I had high hopes that my Church through Synodality we would become a Missionary Church by recognising the myriad ways in which many groups are disadvantaged both within the Church and in Society. Particularly the female half of the population.
At church on Sunday, we listened to the story of Martha and Mary. Our priest gave a homily that started extremely well, by describing our need to find regular solitude and quiet to facilitate individual reflection and prayer. As an SVP member who had spent the previous two weeks supporting someone in crisis I felt the homily would have been improved by stating the need to balance prayer and contemplation with practical works of community and charity.
In this case a beneficiary had been attacked and moved to a place of safety outside Leeds when discharged from hospital. However, they had only the police tracksuit they were wearing on discharge (their clothes being taken as evidence) with them .
They had no cash as it had been stolen. Their essential monthly costs exceed their benefits (bedroom tax and frozen housing benefit being the main reason). Thus they were left in a strange place with no food, clothes, toiletries, or fares back to Leeds for hospital visits. Providing the necessary help on an ongoing basis took its toll.
I often feel that most of the voluntary work done to keep the parish going and via charities like SVP, is done by women. And that an exclusively male Church hierarchy largely focussed on Worship don’t notice. It is women of Faith who do most of the outreach work. Recent Appeals for male vocations made no mention of our need for this type of work in Jesus's name.
Then a talk by 40 Days for Life at the end of Mass irritated me. An over coffee discussion showed I wasn’t alone.
The talk was given by a man who acknowledged that many women seeking abortion feel that they had no choice. There wasn’t a single mention of the role of the prospective father in creating a situation where the mother felt she had no choice. After all, had he and his family offered to bring up the baby there would probably be no need for an abortion! No mention of the father being sinful, only the mother.
In all the years I have attended Mass I can recollect no homily that has talked about the sin of domestic violence, stalking, coercive control or child abuse. No mention of how the increasing poverty in our society disproportionately impacts women.
Additionally I recollect no media interviewer, when talking to a female single parent about their struggle to make ends meet, asking them if their partner pays towards the upkeep of their children.
If my Church does not guide us towards responsible relationships based on a partnership of mutual respect who will?
If my Church continues to overlook the practical work of women of Faith in Jesus’s name and continues to discriminate against us why would my daughter come to Mass more often? Why would I?
CONGRATULATIONS! Several of our SPARK members are graduating this summer. Thanks to all of them for their continued work towards justice and peace.
Congratulations on your recent Graduation from Leeds Trinity University
Iesha is a long-standing SPARK member and has recently graduated from Leeds Trinity University with a First Class BA (Hons) in Digital Marketing.
Iesha was a panel member representing SPARK at a recent event on UK Poverty and the Real Living Wage. Iesha used her skills as a student Ambassador and has added her input and value to a number of SPARK events and led a community support activity, motivating fellow students and making positive links to the Student Union.
We wish her every success in her search for work and know she will be an asset to any organisation.
Congratulations on your recent Graduation from Manchester Metropolitan University
Lucy is a longstanding SPARK member and recently graduated from Manchester Met, she already has a job in the competitive field of Early Years teaching.
She will be an inspirational teacher and a leading light in all she chooses to do. A passionate advocate for social change, Lucy gives her time to engage others in social justice issues as well as balancing her studies and other commitments.
Lucy has led a number of SPARK social justice discussions at her local youth group and organised creative and community building opportunities in her local area of Wibsey, Bradford.
Congratulations on your recent Graduation from the University of Leeds
Isaac attended the SPARK and LTU Leadership Conference, he is a passionate advocate for mental health and has used his dedication and insight to great advantage in LTU Students’ Union as a Mental Health Officer and as the President of the Together and Wellbeing Society.
Isaac brings his understanding and compassion to promote and develop others and to raise awareness of this vital topic.
Congratulations on your recent Graduation from Leeds Trinity University
Theo is a sports journalist, broadcaster and disability advocate who graduated this month from Leeds Trinity University with a BA in Sports Journalism.
Theo attended our SPARK and LTU Leadership conference and has maintained an interest in the work of SPARK.
He has an amazing backstory; Theo was diagnosed with a very rare syndrome when he was 11 which included learning difficulties. Refusing to be defined by a diagnosis, he overcame many challenges with hard work and commitment. He has gone on to advocate for others with extra challenges in life.
