr) Frank Graham MHM Liverpool. “When to Confirm”16 Oct. 2016. Fr Bernard Boylan supports the age of Confirmation being brought forward to 11 years of age and says, “I have never understood why the Sacrament is delayed so long, contrary to ancient Church practice” (Letters, 22 October). But the ancient practice was to prepare adults, not children, for the Sacraments of Initiation: Baptism, Confirmation and Eucharist. After about three years’ preparation, the catechumens would receive these sacraments at the Easter Vigil and so be welcomed into the Church. As far as I can make out, children of eleven years, or younger, would not have been included in the Catechumenate. When we look at the early Church as described in the New Testament, what we now call Confirmation seems to involved adults not children.
AFRICA-EUROPE
FAITH
AND
JUSTICE
NETWORK
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UK
Members of the British Antenna meeting in Wistaston Hall (including Eddie) met for a 24-hour networking session 1-2 November. Active, also in Europe and Africa, antenna call on politicians and industry to respect the voices and needs of Africa's poorest - and of our planet. Download the latest Action Sheet at: www.aefjn.org.uk Have you worked in Africa? Are you still interested? If you are, then come along and share your interest at the next 24-hour Networking Day 20-21 March 2017 at Wistaston Hall. Also: 14 June Archway, day meeting, London. Contact Eddie. See report at:
http://www.aefjn.org.uk/PDF/Varia/1611%20Philo's%20Report%20for%20the%20Province%20News..pdf
'Only friends who haven't yet met' Refugees Day in London On 2nd October, Eddie joined 47 Anglican and Catholic religious, associates and third order members who gathered at Notre Dame de France refugee centre in London for the JPIC- Links networking day. See report: http://www.indcatholicnews.com/news.php?viewStory=31044 Eddie Slawinski MHM. JPIC Office – British Region. Email: jpicmillhillbritreg@care4free.net Tel: 07766705188
A JOYFUL, MERRY & HOLY CHRISTMAS