Author: Aisling

Dear friends,

Plenty going on in the coming weeks and months so this is a busier that usual newsletter.

Pax Christi Annual General Meeting, Liverpool
The Pax Christi AGM is taking place in Liverpool on Saturday 24 May. The guest speaker in the afternoon is writer and activist Symon Hill who will speak on Campaigning for peace in a digital age: different tools, same principles. Details on our website http://.paxchristi.org.uk

I heard Symon speak on this at Greenbelt last year and it was brilliant – it is well worth coming along to hear him.

Inspiring a New Generation of Activists – Tuesday 24 June at Friends House, Euston
There’s lots of great stuff going on to try to engage people with big issues: war & peace, ecology, poverty, but also lots of debate about how to inspire a new generation. So what actually gets people to take action and stay with it?
This Peace Education Network workshop, led by James Trewby the Columban Justice and Peace Education Worker, explores this question from a fresh perspective.

More details and to book a place see http://peace-education.org.uk/

Pax Christi at Greenbelt
We are beginning our preparations for the Greenbelt Festival, this year taking place near Kettering on the August Bank holiday weekend, and are looking for volunteers to be part of our team.  This is a great opportunity for people aged 18-30(ish) to get more involved in the work of Pax Christi. Contact Matt for more information education@paxchristi.org.uk

Find out more about Greenbelt on their website http://greenbelt.org.uk

International Conscientious Objectors’ Day, 15 May
Descendants of 50 First World War conscientious objectors will take part in this year’s International Conscientious Objectors’ Day commemoration in Tavistock Square, London at 12 noon. More details https://paxchristi.org.uk

Young People’s Congress for World Citizenship, 10-12 July
To celebrate their 30th anniversary, CARJ – the Catholic Association for Racial Justice, are hosting a Youth Congress at Liverpool Hope University 10-12th July. The congress aims to empower young people to make a difference in their schools, parishes and local communities. More details at http://carj.org.uk

Sarajevo Youth Peace Camp, June 6-9
There is a Youth Camp as part of the Sarajevo Peace Festival in June. See website for details http://www.peaceeventsarajevo2014.eu/home.html

Schools Workshops
We are currently taking bookings for June and July. The autumn term is gradually filling up too – book early to avoid disappointment
https://paxchristi.org.uk/peace-education/school-workshops/

In peace,
Matt

All Hallows Catholic College has marked one hundred years since the start of the Great War with the opening of The Pax Christi Peace and Memorial Garden in the grounds of its campus. A Peace Pole bearing the words ‘May peace prevail on earth’ in many languages was ceremonially processed into the garden and the Right Reverend Mark Davies, Bishop of Shrewsbury then blessed the garden with a sprinkling of Holy Water. Following the ceremony all the guests were invited to scatter poppy and wild flower seeds to recall the flowers which brought red colour to the battle fields after the fighting.

Matt Jeziorski representing Pax Christi, the International Catholic Peace organisation said, ‘It is wonderfully encouraging for all of us at Pax Christi to see a school taking up the challenge of pe

ace-making in this way. All Hallows stands as an example to other schools seeking to put their faith into action’.

The blessing was also attended by the Head teachers and children from partner primary schools, and members of St Albans parish Justice and Peace group.

On an atmospheric morning with fog looming over the garden the design had added poignancy. At the heart of the garden is a re-creation of a first world war trench, a reminder of the harrowing experience of being in a trench and going ‘over the top’ into conflict.

Railway sleepers lining the trench remind visitors of how the trenches were strengthened and of the trains which took people away from families with the hope of a reunion and safe return.

Sandbags, filled with concrete, form the seating and a curved display wall provides a place for information, stories, poetry and prayers to be found from the period or written by students.

Principal, Tony Billings said ‘All the curriculum subjects are linked with the project and the garden will be a major part of All Hallow’s annual November Remembrance Liturgy. The garden also provides a resource for partner schools. The project has been achieved as a result of the support of our local housing association, Cheshire Peaks and Plains who commissioned an inspirational landscape gardener, Mr. John Tilley, to work with our students on the design. It will leave a legacy for many years to come. ’

 

 

Words and images from All Hallow’s Catholic College

 

Dear Friends,

Have you seen our new website? It is full of details of our education work alongside details of our events, campaigns, resources, and prayers. https://www.paxchristi.org.uk

 

Building Schools for Peace
How would a commitment to nonviolence change a school?
What does a school for peace look like?

Join us for this Peace Education Network workshop where staff and students from Trinity will lead us in exploring how to build a school for peace

Monday 17 March. 1 – 3pm at Trinity Catholic School, Leamington Spa. For more information or to book a place on this free workshop, contact Matt or see www.peace-education.org.uk

 

School Workshops
Demand for our school workshops remains very high. Book early to avoid disappointment. https://paxchristi.org.uk/peace-education/school-workshops/

 

Ash Wednesday
We gather once more for our Ash Wednesday witness at the Ministry of Defence on 5 March at 3pm. Meet in Victoria Embankment Gardens Whitehall Section… West side of Northumberland Avenue at 3.00pm. Nearest tubes Embankment and Charing Cross. More details on our website https://www.paxchristi.org.uk

 

Sarajevo Youth Peace Camp, June 6-9
There is a Youth Camp as part of the Sarajevo Peace Festival in June. See website for details http://www.peaceeventsarajevo2014.eu/home.html

 

Petition: Ending recruitment of under-18s to the armed forces
Pax Christi and the Peace Education Network are supporting this petition. Please sign it here http://you.38degrees.org.uk/p/stop-recruiting-16s

 

Schools Membership
By taking out membership of Pax Christi your school can demonstrate their commitment to work for peace and become part of our global movement for peace. More details https://paxchristi.org.uk/peace-education/pax-christi-schools/

JustPeace
Our latest members’ newsletter looks at the costs and funding of war. It is available on our website https://paxchristi.org.uk/resources/newsletter/

 

GDAMS
The Global Day of Action on Military Spending is on Monday 14 April. We have a youth work resource which examines the spending priorities of the UK Government https://paxchristi.org.uk/peace-education/resources/workshop-resources/military-spending/

In peace,
Matt