Whatever path he takes in the future, Theo will always be an inspiration with his talent and love for music and his enthusiastic knowledge about sport.
Our Graduate Chair!
Tom graduated last year from the University of Sheffield as a Master of Planning with Class One Honours in Urban Studies and Planning.
Tom Allan is a founder member of SPARK and has continued to actively support the project as SPARK Chair since December 2024; he is also a trustee for Million Minutes.
Tom is now putting all his skills and knowledge to good use as Graduate Planner in York but still finds time to volunteer and support the causes he is passionate about. Central to his future work as a planner is his commitment to driving positive change and building a more sustainable future.
Congratulations on your recent Graduation from the University of Cambridge
Heather graduated this month with a Law BA; also completing an exchange at Utrecht University where she immersed herself in the issues of human rights and social justice.
Despite the many challenges of a demanding academic schedule, Heather was also the Chair for the Amnesty International Student Group, working alongside other dedicated activists to advocate for justice and peace.
Heather has also managed to find time to lead on SPARK social media and digital marketing, a really vital role in ensuring our public image reflects the target age group we are here to engage.
Heather continues to contribute across many different spheres to reflect her passion and commitment to diversity, inclusion and justice in all its forms.
Tim's 3431 mile fundraising ride for Medical Aid for Palestinians
by Tim Devereux
Pudsey cyclist Tim Devereux says “I have now been riding for 200 days, and am within 1000 miles of my goal! Since the start of the year, I’ve been riding every day (except 2), averaging 12 miles each day. I’m aiming to get to 3431 miles – the distance from Pudsey to Gaza, to raise money for Medical Aid for Palestinians (MAP), a British charity.
MAP works for the health and dignity of Palestinians living under Israeli occupation, and as refugees. It provides immediate medical aid to those in great need, while also building local capacity and skills to ensure the long-term development of the Palestinian healthcare system.
I often ride on the Leeds/Liverpool Canal tow-path, and give passers-by my card.
Along the way I have met many well wishers, in person and on line – they have been a great encouragement!
Saskia: So nice to meet you on the canal today, such an important cause - good luck with the rest!
Eirinn and Michael: Sorry our dog licked your ankles! But at least it made us see your sign.
Javeria Bibi: Keep up the great work and your voice for those suffering.
The bikes have mostly behaved – some punctures, lots of broken spokes on the ebike, and a stolen saddle on my ancient road bike!
When I set out in January, there were hopes of a ceasefire in Gaza – now one has come and gone. MAP’s comment on the present dire situation:
“The evidence of Israel’s atrocities in Gaza is impossible to ignore. Its suffocating siege and renewed military offensive are destroying the health system, starving two million people, and threatening the ethnic cleansing of Palestinians. UN experts and international human rights groups have concluded that Israel is committing extermination and genocide against the Palestinian people.” (www.map.org.uk)
My original goal was 10 miles a day, but I have upped it to 12 so I can finish on my 77th birthday, 5th October. The fundraising is going well – my target was £1000, but with Gift Aid, it is now over £4000 – of course, much more is needed!” The JustGiving page is here: https://www.justgiving.com/page/tim-devereux-map-2025
The challenge of how to engage children in a meaningful way during the Children’s Liturgy is one which is faced by volunteers in parishes everywhere on a weekly basis, often on a Saturday evening when you suddenly wonder the week has gone and what on earth to do with the children the following day!
At St Mary and St Monica’s Church in Cottingley in Bradford, as the volunteers who lead the small group, we wanted to give space for the children to be able to respond to Laudato Si and the call for us to care for our common home.
The resources provided by CAFOD provide great inspiration for the children and support for the adults too. Over several weeks, the children explored their ideas about what they wanted to celebrate about God’s creation, the things they love about nature and how they enjoy our world. We also shared what we know are some of the threats and came up with ideas of how we can all take steps to look after our beautiful planet.
We captured our work in a collage depicting a scene from a place we’d love to visit and added in some of our favourite animals from all around the world (and some from our imaginations, or perhaps they just haven’t been discovered yet!) and some of the plants we all need to survive. Lastly the group created some prayers for us and the Parish to share.
We were delighted when the Parish received a visit from Angela Powell, CAFOD’s Community Participation Coordinator. Angela met some of the children from our Children’s Liturgy group and thought the collage and prayers were great. We particularly appreciated the cake that was shared to celebrate the 10th anniversary of Laudato Si!
We’ll be taking a break over the summer, but when we return, we’ll be looking again for ideas of how we can continue to develop the love and care in our children for our world. We find that the Season of Creation provides a great opportunity to explore the challenge and call to us all which is laid out for us in Laudato Si.
The Season of Creation runs from 1 September (World Day of Prayer for the Care of Creation) to 4 October (the feast of Saint Francis of Assisi) each year.
Over the past 12 months, commemorations have taken place to remember the 80th anniversary of the end of the Second World War. These have included the 80th anniversary of D-day, remembering VE Day on 8th May and soon there will be commemorations for the formal end of the war with VJ Day on 15th August.
As is usual, many of these commemorations are often militaristic in style, with parades or events at town and city war memorials. They are all the more poignant as the veterans of that huge conflict are now small in number and there are fewer eyewitness accounts to the war, regardless of all the documentaries on television, as these people inevitably reduce in number.
For the peace and justice movement, one of the most notable and tragic of anniversaries arrives on August 6th and August 9th with the commemoration of the 80th anniversary of the Hiroshima and Nagasaki atomic weapon attacks. The use of nuclear weapons in war led to the direct deaths of over 200,000 people in the two cities, either vapourised or burnt to death on the day or suffering the awful effects of radiation on their bodies. Many more have had radiation illnesses up to the present day.
The attacks also arguably helped initiate the following decades of the Cold War, as the world came very close on many occasions to a third use of nuclear weapons in warfare. There were also the regular and highly destructive testing of nuclear weapons in the Pacific Ocean, affecting indigenous communities in Australia and in the deserts of Nevada and Semipalatinsk, and affecting many other people from around the world.
For over 20 years I have been involved with the local government organisation, Mayors for Peace. I was the Mayors for Peace lead officer when I worked in Leeds City Council, and I was the UK and Ireland Mayors for Peace Secretary in Manchester City Council from 2008 – 2021. Led by the Mayors of Hiroshima and Nagasaki, this group of over 8,500 towns and cities in 175 countries and regions around the world seeks to build support for a more peaceful world free from nuclear weapons.
It is important in this 80th anniversary year to keep the story of what happened in Hiroshima and Nagasaki alive to our current generation, as the number of hibakusha (A-bomb survivors) is also declining rapidly now. As a Vice President of Mayors for Peace, the Lord Mayor of Manchester and the UK & Ireland Mayors for Peace Secretary will represent its members at the Hiroshima and Nagasaki Peace Ceremonies and the Executive & General Conferences of Mayors for Peace.
But there will also be lots of chances for you to join with them in active solidarity with the hibakusha, to call for a more peaceful world, at a time when nuclear proliferation is beginning to grow again in our volatile world.
Here are some of the events in and around the Leeds and Salford Dioceses:
Leeds – a solemn commemoration with readings, wreath laying, choir singing and the reading of the Hiroshima and Nagasaki Peace Declarations will take place in Park Square, Leeds city centre by the Mayors for Peace tree and plaque from 10.30am – 11.30am on Saturday August 9th. All are welcome to attend
Bradford – a commemoration will take place in Norfolk Gardens behind Bradford City Hall from 12pm – 1pm on Wednesday August 6th.
Hebden Bridge – a commemoration will take place by the wavy steps at the historic pack horse bridge in the centre of Hebden Bridge from 11am – 12pm on Wednesday August 6th. All are welcome to attend.
Keighley – a commemoration will take place in Keighley Town Hall Square from 11am – 12pm on Wednesday August 6th. All welcome.
Manchester – I will be hosting Manchester City Council’s official solemn Hiroshima Day commemoration in Manchester Museum, Oxford Road, Manchester from 11.30am – 12.30pm. We will have readings, a minute silence for all innocent victims of warfare and a group reading of the UN Peace Affirmation.
Heaton Park, Manchester – the Nagasaki Day commemoration will take place by one of Manchester’s gingko peace trees in the Western Pleasure Grounds by the Stables Café from 2 – 3pm on Saturday August 9th with readings and choir singing.
