Parish Activities - Justice & Peace

JUSTICE AND PEACE - AT THE HEART OF OUR PARISH LIFE

"Working for justice and peace is not an optional extra"

The St Francis de Sales Justice and Peace group exists to enable the parish as a whole, and individuals within it, to fulfil the Church's mission to uphold the dignity of every human being, particularly the poor and oppressed.

"It is a strict duty of justice and truth not to allow fundamental human needs to remain unsatisfied" (Pope John Paul II, Centesimus Annus, 1991)

"Excessive economic and social inequalities within the one human family... give rise to scandal and are contrary to social justice, to equity, and to the dignity of the human person" (Vatican II)

"Aspire not to have more, but to be more" (Archbishop Oscar Romero)

"Declaration on the Morality and Legality of the war against Iraq" (Paxchristi)

Our activities currently focus around:

• fundraising
• providing information and raising awareness in the parish of global issues - and of what we all can do to support those in developing countries
• involvement in national and international campaigns (on issues such as trade, aid and human rights)
• and having fun!

At the parish AGM in June 2002, those present voted overwhelmingly to set up a charitable fund and establish links in a number of areas, through which we could reach out to those in need. We are now in the process of initiating those links, summarised below.

• Local commitment - supporting the efforts of Churches Together in Newbury to increase the help offered to the homeless locally, in the form of drop-in facilities and emergency accommodation. The support required is most likely to be in the form of material and practical help rather than financial. Given this, we could offer financial help to other local charities, to be decided.
• Adopted project - The Valley Trust in South Africa. This development charity, strongly supported by the local Bishop, works in a number of areas in South Africa, including health, education and skills, and spiritual life. They are currently appealing for $10,000 to build a new church.
• Twin parish - St John's parish, Kabanana, Zambia. This parish, in the archdiocese of Lusaka, is served by Fr Billy Feerick of St Patrick's Missionaries. With 3 Catholic churches, about 4,000 Christian families live within the area of the parish. Most activity is ecumenical. For example: a school for AIDS orphans, care of the elderly, home-based care (with nurses) to sufferers of AIDS. Zambia, and this parish, are facing a very difficult year following the failure of the rains. Our support could be very important.

CONTACT DETAILS - J&P COMMITTEE:

Or click here to email the Justice and Peace group.

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