The establishment of a Justice and Peace Group has been a long standing aim of Canon Gerard as an essential requirement of a parish, proactive to the need to raise awareness of justice and peace issues both at home and abroad. It was agreed at a Parish Meeting to form a group and this was started early in 2011.
Another aim of our group is to increase our understanding of the Social Teaching of the Catholic Church, and provide educational material and talks later this year. Everyone is invited on this journey with us.The group was also asked to administer the Cathedral charity bowl particularly overseeing the Parish’s choice of a local and international cause as recipients to the proceeds of the bowl.
Causes supported
Thank you for your response in selecting recipient charities for the proceeds of the bowl which were:
International Cause – Musha in Rwanda via Connect2 with CAFODRwanda is a country in which people are living in the aftermath of civil unrest and genocide – A whole generation of men were wiped out.Cafod are supporting a project helping the women and families in a village called Musha where:
- 90% of the women are widows
- The majority have suffered debilitating trauma as a result of genocide violence
- Less than 10% of houses have electricity and none have running water
What good will our money do?
- Provide trauma counselling for women enabling them to train for the future
- Give training and loans for some of these women to start businesses to be able to provide for their families
- Provide books and educational materials for their children, so they can go to school
We receive stories and photographs from our chosen community with regular updates from local people sharing their hopes and dreams, as well as the struggles and challenges they face.As well as our financial support we can learn about their lives extend a hand of Christian friendship to them and show that we care. Any money we raise will go via Cafod to support this work.
A cheque for £615.16 was sent to Connect 2 Rwanda, via CAFOD, which St Mary’s Cathedral Parish is now registered to support. Diocesan Manager of CAFOD, Carol Cross, has sent a letter thanking everyone for their very generous donation.Carol also informed us that a Rwandan visitor would join the last stages of the CAFFOD Just One World Pilgrimage “Walking with the Northern Saints” (featured in the last edition of the Catholic Voice.) Simon Nyabiyeze is CAFOD’s Psychosocial Programme Officer in Rwanda and is expected to be at the mass at Whitby. Carol invites the Parish to come to the Mass at Whitby Abbey on Saturday 2nd July at 2.30pm, when we would be able to meet him.Further details of the Walking with the Northern Saints Walk is available on the CAFOD Middlesbrough web site as well as the Catholic Voice and we are also invited to join any stage of the walk, especially on the 28th June when the walkers arrive at St Mary’s Cathedral.
Local Cause – Catholic Handicapped FellowshipThe Catholic Handicapped Fellowship is a group run totally by volunteers to enhance the lives of mainly but not exclusively Catholic physically and mentally handicapped members and their carers. There are two local groups – Eston and Middlesbrough both run totally by volunteers with no admin costs. There is a weekly Youth Club/Social Gatherings and monthly Mass and Refreshments hosted by different parishes. Also Subsidised Annual Holiday for the enjoyment of members and respite for their carers and a Christmas Party. Funds are needed for the weekly social event, subsidised annual holiday for members and to maintain a Mini Bus for transportation to these events.
- Teresa Lyth and Stephen Mulholland
More details about these causes and updates can be found on our notice board.There will be an annual review of the causes next February 2012 which will involve further consultation with the parish.’
Refugee Week
The response was very positive and generated 2 trailers full of furniture and over 2 large cars full of household goods/furniture/clothes, together with one large car full of foodstuff and £20 donation to the Mary Thompson Fund. Ann Smith and her husband made 4 trips and Linda from the refugee service used her trailer twice to deliver items to the Refugee centre at the Methodist church hall in Linthorpe. Ann had quite a few phone calls from folk enquiring about giving items so the donations left at church were very much supplemented. Both organisations were very grateful and parishioners’ efforts very much appreciated.
Meetings
The Justice and Peace group meets every second Thursday of each month at 7 pm unless stated otherwise. There are additional meetings and presentations which will be announced separately – please watch the upcoming events section of the Cathedral website.
Minutes
- Minutes of Meeting 17th Febuary 2011
- Minutes of JP Subgroup
- Minutes of JP Meeting 17th March 2011
- Minutes of Meeting 11th April 2011
- Minutes of Meeting 10th May 2011
- Minutes of Meeting 9th June 2011
- Minutes of Meeting 14th July 2011
- Minutes of Meeting 8th September 2011
- Minutes of Meeting 13Oct2011
Here below is some more information to do with our most recent, current and forthcoming work.
Links
www.catholicsocialteaching.org.ukwww.paxchristi.org.ukwww.justice-and-peace.org.ukhttps://sites.google.com/a/blatchford.name/middlesbroughjp/homewww.cafod.org.uk
Contact Us
For any queries, comments or suggestions please contact Justice and Peace atjpstmarycathedral@gmail.com
We welcome new members!