Events will be taking place across the country with major events in London, Liverpool, Edinburgh, Glasgow, Dublin, at the National Eisteddfod and in many more places. Please do try and go along to a local event this August.
For nearly 6 years now our programme working with younger people, SPARK Social Justice, has been supported very generously by Porticus UK (which is the UK arm of Benevolentia – the trust fund set up by the owners of C&A). However, their funding will be coming to an end at the end of this year.
However, aware of the impact that the programme of activities is having, both the SPARK Steering Group and the Commission itself are determined that the work should continue.
We are delighted that for the next two years the Diocese will be providing £5k towards our SPARK work, in addition to the £5k we already receive. This is not enough to keep the activity levels at their current level. However, it gives us more confidence in seeking funding support from other trusts and foundations to enable us to do this.
We have already secured £1k from the Sisters of Sion for the work that SPARK does with the Palestinian Film festival. Additionally, we have just heard that we are receiving a £2k grant to do a specific evening event for the SPARK community on Friday 10 October and to lead a retreat day on Saturday 11th October (see more details below).
Other applications are in the pipeline and we are hopeful that the great work that Kathy Shaw is doing on the SPARK programme of work will be able to continue, if not expand, from what is happening today.
++++++
SPARK RETREAT DAY @ Hinsley Hall
SPARK Social Justice and the Spirituality of J&P action group are in the process of organising a retreat day on Saturday 11 October. It will take place at Hinsley Hall.
We are absolutely delighted that Fr Luis Orlando Perez Jimenez SJ will be returning to Leeds to lead this day. Fr Luis was in Leeds earlier this year to present the Romero Lecture. Those who went found what he had to say very moving and thought-provoking. Although studying at UCL at the moment, he is Mexican and has much experience of working with families of the disappeared in both Mexico and other countries of Central America.
The theme of the day will be “Sustaining Hope in Today’s World” – so a deliberate attempt to link the day with the Pilgrims of Hope Holy Year theme.
Although organised by SPARK, it will be open to others.
Spaces will be very limited (25 maximum) so please make a note of the date now if you think you are interested in coming to this day. We will be setting up an Eventbrite page in due course, but this will probably not be available until early August.
We have been regular sponsors for a number of years of one of the film presentations at the Leeds Palestinian Film Festival (LPFF). More recently, this has been done under the banner of the SPARK programme, as these films attract a significantly younger audience than would be typical for events branded J&P.
The LPFF committee have decided to support a proposed International Film Festival for Women’s cinema – to take place in Gaza! They write:
“The festival organisers are defying the ongoing genocide with the strongest weapon they have – keeping Palestinian cultural expression alive, and especially the voices of women. They have already begun recruiting women to be trained to make films that will be showcased at their Festival this October.”
The Film festival committee have pledged to raise £10,000 towards the cost of the festival in Gaza. For more information on how you could support this please see the Leeds Palestinian Film festival website
Reflections on the Mass Lobby of Parliament for Climate Change on 9th July
The day was a great opportunity for making connections around the country. Amongst others I spoke with various Diocesan Environmental Leads, ECG Group, CAFOD of course (lots of their key people were involved) and their new LiveSimply lead, Phoebe Worthington. Bishop John was there all day and was very accessible for anyone who wanted to chat with him.
I had a direct reply from Sir Julian Smith (MP for Skipton and Ripon) to my email, asking to meet in his office just before PMQs. I was the only one there, so we had a one-to-one and he didn’t sound like he was planning any other meeting. One of his assistants sat with us, in the large covered café-style meeting area in the centre of the building. Lots of other MPs were doing something similar there.
Like many, I’ve met and corresponded with the MP several times before. He’s been in our ‘safe Conservative seat’ for more than a decade and held government positions in the past. He was more relaxed than when in government and seemed more willing to share his views rather than simply the ‘party line’. I opened by asking him where he saw the country was with the issue of climate change. He clearly accepts the issue and is supportive of consistent progress to address it but keen not to create any economic stress on individuals or the country’s economy. He knows my views well (for much faster action proactively rather than waiting and being on the back foot all the time) and I’ve already written to follow-up our meeting.
