29th June: Annexation – What hope for Palestine? We are grateful to Ellen Teague who wrote up our zoom event for Independent Catholic News: https://www.indcatholicnews.com/news/39919
June 26th: 75th Anniversary of the United Nations. Pax Christi staff member Aisling Griffin led an online discussion session as part of the UN75 Dialogue initiative.
June 6th: Pax Christi’s AGM: Online!
More than 60 Pax Christi members joined the meeting in this, Pax Christi International’s 75th Anniversary, year. Vice President Valerie Flessati described the origins of our movement, in Second World War France. Pax Christi International Co-President Wamuyu Wachira brought us up to date, and into the presence of God, with a video message. Outgoing, Chair Holly Ball, called for a revolution in this change of era. Following reports by the four staff members, there was spirited discussion of the resolutions, voting, and election of a new Chair and four new Executive Committee members. All resolutions were passed except Resolution 4 which will return to the Executive Committee for further discussion.
Ten breakout groups were formed. Members spoke about how they are feeling. Then they made proposals for Pope Francis to consider as part of the work of the Covid-19 Vatican Commission reflecting on the ‘new socio-economic-cultural future.’ The proposals will be communicated directly to the Commission.
Our National President, Archbishop Malcolm McMahon, spoke with appreciation of Holly’s time as Chair. Newly-elected Chair, Ann Farr, led us in a liturgy in which she invited us to ‘quietly renew our commitment to our witness and work as peacemakers’. The AGM was reported by Ellen Teague on Independent Catholic News. View more video messages from our Pax Christi International partners.
June 5th: Pax Christi is quoted in an article in The Universe about the report: Banks, Pensions and Nuclear Weapons: Investing In Change.
May 24th: International Women’s Day for Peace & Disarmament. On behalf of Pax Christi members, our Director, Theresa, endorsed this appeal by Parliamentarians for Nuclear Non-Proliferation and Disarmament (PNND), Women Legislators’ Lobby (WiLL) and World Future Council (WFC), supporting the United Nations’ initiatives for peace and disarmament including the global ceasefire initiative and the UN Secretary-General’s Agenda for Disarmament. Read more in Independent Catholic News.
May 21st: Our Director, Theresa, was quoted in The Universe regarding nuclear weapons. ‘The new normal is a world without nuclear weapons.’
May 16th: Our Director, Theresa, wrote the National Justice and Peace column for the Universe this weekend.
May 15th: Ann Farr wrote a piece for Independent Catholic News about the Nakba.
May 15th: Conscientious Objectors’ Day was marked online due to coronavirus restrictions. There was a National Ceremony, livestreamed at 12 noon. In an East Midlands regional event from Leicester, our Director Theresa, was invited to speak about Franz Jägerstätter. There were also CO stories from Jehovah’s Witness (International Bible students), Buddhist and Jain traditions. The event was audio-recorded.
May 8th: The office team organised a well-attended online hour of prayer, reflection and action in advance of the 75th anniversary of VE Day. We shared a film clip in which we used sign language to say ‘Peace Be With You’. Simplified versions of our online liturgy events have been added to the website. The event was reported on ICN.
25th April: Pax Christi was one of the signatories of an open letter asking that military spending be diverted initially to tackle coronavirus and then to fund socially useful purposes. The letter was signed by a broad range of peace organisations.
April 22nd: The office team organised an online hour of prayer, reflection and action as part of the campaign against military spending. We shared the image below widely on social media. We were part of the UK working group coordinating the UK Campaign against Military Spending focus until 9th May.
April 15th: The government announced that the Integrated Review of Security, Defence, Development and Foreign Policy was being paused in the light of coronavirus. Pax Christi made a statement echoing Pope Francis and calling for funding of ‘the people, services and equipment that have proved their worth to us’.
April 8th: The Pax Christi office team organised an hour of prayer and reflection to draw NonvioLent to a close. Approximately 40 Pax Christi members and friends participated. A simplified version of our liturgy.
April 5th: Pax Christi International joins the call for a global ceasefire.
