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Diocese of Leeds Justice and Peace Commission (1)

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6 Dec – Peace Sunday: 18th January 2026

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World Day of Peace is celebrated by the Catholic Church each year on 1st January, the Solemnity of Mary, Mother of God. Building on this, the Catholic Bishops of England and Wales designate the second Sunday in Ordinary Time as ‘Peace Sunday’, inviting us to reflect on the annual message given to us by the Pope and allowing parishes to hold a collection in support of Pax Christi England and Wales.

This year Pope Leo XIV has chosen the theme of Peace be with you all: towards an ‘unarmed and disarming’ peace, thus echoing his words at the time of his election. This is a daunting goal in the light of the widespread belief that we must be armed, even with nuclear weapons, to protect ourselves. Both Pope Leo and a recent statement from our own Bishop’s Conference of England and Wales (Called to be Peacemakers) indicate that peace should not rely on fear, threats or weapons. Peace should have the capacity to resolve conflicts and open hearts through mutual understanding and hope. The phrase ‘Peace be with you’ is an integral part of our liturgy in each Mass and through our participation in the life of the Church we are all invited to be peacemakers.

Bishop John Arnold has recently been appointed as President of Pax Christi, and he has written to all Parishes introducing the theme for Peace Sunday. In his letter he refers to Called to be Peacemakers highlighting that the bishops have urged the UK to forsake its nuclear arsenal, support the global ban on nuclear weapons and promote ‘general and complete disarmament’. The bishops advocate for a shift from a ‘logic of fear’ to an ‘ethic of responsibility by fostering trust and dialogue’.

Bishop John says that

‘we are in a world torn by violence and war; a time of uncertainty; a time when strong leadership can help disperse doubt and show us a positive way forward in full hope.’

The Icon ‘Christ in the Rubble’ © Kelly Latimore The Icon ‘Christ in the Rubble’ © Kelly Latimore Pax Christi England and Wales provides peace education to schools and youth groups, campaigns for disarmament, especially the abolition of nuclear weapons, promotes a just peace for Palestine and Israel, upholds the rights of conscientious objectors, challenges the culture of militarism and promotes an understanding of nonviolence through resources and discussion.

If you think you would like to do something to celebrate Peace Sunday then you can find lots of resources on the Pax Christi website, including guides for liturgy, prayer and children’s activities. The generosity of many parish communities each year makes a significant contribution to the funds needed for the work of Pax Christi. If you are able to arrange for a collection, then this would be greatly appreciated and there are prayer cards and collection envelopes which can be ordered from Pax Christi to help with this.

If you would like to join a community of like-minded people to share in prayer, reflection and action, both online and in person, then you might consider joining Pax Christi as a member to receive regular issues of their newsletter Justpeace, e-bulletins and invitations to join actions and online discussions.

As we wait for the full World Day of Peace message from Pope Leo XIV to be released in early December, may we all consider how our lives could be transformed by adopting an ‘unarmed and disarming peace’ in our hearts and minds.

May we become people of peace to heal this world of violence.

Useful Links

Peace Sunday Resources - https://paxchristi.org.uk/peace-sunday-2026/

Called to be Peacemakers - www.cbcew.org.uk/called-to-be-peacemakers/

Pax Christi Membership -

https://paxchristi.org.uk/about-us/support-us/become-a-pax-christi-member/

3 Dec – J&P Christmas ideas

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How can we be mindful of others at Christmas? How to we continue our support of Justice and Peace in a time of year so often characterised by commercialism and waste?

Thoughtful Christmas Gifts

World Gifts are CAFOD's range of life-changing virtual gifts.

World Gifts are a range of virtual charity gifts that will delight the people you give them to and help transform the lives of families and communities living in poverty.

Oxfam Unwrapped is a range of charity gifts or charity donation gifts that support Oxfam’s work around the world. But what’s an Oxfam charity gift? - It’s the gift of donation to honour and celebrate your loved ones while contributing to a fairer world.

