Join Pax Christi this summer for a Coast-to-Coast cycling pilgrimage for peace in support of our peace education work and the Christian Peace Education Fund.
Setting off from Barrow-in-Furness, the home of the UK’s nuclear fleet, on Friday 18 August we will reach Whitby on Monday 21 August and doff our cycling caps in honour of St Hilda.
Please join us for what will be a wonderful event and a great celebration of peace in support of important peace education work
A registration fee (£20 for the Coast-to-Coast / £5 for The Last Leg) is needed to secure your participation. Deadline for registrations is Tuesday 30 May
Register your interest by emailing education@paxchristi.org.uk or calling the Pax Christi office (0208 203 4884)
Members of J&P Scotland and Pax Christi meet in Glasgow with Pat Gaffney of Pax Christi
Between 14 – 16 September, General Secretary Pat Gaffney made a visit to Scotland, coordinated by Justice and Peace Scotland, FoR and Scottish Clergy Against Nuclear Arms (SCANA). The main purpose of the visit was to share with groups more of the background to and follow-up from the Rome Conference on Nonviolence and Just Peace and also to get to know Pax Christi members and other peace groups in Scotland. In Glasgow, Pat spoke at a meeting of SCANA members and then to a group of members of Justice & Peace and Pax Christi. This was an opportunity to also talk and discuss how we might work together post-Trident vote. Many of those gathered are involved in active campaigning against nuclear weapons.
That evening Pat spoke at an open meeting at the Lauriston Jesuit Centre in Edinburgh. This more formal presentation looked in depth at the Nonviolence and Just Peace Conference and the opportunities created within faith communities to work with the Appeal.
The following day Pat was given an opportunity to speak about the Rome Conference at the annual meeting of Action of Churches Together in Scotland (ACTS) . This is the groups of ecumenical representatives from the Scottish churches. While the input time was short, it was a great opportunity for networking.
David Mumford (SCANA) Pat Gaffney, Carol Clark (J&P Scotland) and Bill Kidd MSP in the Scottish Parliament
Back in Edinburgh there was lunch with the Episcopalian Church in Scotland, and an opportunity to meet those involved in work with refugees and homeless issues then a meeting in the Scottish Parliament with Bill Kidd who is a member of Parliamentarians for Nuclear Disarmament. Pat was delighted to discover the high regard he has for the members of Pax Christi International and PAX Netherlands whom he meets in Geneva on the Open Ended Working Group on Nuclear Disarmament. With them he will be attending disarmament meetings in New York in October.
The formal part of the visit finished with a meeting Associate Secretary, Church and Society Council of the Church of Scotland.
Some immediate outcomes of the visit: Pax Christi will now write to all of the Catholic Scottish Bishops about the Rome Conference, inviting them to read the Appeal and support it and to be open to exploring ways of acting upon it within the Scottish context. It was also clear that Pax Christi must do more to network with and support members in Scotland. We are already talking about having an overnight gathering in the Spring. Pat Gaffney said:” It was very energising to meet so many engaged people in Scotland, many of whom are Pax Christi members. I wanted to talk more with them all but there was no time! A longer gathering, where we can share more about work, reflect together on what keeps us going and plan will be a very positive next step. The welcome and hospitality in Scotland has been so warm and encouraging”
Bishop Kevin Dowling (Co–President of Pax Christi International) Greet Vanaerschot (General Secretary of PCI), Marie Dennis (Co -President of PCI, Cardinal Peter Turkson, President of Pontifical Commission for Justice & Peace.
The following document was affirmed by the participants of the Nonviolence and Just Peacegathering held in Rome, 11-13 April 2016. The gathering was co-convened by Pax Christi International, the Pontifical Council for Justice and Peace, International Union of Superior Generals (women) and Union of Superior Generals ( men) and other Catholic peacemakers, academics and theologians. Valerie Flessati, Chris Cole and Pat Gaffney attended on behalf of Pax Christi British SectiON
There was a great buzz of energy and activity at the 2015 NJPN Conference on The Things that Make for Peace and Pax Christi was a key partner in the planning and running of the Conference.
You can read an fuller reports on the Conference from Leeds J&P commission here … from page 5 and from journalist Paul Donovan here
Prof Paul Rogers was the first speaker on the theme A century on the Edge: From Cold War to Hot War 1945-2045. Paul’s presentation was challenging and hope-filled. He said that we are involved in ‘suggesting the possible’, the prophetic work of peace and justice. You can read more of Paul’s work and analysis here. Fr Edu Gariguez spoke of his peace and justice ministry in the Philippines, his talk can be found here.
Pax Christi offered several workshops. Matt Jeziorski our Education worker ran a workshop on Militarism and Young People and Fr Paul Lansu from Pax Christi International ran a workshop on the EU as a force for peace. Fr Martin Poulsom gave very moving and focused reflections after each session to help us link what we had heard to our own experiences and faith.
Three women took part in a panel discussion on grass roots peace work – work with young people and violence presented by Lorraine Dinnegan; interfaith work for peace, given by Sr Maire Hayes and empowering women in Zimbabwe from development from Jenny Vaughan & Fiona Mwashita of Progressio.
The conference was chaired by Pax Christi’s Pat Gaffney
Ellen Teague and Chris Cole near the Banksy art-work, Bethlehem
160 people met in Bethlehem Palestine at the Pax Christi International World Assembly to mark the 70th anniversary of the Movement. A group from the UK took part, including Pat Gaffney, Chris Cole, Ellen Teague, Ann Farr, Sue Scott, Holly Ball and Heather Kiernen.
You can see a full range of photographs from the Assembly and exposure visits here
Sadly, two important members of the movement were missing, Jose Henrique, International Secretary of Pax Christi was refused entry as he tried to enter Israel/Palestine through Jordan and Bishop Kevin Dowling from South Africa unable to attend because of illness.
Pope Francis prayer poster placed on separation wall
Two documents came from the gathering
The Bethlehem Commitment: Bringing the future into focus 2015 – 2020, a document for inspiration, forward planning to help the Pax Christi family all plan for the coming five years and the statement on Palestine calling for recognition of Palestine, end to settlements and support to the nonviolent struggle for justice and peace.
You can read a series of excellent articles written by Ellen Teague:
