Category: Campaigns

Campaigns that Pax Christi is involved with

Posted on

International Women’s Day

Pax Christi and London Catholic Worker hosted Kate Hennessy for an evening. Kate spoke about her grandmother Dorothy Day and her book The World Will be Saved by Beauty. In the book, Kate writes about Dorothy’s life through the lens of the relationship between Dorothy and her daughter Tamar,

Pax Christi Vice-President, Valerie Flessati, introduced Kate and gave a thumbnail sketch of Dorothy. Then  Kate spoke personally to those gathered in the packed room in Bloomsbury Central Baptist Church. She generously answered a range of questions, including some from Catholic Worker member, Mirjam Johansson. It was a thought-provoking and powerful event. We made an audio-recording which will be available soon. Independent Catholic News reported on the event.

Valerie presented Kate with a set of photographs of Dorothy speaking at a Pax conference in Spode in 1963 during one of her visits to England. 

London Catholic Worker members are studying Kate’s book in their book group. You are welcome to attend their next book group meeting on Thursday 26th March at 6pm. Let them know if you are coming.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Our Director, Theresa, also hosted an event for women interested in peace in the Nottingham Diocese, on Saturday 7th March.  We had a reflective time in St Thomas More Church in Wollaton and then a good discussion over a cup of tea.

You might find the liturgy useful. Theresa would be happy to discuss with you how the event ran, if you are interested in doing something similar where you are.

 

Posted on

Ash Wednesday

Pax Christi members marked Ash Wednesday with acts of penitence and witness around the country as we have done for over 30 years. 

In London, there was a vigil of resistance and repentance at the Ministry of Defence. The liturgy and witness is undertaken in respectful opposition to the MoD’s preparations for the deployment of nuclear weapons. See HERE for more details

In Liverpool at noon, Pax Christi members and friends led a public act of repentance for our possession and intended use of the nuclear weapons.
In Coventry there was an Ash Wednesday Action beginning at the foot of the Old Cathedral steps, organised by Pax Christi members and friends.

Pax Christi members around the country  joined us in prayerful solidarity.

Independent Catholic News covered the London and Coventry events. More information is on the Pax Christi News page

Posted on

South Korean Peacebuilding Links

Bargn Nuri community is an intentional Christian community in South Korea. Pax Christi Director, Theresa Alessandro, met with 60 members of the community on their visit to London as part of their 1000-day Life and Peace Pilgrimage. The community members pray for victims of war and conflict in each location they visit and meet with local peacebuilders. Hosted by Christian CND and Anglican Pacifist Fellowship at St Ethelburga’s in London, Theresa co-chaired an inspiring morning in which Pax Christi Vice-President Bruce Kent, CND’s Kate Hudson and Christian CND’s Martin Tiller shared their thoughts on current challenges and perspectives on peacebuilding in this country – especially in relation to nuclear weapons and to climate change. Cheolho Choi, the leader of the Bargn Nuri community, spoke about their vision of a unified Korea in which people will be able to flourish in peace, living ecologically-balanced village community lifestyles as the  Bargn Nuri already practice. Cheolho said ‘Violence cannot achieve peace. The only way to achieve peace is peace itself’. You can read more here about the event, the community and Cheolho’s challenge to peacemakers in this country.

Pax Christi members in South Korea are working towards forming a new section. When Theresa asked them, the Bargn Nuri community were already aware of this positive development in their own country. We hope to maintain links with Bargn Nuri and with South Korean Pax Christi members.

 

Posted on

Our Bishops in the Holy Land

Bishops from Europe and North America visited the Holy Land on their annual Coordination visit. From the Catholic Bishops Conference of England & Wales, Bishop Declan Lang (Chair of the Holy Land Coordination) and Bishop William Kenney were among the group. Pax Christi International’s Co-president, Bishop Marc Stenger was part of the delegation, along with Church of England Bishop Christopher Chessun.

‘We must not ignore the voice of people in the Holy Land’  This communique was released at the end of the week-long programme of meetings and visits promoting dialogue and peace.

Theresa Alessandro, Pax Christi’s Director wrote to Bishop Lang thanking him for the bishops’ call for a political solution, upholding international law and rejecting support for settlements.  Pax Christi is also pleased that the communique affirmed those struggling by nonviolent means for justice in the region.

Read more about the Holy Land Coordination here