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Diocese of Leeds Justice and Peace Commission (1)

Day: 30 November 2025

30 Nov – Developing a Contemplative Approach to our Actions

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By Joe Burns, Commission member

This was the title of a talk give by Sr Joan Kersey FSMJ at the recent Zoom meeting of the Northern Dioceses' Environment Group.

Sr Joan explored her topic by referring to the writings of Clare of Assisi and Christine Valters Paintner’s book, 'Eyes of the Heart: Photography as a
Christian Contemplative Practice'. 

cover of a pamphlet The theme of getting the right balance between reflection and action is one that the Commission has returned to again and again over the years. Sr Joan gave it a new twist with this exploration of Clare's idea of 'gazing on the face of Christ'  - and examining where we see the Face of Christ.

People had the opportunity to reflect and comment on her talk in small groups and the meeting concluded with updates from across the dioceses about upcoming events.

If you would like to find out more about the NDEG and join their mailing list then simply email climate.ndeg@gmail.com

The NDEG have made Sr Joan's talk available as a pamphlet. Use the button to download a copy and find out more.

[themify_button bgcolor="blue" size="large" nofollow="no" link="https://c4652100.myzen.co.uk/jp2026/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/NDEG-Talk-An-Activist-Guide-to-Contemplation-FINAL.pdf" target="_blank"]Download Pamphlet[/themify_button]

30 Nov – I hadn’t expected to be inspired, but I was!

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Israel-Palestine: Where is the Hope?

By John Duffy, parishioner of the Good Shepherd, Mytholmroyd

"I hadn't expected to be inspired, but I was!" said an attendee at this event.

About 30 people, including several from outside the parish, came to this talk at Good Shepherd, Mytholmroyd by Janet Symes, who has lived in Palestine and worked there as Head of Region for both CAFOD and Christian Aid.

Janet Symes Janet Symes Janet gave us a brief history of the decline of hope and trust following the the Oslo Agreement in 1993, with Palestinians in Gaza and the West Bank experiencing growing restrictions and disruptions, affecting civil society, community cohesion and family lives. Strong resilience helped them cope and kept hope and resistance alive, but lack of international support and sympathy led to greater reliance on armed resistance, which lead to more Israeli repression.

The atrocities carried out by Hamas on October 7th shocked Palestinians and led to the genocidal campaign in Gaza, and the growing assaults on the West Bank. There are powerful international forces, from USA to Gulf oil states, whose influences critically affect the Palestinian people, and the entrenched Israeli government ignores calls for restraint and peace from within Israel.

So where is the hope?

In the spirit of resilience within Palestine, in international solidarity – demonstrations, boycotts, pressure on politicians, discussions, aid and prayer.

Two participants summarised the spirit of this meeting:

"What I took away from Janet's clear, calm, balanced and compelling talk was that hope is kept alive when people resiliently work together for peace, for mutual understanding, and in providing care for their neighbours but that such hope is vulnerable to the fear and/or reality of finding oneself forgotten, abandoned, isolated. We have a moral obligation to maintain focus on the conflict in Israel Palestine and to demand fair dealing from our political leaders and attention to international law."

"The talk was inspirational, it's so easy to feel anger at the atrocities that are happening in Gaza (and the West Bank) but Janet talked in such a calm and reasoned way giving real examples of the day to day lives of all people in this troubled part of the world. She made made a big impression on me."

The Church of the Good Shepherd, Mytholmroyd The Church of the Good Shepherd, Mytholmroyd