The Pax Christi shop sells a variety of Christmas gifts, and also has resources for Peace Sunday 2026 on Sunday 18th January 2026.

PS-Image_2025 Live Simply at Christmas

  • simply - buy gifts which people need, instead of excess that will be wasted

  • sustainably with creation - reduce, reuse, recycle. Why not shop for gifts at your local charity shop and re-use wrapping paper and gift bags? Shop local and avoid air miles

  • in solidarity with people living in poverty - buy fairly traded and ethically sourced gifts. Is there a social enterprise near you that you could support? What about giving to a local foodbank? Or a reverse advent calendar?

December 2025 Newsletter

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📄 Download PDF Newsletter

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

27 Nov – There is another way

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THERE IS ANOTHER WAY

By Joe Burns, Commission member

This was the title of the SPARK-sponsored film in the 112th Leeds Palestinian Film Festival. It was shown on Friday 21 November to an audience of about 70 people. As usual, there were several stalls selling Palestinian goods that looked to do good business. The Leeds Diocese Pax Christi group organised the refreshments (as well as having chosen the film).

Leeds Palestinian Film Festival Leeds Palestinian Film Festival The film itself was a good, if harrowing at times, watch. It followed members of Combatants for Peace. This organisation is made up of people who, at one time, were either part of a Palestinian military group or were part of the Israeli Defence Force. However, they had come to the conclusion that nonviolence was the only way in which a just and lasting peace can be obtained. The organisation has been going for about 20 years and this is the 3rd film that has been made about them (J&P previously sponsored another film that was about their activities).

The film started with the Hamas killings and hostage takings on October 7th 2023. Much of the film explored how this horrific event affected members of Combatants for Peace and their continued commitment to nonviolence as the only way forward. The filmmakers decided to focus on exploring this event and its effects on members. Both Israeli and Palestinian members were impacted – with one Palestinian member explaining how 60 of his extended family had been killed since October 2023. However, it had not diminished their commitment to nonviolence.

Janet Symes and Carol Burns - post-film discussion Janet Symes and Carol Burns - post-film discussion Leeds Palestinian Film Festival Leeds Palestinian Film Festival The film was a little over an hour so there was ample time for a post-film discussion with questions. Janet Symes, formerly head of the Middle East and South Asia desk for CAFOD provided some excellent reflection on the film and did her best to answer peoples’ questions. It was striking that some in the audience had completely missed the point about the nonviolent approach – one person describing it as ‘misguided’. It is not just Hamas and the Israeli Government who seem to think that violence can solve this situation! However, this made it all the more worthwhile for SPARK to have shown this film.

This was made possible by financial support from the Sisters of Sion.

This gives me hope

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by Sara Forrest

I take hope from….

The Lord’s Prayer,

especially the phrase ‘forgive us our sins as we forgive those who trespass against us.’ I realised this when I was listening to news reports from Gaza, Ukraine and the Sudan where there is little sign of reconciliation or dialogue with the aim of healing past hurts.

This is an every day reminder that we can, and should, forgive others and move forward in order to live as well as God intends. This can be hard though.

The phrase ‘lead us not into temptation’ is so relevant for an internet enabled world of 24/7 temptation. Unsubscribing to feeds that show content we’re not comfortable and or emails that bombard us with ‘special offers’ reduces the temptation we face. I now spend more time and money mindfully, so I consume less - Live Simply.

The Hail Mary,

especially ‘pray for us sinners’ which reassures me that I’m not meant to be perfect but I am worthy of prayer and support.

The Penitential Rite,

especially the phrase ‘I have sinned through my own fault, in my thoughts and in my words, in what I have done, and in what I have failed to do’. This reminds me that my choices have consequences.

If I accept that I did make a choice I may make a better choice next time. I can learn and live better. I know that sometimes other factors influence the outcome but that’s awareness helps me to learn too.

