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Diocese of Leeds Justice and Peace Commission (1)

Category: Prayer

14 Feb – Conversations of Hope

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by Kathy Shaw, SPARK manager

Earlier this month I was invited to join a meeting with the Leeds Muslim Youth Forum to talk about our work and ways to counter the divisive messages our young adults receive on social media and elsewhere.  This ties into our SPARK Conversations of Hope and also continues the themes of Pilgrims of Hope 2025.

I had a lively conversation with about 15 young people, topics such as responding to racism and challenging injustice and poverty.  One member of the group gave me inspiration in her explanation about the best way to engage people in our target age group. 

Respectfully, she assured me that older people are happy sitting round a table and talking about social justice issues, but the best way to catch interest with the under 30’s is to focus more on visual messaging. 

The group gave me examples of effective TikTok reels and are in the process of completing a documentary and film project so are very tuned into this. 

Following on from my visit, we are looking at inviting young adults and friends to an Iftar on 6th March.  This is the evening meal at sunset that breaks the daily fast during Ramadan. 

Lent and Ramadan will both begin on 18th February, a time to celebrate community and spiritual connection; the 6th  March has been chosen as a date near to International Women’s Day.

Save the date – 6th March!  Details to follow.

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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]

11 Sep – Commission Planning Meeting

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Saturday 27 September at Hinsley Hall from 10:30 until 14:30

Our quarterly meetings are usually hybrid affairs, with some of us joining via Zoom and some people together in a meeting room at Hinsley Hall. However, once a year we get together for an extended meeting to reflect on what we have done in the past year, review our priorities (crucial given our limited resources), and plan for the coming year both in terms of the sorts of meetings and other activities that we might organise and also in terms of how we work.

All Commission meetings are open to anyone who is interested enough to join.

The extended planning meeting will take place on Saturday 27 September at Hinsley Hall. It will run from 10:30 until 14:30. If you are interested then please email jandp@dioceseofleeds.org.uk so we can send you more details.

commission members

15 May – Habemus Papam!

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by Kathy Shaw, SPARK manager

Cardinal Robert Prevost has been elected pope and will be known as Pope Leo XIV

Pope Leo XIV holds dual citizenship in both the US and Peru where he served as a bishop. He spent much of his career as a missionary in South America where he is fondly remembered as a figure who worked with marginalised communities and helped build bridges in the local Church.

He is the first American to become pontiff and will lead the Catholic global community of 1.4 billion people.

pope-leo-xiv-050825-9-1f856aa9fabd4f97a913fde4974eb4f7 One of the first acts of a new pope is to choose a new name, changing their baptismal one. Over the years, popes have often chosen the names to refer to previous pontiffs for example, Pope Francis said his name honoured St Francis of Assisi. Once elected, the name that a chosen pope takes is often seen as a sign of their focus and direction for their papacy. It can signal continuity or a break with the past and suggest whether the new leader of the Catholic Church is progressive or traditionalist.

The previous Pope Leo XIII was pope at the end of the 19th century, he died in 1903. He was a determined defender of the rights of workers and is remembered as a pope who was dedicated to social policies and social justice. He laid the foundation for modern Catholic social thought, addressing workers' rights and capitalism at the dawn of the industrial age. He is particularly known for issuing an encyclical - a letter sent to bishops of the Church - called "Rerum Novarum", a Latin expression which means "Of New Things".

Rerum Novarum Robert Francis Prevost has a bachelor’s degree in mathematics. He was ordained a priest in June 1982 and studied canon law at the Pontifical University of St Thomas Aquinas (Angelicum) in Rome, five years later, he received his doctorate.

He was received into the Augustinian religious order in 1977. The Order of St Augustine was formed in the 13th century as a community of “mendicant” friars dedicated to poverty, service and evangelisation. It has a presence in about 50 countries, and its ethos includes a contemplative spirituality, communal living and service to others.

Pope Leo first went to Peru as a missionary in 1985, returning to the US in 1986 as vocations director in the Augustinians. In 1988, he returned to Peru for about a decade in the city of Trujillo, before returning to the US for a leadership role with the Augustinians in 1999. He returned to Peru in 2014 and was installed as the bishop of Chiclayo in September 2015. He also became a Peruvian citizen in 2015.

Pope Leo helping serve food In taking the name Leo XIV, the indications include a commitment to social issues. He is reportedly very close to Francis's vision regarding the environment, outreach to the poor and migrants.

Pope Leo was made a cardinal by Pope Francis in 2023 and appointed to a powerful position, responsible for selecting new bishops. Significantly, he presided over one of the most revolutionary reforms when three women were added to the voting bloc which decides on the bishop nominations sent to the Pope. He also supported Pope Francis's stance on allowing divorced and remarried Catholics to receive Holy Communion. However, he only showed mild support for allowing priests to bless same-sex couples.

As Cardinal he said in 2024,

"the bishop is not supposed to be a little prince sitting in his kingdom"

Appearing on the balcony of St Peter's Basilica, his first words outlined a vision of a "missionary" Church which "builds bridges, which holds dialogues, which is always open".

He also echoed his predecessor, the late Pope Francis, in calling for peace.

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Faithful God,

You guide us on the path of life

and your goodness is our constant companion.

Be with our new Shepherd, Pope Leo XIV,

in his service of the Church.

Fill him with the power of your Spirit,

the peace of your presence

and the compassion of Christ.

May he walk with you,

in wisdom and humility,

and lead us, together with all God’s people,

to embody your love for the world.

Amen.

A prayer to welcome Pope Leo XIV from CAFOD Director, Christine Allen

www.cafod.org.uk

17 Jan – Disarming the Heart

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by Carol Burns, Pax Christi

Disarming the Heart

A liturgy of repentance in a Nuclear Age

An Ash Wednesday service will be held on Wednesday 6th March at 12.30 outside Holy Trinity Church on Boar Lane in Leeds.

Since 1982, Christians have assembled on Ash Wednesday at the Ministry of Defence to pray for peace and a conversion of hearts and minds away from nuclear war preparations, the destruction caused by nuclear testing and the wasted resources that are invested in nuclear weapons and in all weapons.

Over those years services have been held in Liverpool and Glasgow and people from peace groups from different parts of the country have travelled to London.

Holy Trinity Church on Boar Lane in Leeds from a drone London protest against nuclear Protest in London against nuclear This year 2025 the Leeds Pax Christi group are organising a prayer service in Leeds.

Ash Wednesday is the beginning of a time of repentance in the Church calendar and we will be praying for all those involved in nuclear war preparations to repent and have a change of heart.

We also recognise that we can all do more to speak out about nuclear war preparations and to prayer to have the courage to carry on with our opposition.

We are inspired by Pope Francis in 2023 in his Urbi et Orbi' message where he said:

"The human heart is weak and impulsive; if we find instruments of death in our hands, sooner or later we will use them. And how can we even speak of peace, when arms production, sales and trade are on the rise?"

All are welcome to join us on 6th March