Our Justice and Peace Commission Meet
News from a recent meeting of the Clifton Diocese Justice and Peace Commission held on 23 September.
St Bonaventure's Presbytery, Bristol, was the venue for a recent meeting of the Clifton Diocese Justice and Peace Commission. The morning session provided an opportunity for deanery representatives from across the Diocese to compare notes on what is happening in their area and to discuss future plans.
Stephen Aftelack from Swindon Deanery Justice and Peace Group, reported plans to repeat the 'Virtual Village' project which proved such a success last year. Their aim is to encourage parishioners to purchase enough CAFOD World Gifts to support a virtual village. They hope to match the £33,300 of World Gifts bought by people in Swindon for Christmas 2005. Ways of adapting this idea for use by individual parishes were discussed. Swindon Deanery J&P Group have also organised an event to mark Prisoners' Sunday (19 November).
Patrick Shields described J&P work in the Cheltenham area including the promotion of CAFOD's gold chain campaign. Campaign petitions ask high street gold retailers to use their influence to improve mining companies' practices. Petitions signed in parishes all over the Diocese will be brought together at an Advent Service in the Cathedral (7 December) forming a diocesan chain for presentation to a major jewellery retailer.
Sister Austin, Bristol East Deanery rep, described how Fair Trade sales in her local parish were benefiting not only workers in the Third World but also the needy closer to home.
A number of parishes in the Trowbridge deanery have been involved in helping Warminster to become a Fair Trade town. Inspired by this, deanery reps plan to encourage their local parishes to work towards becoming Fair Trade parishes. With sufficient parishes achieving this, Clifton as a Fair Trade Diocese becomes a possibility.
Ways of bringing the Christian perspective into environmental campaigning were discussed.
The group were then joined by other members of the Commission for a shared lunch.
The afternoon session included a report of work with the Bristol-based Polish community. As the ethnic make-up of parishes is changing, the Racial Justice Committee of the Commission is looking at ways of providing a welcome to other minority communities.
The next steps for taking forward the Living Ghosts campaign were also discussed.
A database is being developed to improve communication with individuals and groups interested in specific Justice and Peace issues in various parts of the Diocese.
The meeting ended with a short liturgy.
If you are interested in the work of Clifton Diocese Justice and Peace Commission or any of the above issues, please contact the Secretary. Details of forthcoming events are included in the Clifton Diocese Justice and Peace Link.
Sue Ingham
St Bonaventure's Presbytery, Bristol, was the venue for a recent meeting of the Clifton Diocese Justice and Peace Commission. The morning session provided an opportunity for deanery representatives from across the Diocese to compare notes on what is happening in their area and to discuss future plans.
Stephen Aftelack from Swindon Deanery Justice and Peace Group, reported plans to repeat the 'Virtual Village' project which proved such a success last year. Their aim is to encourage parishioners to purchase enough CAFOD World Gifts to support a virtual village. They hope to match the £33,300 of World Gifts bought by people in Swindon for Christmas 2005. Ways of adapting this idea for use by individual parishes were discussed. Swindon Deanery J&P Group have also organised an event to mark Prisoners' Sunday (19 November).
Patrick Shields described J&P work in the Cheltenham area including the promotion of CAFOD's gold chain campaign. Campaign petitions ask high street gold retailers to use their influence to improve mining companies' practices. Petitions signed in parishes all over the Diocese will be brought together at an Advent Service in the Cathedral (7 December) forming a diocesan chain for presentation to a major jewellery retailer.
Sister Austin, Bristol East Deanery rep, described how Fair Trade sales in her local parish were benefiting not only workers in the Third World but also the needy closer to home.
A number of parishes in the Trowbridge deanery have been involved in helping Warminster to become a Fair Trade town. Inspired by this, deanery reps plan to encourage their local parishes to work towards becoming Fair Trade parishes. With sufficient parishes achieving this, Clifton as a Fair Trade Diocese becomes a possibility.
Ways of bringing the Christian perspective into environmental campaigning were discussed.
The group were then joined by other members of the Commission for a shared lunch.
The afternoon session included a report of work with the Bristol-based Polish community. As the ethnic make-up of parishes is changing, the Racial Justice Committee of the Commission is looking at ways of providing a welcome to other minority communities.
The next steps for taking forward the Living Ghosts campaign were also discussed.
A database is being developed to improve communication with individuals and groups interested in specific Justice and Peace issues in various parts of the Diocese.
The meeting ended with a short liturgy.
If you are interested in the work of Clifton Diocese Justice and Peace Commission or any of the above issues, please contact the Secretary. Details of forthcoming events are included in the Clifton Diocese Justice and Peace Link.
Sue Ingham
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