The Beatitudes

As a teenager I spent many hours discussing what each statement meant to discern how to live well as an adult. I particularly remember ‘Blessed are the poor in spirit’ provoking debate about career choices, job content being more important that pay. And how we spent what money we had, the difference between what we needed and what we wanted, and reducing jealousy when others had ‘more’.

Another clear memory relates to ‘Blessed are the peacemakers’ when we talked about relationships, for example ‘was it better to keep quiet if someone in your friendship group really irritated you’ or should you exclude them. Firm conclusions were difficult. But with practice I got better at telling people about how I felt about what had happened and learnt how develop maturing relationships.

I have little influence over politics and the big choices made on my behalf but these prayers and Gospel reflections enable me to make conscious choices that have a positive influence on the quality of my relationship with God and others. I feel blessed that my faith gives me these regular practical reminders that help me live a better life.

Blessed are the Poor in Spirit for theirs is the Kingdom of Heaven
This gives me hope.

22 Nov – G20: Global Debt Crisis Exposed by actor Alex Macqueen in Spoof Pay-Day Loan Ad

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With the global debt crisis high on the agenda at this week’s G20 summit, actor Alex Macqueen is starring in a spoof television advert released in the UK today (19 November 2025).  Created by Richard Curtis’ Project Everyone initiative in partnership with Catholic aid agency CAFOD, the satirical commercial Meet the World’s Loan Sharks  exposes the global debt crisis as tantamount to pay-day loans.

Best known for his roles in The Thick of It, Hijack, Rivals and Inbetweeners, Alex attended a special screening of the 90 second spoof on 19 November, for MPs at the Houses of Parliament, and it is also being released across the social media channels of NGOs and influencers.  

Aid agency CAFOD is calling for the UK government to step in at this weekend’s G20 Summit on 22-23 November in South Africa, to encourage members to support a new system for managing unsustainable debt for lower income countries.  The most important aspect of a new system, is that all debt repayments for low-income countries be put on pause as soon as they apply for debt relief.  Without this, private lenders have zero incentive to cooperate, as they continue to receive payments.

CAFOD is also calling on the UK government to pass a new Debt Justice Law to force private lenders to take part in debt cancellation. UK law governs 90% of countries covered by the G20 debt relief scheme and 50% of all international debt. 

Screenshot 2025-11-20 110143 In the film CAFOD Ambassador, Alex Macqueen, plays the part of a fictional and predatory ‘dodgy lender’ - representing the private banks and hedge funds that are allowed to target vulnerable low-income countries with loans, at exorbitant interest rates. Styled as a daytime television advert for a pay-day loan company, he’s wearing an ill-fitting suit and offers outrageous deals, all with dodgy graphics and sinister undertones. 

His character in the film says: 

“Are you a small country struggling with money? Finances been hit hard, through no fault of your own, by climate change, natural disaster, war?  Can’t find the cash to pay for the basics? Like roads, electricity and water? Have no other access to credit?

 

“We're here to help. We give cash to countries just like you, every day. We’ve lent to dozens of nations. All at incredible interest rates. Worried you won’t be able to pay it back? That even though you’re careful with money you’ll be stuck in a cycle of poverty? A never ending spiral of debt? Not a problem - simply cut back your spending on other areas like hospitals and schools.

 

“And if you can’t pay it back, don’t worry, we’re happy to lend you more.”

The spoof finishes with a voiceover, stating: 

“Find out more at unfairloans.com - terms and conditions apply - unless of course you're from a high income country, obviously that’s totally different. Oh and we’re barely regulated - governments allow us to operate this way - so there’s no comeback. And in fact if you don't repay, we'll sue you.”

Alex Macqueen says:

“The comparison to pay-day loan sharks perfectly captures the shockingly unethical and exploitative nature of the debt crisis. Those at the sharp end of poverty are forced into debt with scandalous interest rates just to survive, but the more comfortable can access reasonable loan arrangements. Clearly something has gone very wrong.

“With nearly half the world’s population living in countries that spend more on interest repayments than they do on essential services like schools and hospitals, it’s ordinary people who are most deeply impacted by this terrible unfairness. With the G20 imminent, now is the time to bring attention to a too long ignored outrage.”

Screenshot 2025-11-20 110454 Maria Finnerty, Lead Economist at CAFOD says:

“The UK outlawed exploitative loan sharks years ago, in a hugely popular move with support across the political spectrum. If predatory lending is illegal in the UK we must not allow it to continue globally. It’s time to apply the same logic and compassion to countries where millions suffer the consequences of unethical lending, decimating spending on health and education and condemning hundreds of millions of people to poverty. 

“The UK is a global debt superpower, with 90% of private loans to low-income countries governed by English law. The government could change the law tomorrow at zero cost to UK taxpayers, solving 90% of the problem and benefiting millions of people overnight. All that's missing is the political will.”

In the last 10 years the number of low-income countries facing unsustainable debt levels has more than doubled, from 22 in 2015 to 54. Across Africa debt has skyrocketed from $17 billion in 2010 to $74 billion in 2024, a 335% increase in just over a decade, with 34 African countries now spending more on external debt payments than on health or education. 

Private lenders charge low-income countries interest rates of 6-10%, but wealthy nations 0-1% meaning that low-income countries are often required to repay their original debts several times over. For instance, average borrowing costs for countries in Africa are 9.8%, compared to 0.8% for developed countries like Germany.

The impact on ordinary people is devastating. This is money that should be feeding children, training nurses, building schools and preparing for floods. Families feel this every day — when clinics run out of medicine, when classrooms are overcrowded, and when governments can’t hire the teachers and doctors that people need.

Hannah Cameron, Campaign Director at Project Everyone, says:

“We wanted to find a simple way to tell the story of the global debt crisis and its human impact. With the help of Alex Macqueen’s dodgy loan shark character we did just that. I hope it leads to increased understanding and public support for new solutions.” 

This year’s G20 in Johannesburg offers a once-in-a-generation opportunity to fix a broken system. For the first time in years, sovereign debt is on the G20 agenda and with 2025 marking a Jubilee Year, global movements are renewing their call for large-scale debt relief.

Anyone wanting to learn and do more can visit unfairloans.com. 

More information

African Center for Economic Transformation

Jubilee Debt Campaign May 2020

Debt Justice

African Development Bank Group

Action Aid, ‘Who Owes Who? External debts, climate debts and reparations in the Jubilee year’, February 2025

JUBILEE 2025: The new global debt crisis and its solutions

20 Nov – Developing sustainability in the diocese

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by Paul Kelly and Keith Pitcher

Almost every organisation nowadays, thank goodness, has sustainability on its agenda. And Leeds Diocese is no exception. With the tradition of Catholic Social Teaching behind us and Laudato Si’ bringing care of our common home into sharp focus 10 years ago, this should come as no surprise. But did you know sustainability is now an integral part of strategic thinking in the diocese and we have a dedicated Diocesan Laudato Si’ Sustainability Group to help focus its direction and its decision making?

 

Known by its abbreviation, the DLSSG came about after a group of parishioners from Settle met with Bishop Marcus over 4 years ago to explore what our mission to care for all aspects of creation might look like. Those pioneering parishioners became part of a Climate Action sub-group of the J&P Commission who Bishop Marcus put in contact with key members of the curial offices. The DLSSG was born.

 

The group meets regularly at Hinsley Hall under the chairmanship of Mgr Andrew Summersgill, moderator of the curia. Along with 3 representatives of the Climate Action group the DLSSG comprises the property manager, directors of finance, communications & education, Katie Clegg Head of Sustainability at Leeds Trinity University, and Carla Stockton-Jones newly appointed trustee with responsibility for sustainability.

