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Our Lady of Mount Carmel & St George
Enfield Justice & Peace
What is it?
The Justice and Peace Group was formed in March 1992
to work in the Parish and with other Christians and community groups etc. to raise awareness and join in
actions for a more just and peaceful world.
This may sound like ‘pie
in the sky’ but the issue of a ban on landmines, which the group has campaigned for and on which action is now
being taken globally, is just one example of the ripple effect many small contributions from all over the world
can have.
Whilst the group is rooted in the Parish of Our Lady and St George, Enfield
membership is actively open to all who agree with our aims.
Details of a typical year’s programme
are below, but our events vary according to international and national situations.
· Each year in the late
autumn we send hundreds of greetings cards to prisoners of conscience. Some are later freed, but at least
even those still in prison know someone out there cares for them.
·
We have annual collections for the Manna Centre for homeless people in central
London.
·
We do all we can to support CAFOD & Christian Aid.
·
We promote fair trade.
·
We are involved in the Trade Justice Campaign and continue to be involved in the
campaign to cancel Third World Debt.
· We hope to become more involved in environmental issues.
A former parish priest
once said he thought of the group as the “conscience of the parish”
A typical Enfield J&P Year
(Based
on 2002/3)
| December |
Amnesty Greeting Card Campaign - together with two local Anglican parishes over 1,000 greeting cards
sent to prisoners of conscience. |
| December |
Shoebox Campaign - Involved School and helped with the checking boxes at local Anglican Church. |
| January |
Peace Sunday - Peace Shrine at back of church and display at chapel of ease - distribution of Peace
Prayer Cards/Peace petition. |
| January |
Homeless Sunday – Organise collection of groceries, toiletries and clothes at all masses for Manna
Society who work with the homeless at London Bridge. |
| February |
Informal Peace Service at local Anglican Church |
| March |
Informal Candle Lit Vigil for Peace
Silent Vigil on Steps of Church when war broke out |
| Lent |
CAFOD Lenten Fast Day
CAFOD trade justice cards |
| April |
Hosted Enfield Untied Nations Group meeting with Joan Ryan MP and Helen Collinson from Christian
Aid. |
| May |
Christian Aid Week - House to House and Street Collecting |
| June |
Amnesty Petition, collected 800 signatures after Masses for the release of Aung San Suu Kyi. |
| June |
Trade Justice Campaign - together with CAFOD, Christian Aid and OXFAM took part in the lobbies of
all three local Enfield MPs including hosting the one with Joan Ryan Enfield North in the Presbytery. |
| September |
Racial Justice Sunday - arranged for leaflets to be distributed after all masses - an Anglican parish
joined us in this. |
| September |
Christian Aid Stall at Capel Manor, Agricultural Show - A good way of informing public about the
Trade Justice Campaign. |
| October |
CAFOD Harvest Fast Day. |
| October |
Fair Trade Fayre - After morning Masses - stalls from Traidcraft, CAFOD, Christian Aid, Amnesty,
Pax Christi, Parish Groups etc – Distributed free samples of tea, coffee and fruit juice to help get the fair trade
message across. Fellow Christians invited to come and join us after their morning worship. Fairly traded
refreshments. |
As a final thought, here are some words of Archbishop Oscar Romero, murdered for supporting the
cause of the poor:
"We know that every effort to better society, especially when injustice and sin
are so ingrained, is an effort that God blesses, that God wants, that God demands of us" |
Version: 29th January 2006
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