The first monthly Vigil for Refugees at the Home Office this year was held on Monday. Prayers included one that the UK government adheres to the European Convention for Human Rights, and others for people fleeing war zones and those who have died trying to reach the UK. Also remembered were those in detention and who are homeless and there was a call for the UK to be a more welcoming nation. The vigil was organised by Westminster Justice and Peace Commission, London Catholic Worker and London Churches Refugee Fund. Fr Joe Ryan of Westminster Diocese gave the reflection. A list of names and details of people who died trying to obtain sanctuary in Europe or the UK in January 2023 was read out. Causes of death included drowning and hypothermia. The five asylum seekers who died in the icy waters of the Channel last Sunday were remembered. Last week, a funeral was held in Albania for 27-year-old Leonard Farruku, an asylum seeker who died last month on board the Bibby Stockholm barge in Dorset.
The ecumenical JustMoney Movement gathered signatures for sending to Chancellor Jeremy Hunt and Shadow Chancellor Rachel Reeves as they travelled to the World Economic Forum in Davos this week. They were urged to tackle inequality and support higher taxes for the superrich. Other measures suggested by JustMoney included: introducing more corporate windfall taxes to end crisis profiteering from international corporations, supporting stricter global tax rules to crack down on the use of tax havens, and using the revenue gained from these taxes to invest in measures to support the most vulnerable, such as public services, welfare provision, and a just transition to a green economy.
The 2024 Columban Schools Media Competition on “Biodiversity Matters” has one more month to run. The dedicated website has had more than 5,000 page views and entries are being submitted of images and writing. Image entries so far show bees, flowers, trees and sealife, alongside dangers from climate change, pollution, habitat loss and overexploitation by humanity. Written entry titles include: “Why biodiversity matters” and“Building a sustainable future”. They highlight that care for creation is a theme of Catholic Social Teaching. The competition is aimed at students in Britain and Ireland aged between 13-18 years old and there are cash prizes. Judges include The Tablet’s Ruth Gledhill and Columban eco-theologian Fr Sean McDonagh. The closing date is 17 February 2024. Website with Information and Entry details at: https://www.columbancompetition.com/
A Give Prayer a Go campaign has been launched by the Archdiocese of Southwark. The Archbishop, John Wilson said: “Prayer is strength for the weak. It’ll never make things worse and only make them better.” Resources include prayer events across the Archdiocese, and the sharing of tips including advice on prayer from the saints. An online prayer wall where people can record their experience of prayer is available at: www.rcsouthwark.co.uk/faith/giveprayerago/ The archbishop added: “The biggest challenge to praying is just beginning, but you can only learn to ride a bicycle by trying it out. It's the same with prayer - you just need to give it a go.”
The former Environment secretary Lord Deben will deliver a lecture at Ampleforth College later this year. A Conservative peer since 2010, Deben was Environment minister under John Major’s government from 1993- 1997. Until June 2023, he was chairman of the Climate Change Committee, the independent body advising the Government on emissions targets, and reporting on progress made in reducing greenhouse gas emissions and adapting to climate change. Entitled The Gospel Imperative for Climate Action, the talk will take place at Ampleforth College, North Yorkshire on March 1. For tickets, please click here: https://society.ampleforthcollege.org.uk/events/lord-deben-delivers-catholic-union-and-ampleforth-society-lecture
An 11-year-old boy from Nuneaton is raising £1,000 for Mary’s Meals. Michael, a pupil at St Thomas More Catholic Academy has already raised nearly £800 for the charity which is currently feeding more than 2.4m school children in some of the world’s poorest countries every day. Michael is aiming to hit his target by his 12th birthday in June. Hannah Moore, Mary’s Meals’ support officer sais: “It costs just £19.15 to feed a child with Mary’s Meals every day for a school year. If Michael hits his £1,000 target, his incredible efforts will ensure over 50 children will receive a nutritious meal every day for the whole school year.” During the Double the Love Appeal, running until January 31, all donations to Mary’s Meals will be doubled by the charity’s supporters up to £1.1 million.
The Association for Irish Religious and Missionaries has said its members are committed to atonement, accountability and justice for survivors of abuse in day and boarding schools run by religious orders. Sr Mary Hanrahan PBVM, Vice-President of AMRI, made her remarks to Mary O’Toole SC, chair of the Scoping Inquiry set up to inform the government’s response to revelations of historical sexual abuse. According to Sr Hanrahan, many sisters, brothers, priests and laypeople feel a sense of “betrayal and shame in the face of such abuse”. While there are safeguarding policies and procedures in place today, “We need to continue to ask how this abuse of power was allowed to occur,” she said.
The Church in Scotland has expressed deep concern at the Holyrood government’s current consultation on so-called “conversion practices”, interventions relating to sexual orientation and gender identity. A spokesperson for the Church referred to “a worrying lack of clarity” about what is meant by the term, which they said “could create a chilling effect and may criminalise advice or opinion given in good faith”. The Church called on the Scottish Government not to criminalise faith-based pastoral care, various medical and social-psychological interventions, and even parental guidance in cases where sexual orientation was in question. A full response is anticipated once the Scottish Bishops have had an opportunity to consider the government consultation document in detail.
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