He was aware of the Community Energy projects we have in Settle, and of which the Catholic Church is hoping to be a significant part, and is very supportive of them. I used the opportunity to press a previous invitation to come and see, which he accepted for the autumn. I also explained the lobby was about global debt and he seemed to agree with the problem but there wasn’t time to discuss any solutions. I mentioned my connection with CAFOD and their campaigning on the issue; he knew CAFOD and praised their work/ethos. I simply asked him to support any serious moves that would contribute to progress on the issue.
And finally, we had actually opened the conversation with Assisted Dying. I thanked him for voting against the bill after a correspondence in its earlier stages. We agreed the complexities of the issue and the need to keep pushing for more comprehensive palliative care so that people do not choose to kill themselves from believing they “have no choice.”
We covered a lot in 12 minutes, all the time there was before he dashed off to PMQs.
Was it worthwhile going all that way?
Absolutely. I am certain it’s important to meet and put faces to names, and to hear from everyday constituents about wider concerns. Every conversation helps to form opinions.
I think it’s also important to see so many people in one place at one time. It gives real impetus to the views being shared. Taking the trouble to travel, queue, etc conveys a real sense of how critical are the issues being spotlighted.
Wednesday 09 July saw a mass lobby of Parliament to keep up the pressure on politicians about Climate Change.
CAFOD is a key part of the coalition of organisations involved and CAFOD supporters from across the country descended on Westminster to try and talk to their own MP’s. A group of 3 people attending from the Leeds parish of Our Lady of Kirkstall were Marian & Michael Emly and Bronagh Daly (who also represented Leeds Church Institute).
Leading up to the lobby day itself, CAFOD has been running a campaign to get parishioners to sign a petition asking the Government, in this Jubilee Year of Hope, to address the debt crisis affecting the global South. The number of low and middle-income countries in debt crisis has more than doubled since 2015: 54 countries are now in debt crisis compared with 22 countries in 2015. In Africa, 34 countries spend more on external debt payments than on health or education, when hospitals and schools are already desperately underfunded. Debts are being paid at the expense of hiring doctors and teachers, building schools, hospitals and sewage systems, preparing for floods, or coping with droughts.
Michael Emly commented,
“The petition last Sunday was a tremendous success and we collected 220 signatures which we will now send the sheets off to CAFOD to be collated with others from around the country… I have to say that I am really proud to be part of a parish that can show this level of commitment to solidarity with our sisters and brothers in the world's poorest countries.”
The lobby actually involved a lot of different organisations under the umbrella of the Climate Coalition, and around 5,000 people took part from all around the country. They took over 2 floors of a large building opposite Westminster Abbey for the day, and CAFOD had an area within it. Michael comments,
“This was great as we were able to meet up with lots of other CAFOD supporters, but also with Bishop John Arnold of Salford and with Fr. Charlie from Kenya - the priest whose letter was read out last Sunday. There was a series of talks throughout the day, but unfortunately Fr. Charlie was timetabled to speak in the morning, before we arrived. Even so, a great privilege.”
Fr Charlie’s picture features in the CAFOD resources about the debt relief campaign.
Our Lady of Kirkstall parish covers quite a large area of NW Leeds and their local MP is Alex Sobel. Michael, Marian and Bronagh were able to meet with him and Michael takes up the story:
“It wasn't until quite late in the afternoon that we were able to meet with Alex Sobel, but it was really worthwhile because it was just the 3 of us - none of his other constituents who had registered to attend actually turned up. So we were able to discuss the issues around Debt Justice at length and tie it in to the broader theme of climate change by explaining how debt repayments are a millstone around the necks of people in poorer countries as the size of the debt repayments prevents proper investment in mitigating the effects of climate change as well as reducing the money that is available to spend in areas like healthcare and education. In fact, I was very impressed by the awareness that Alex had of all these issues and his willingness to consider ways of addressing them - he told us that he had taken part in similar demonstrations 25 years ago when there was a similar focus on cancelling debt and achieving the "Millennium Development Goals". And he did share various ideas about how the issues might be addressed. And, of course, we stressed to Alex that we weren't lone voices in his constituency, because 220 people had signed the petition just a few days earlier."
The Debt Relief (Developing Countries) Bill had its scheduled second reading in the House of Commons on Friday 11 July 2025, but it was not debated due to “lack of unanimous consent” – which means that it did not progress. It also means that there is still time to take action!