Screenshot 2025-11-19 153729 The group’s purpose is to promote sustainability as a core spiritual and practical value across all aspects of our Christian life as diocese, parish, school and parishioner; to contribute towards strategic planning in the diocese; and to be available as a resource/source of help. As Pope Francis made clear in his encyclical Laudato Si’ the environment is the milieu in which our economy and society function; they are intimately connected and interdependent. The focus on sustainability ensures all three become central to our ethical decision making.

 

Some members of the present DLSSG helped to develop the Diocesan Environmental Policy and its strategic planning. Although signed off by the Bishop in 2020 the policy struggles to influence much of our everyday practice without the leadership and resourcing available to other, equally important, departments. Hence leadership has been a major focus of the group with agreement secured last year from the diocese to recruit a Head of Sustainability to complement the work of other directorates in the curia.

 

At present diocesan finances make it challenging to make any new appointments, yet a determined focus on sustainability would not only be God’s work but will save money and reduce greenhouse gases emissions through initiatives to slash energy use. It’s a real ‘catch-22’. The DLSSG is the key driver of bringing attention to and helping to resolve this dilemma.

 

The challenge too for all of us is how can our clergy, parishioners and schools be helped to understand and live this previously under-developed part of our Catholicity? What would help us to learn, pray, preach, guide, work together and act?

 

Pope Leo XIV affirmed its importance this autumn:

“We cannot call ourselves disciples of Jesus Christ without participating in his outlook on creation and his care for all that is fragile and wounded.”

(Address 1st Oct 2025 to participants in the "Raising Hope" conference on the tenth anniversary of Laudato Si’.)

The contact for DLSSG is Jacqui Atkinson, administrator at Hinsley Hall

Tel: 0113 2618029 Ext: 229

Email: Jacqui.atkinson@dioceseofleeds.org.uk

Please do get in touch if you would like more information, can help the work of the group or need support towards making our homes, parishes, schools and diocese more sustainable in line with God’s kingdom.

13 Nov – Leeds United Against Poverty

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by Sara Forrest, Commission Member

Leeds Church Institute led this event on 3 November at Headingley Stadium.

Refreshingly most attendants were of working age! The organisations they worked for and volunteered with were wide ranging. The purpose was to engage people and organisations in setting up a coalition to fight local poverty in all its forms: material, health and spiritual.

A short film about what Leeds Rhinos and Jamie Jones Buchanan are doing to address homelessness was both informed and entertaining. He is so thankful for the opportunities he got because of being talent spotted and enrolled into the Rhinos Academy. As a young lad of his colour from an ordinary family in Bramley he had not expected to achieve so much in his life.

Jamie-Jones-Buchanan-Leeds-1 The first panel session was chaired by John Battle and was lively. It addressed what poverty is and how do we challenge the many misperceptions about why so many more people are falling into poverty Views expressed were as varied as the experience of those attending and rooted in their practical activities addressing the symptoms of poverty. Certainly, on my table there was a consensus that our organisations are all ‘sticking plasters’ over the gaps in state provision and we need to do more campaigning.

download (1) Workshops working on the barriers leading to poverty, what enables people to lift themselves out of poverty and what we can, and do do, to enable people to thrive followed. Increased individualisation was identified as a negative impact on responses to poverty.

Lunch was followed by a second panel chaired by Raheem. The focus here was on the importance of storytelling in engaging emotion and commitment to change. Penny Alexander was not the only person who teared up when talking about the powerful image of Kevin Sinflield lifting Rob Burrow from his wheelchair to cross the finish line in the first Rob Burrow Marathon! That emotional power was credited with the raising of £10,000,000 to open the Rob Burrow MND Centre.

0_JS299715719 The whole day was a stark reminder of how often those in poverty are isolated, unseen and unheard.

The plenary session then brought together the many themes emerging from the earlier sessions.

And the need for us to listen to those with no voice and enable them to tell their stories and engage those with the power to push the levers to alleviate poverty. Many people have stories that describe how material poverty and lack of opportunity so often develops into the vicious cycle of poor physical and mental health and debt.

Far fewer have stories like Jamie Jones.