Showing solidarity with the poorest in the world is a fundamental part of being a Catholic. A very simple action that everyone could take is to sign the online version of the CAFOD petition. Just follow this link: https://action.cafod.org.uk/page/161357/petition/1
The starvation of the people of Gaza didn’t just happen in the last two years; it has being going on for one hundred years.
This is the main theme of a new book by Leeds author E Mark Windle which was sent to the Justice and Peace Commission in June. This is not a book to read from cover to cover but a very useful reference book.
I was interested to learn more as it looks at the injustice the Palestinians have endured since the Nakba in 1947 through a new lens.
This is a very well researched book with every assertion evidenced and referenced (there are 16 pages of notes)
Each chapter begins with the historical context in Gaza, even going back to the Ottoman empire years. This useful background allows the food insecurity and malnutrition over the last 100 years to be recorded and explored.
The meticulous research highlights that some of the views expressed about the Palestinians by the Israeli government about in Gaza are not new.
Writing about the importance of the water supply in the Gaza strip Windle reports that after the 6 day war in 1967, water restrictions were put in place. The suspicion was that this was a deliberate move to expel the Arab population (page 36 Windle).
Now, declassified proceedings of the Israeli security cabinet reveal this to be true. The Israeli Prime Minister Levi Eshkol is quoted as saying:
‘We should deal with is issue quietly, calmly and covertly, and should be finding a way for them to emigrate to other countries…perhaps if we don’t give them enough water, they won’t have a choice, because the orchards will yellow and wither’ ( in Haretz news 2017)
Windle’s research highlights that even before October 7th, 2023, 60% of households in the Gaza strip were moderately or severely food insecure and malnutrition in vulnerable groups was rising. This is directly because of Israeli government policies towards Gaza, including blockades and restricting access to food supplies.
Almost half of the book is devoted to the situation in Gaza after 7th October and the aftermath with some excellent factual information.
What is clear is that recovery work in the Gaza strip will take decades. Whilst aiming to be factual, it is clear that Windle is on the side of justice for the Palestinian people. His is a thoughtful analysis but it doesn’t try to hide the fact that mostly Israeli governments have had no real commitment to justice for Palestinians or a Palestinian state.
Mark Windle is a dietitian by profession, having worked for the NHS for 25 years.
The author is partnering with World Central Kitchen to produce the book and for each book sold £2 will be donated to this charity. They have been on the ground in Gaza and their website says they have been able to resume some humanitarian work. (https://wck.org/news/gaza-6-21)
You can find more out about Mark and his work on his website
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Lucy is a longstanding SPARK member and recently graduated from Manchester Met, she already has a job in the competitive field of Early Years teaching. 
Congratulations on your recent Graduation from Leeds Trinity University
Theo is a sports journalist, broadcaster and disability advocate who graduated this month from Leeds Trinity University with a BA in Sports Journalism. 
Congratulations on your recent Graduation from the University of Cambridge
Heather graduated this month with a Law BA; also completing an exchange at Utrecht University where she immersed herself in the issues of human rights and social justice. 
My original goal was 10 miles a day, but I have upped it to 12 so I can finish on my 77th
Here are some of the events in and around the Leeds and Salford Dioceses:
SPARK Social Justice and the Spirituality of J&P action group are in the process of organising a retreat day on Saturday 11 October. It will take place at Hinsley Hall.
We covered a lot in 12 minutes, all the time there was before he dashed off to PMQs. 
Our Lady of Kirkstall parish covers quite a large area of NW Leeds and their local MP is Alex Sobel. Michael, Marian and Bronagh were able to meet with him and Michael takes up the story:
The Debt Relief (Developing Countries) Bill had its scheduled second reading in the House of Commons on Friday 11 July 2025, but it was not debated due to “lack of unanimous consent” – which means that it did not progress. It also means that there is still time to take action!
What is clear is that recovery work in the Gaza strip will take decades. Whilst aiming to be factual, it is clear that Windle is on the side of justice for the Palestinian people. His is a thoughtful analysis but it doesn’t try to hide the fact that mostly Israeli governments have had no real commitment to justice for Palestinians or a Palestinian state.