Social Action
Our work is to embody Christ-like love toward those in need, the marginalized, the enemy, and those whom we love even when we expect no love in return. It responds to the words of Jesus about the final judgment when we will be asked what we did for the least of these, the sick, the imprisoned, the hungry. To achieve this we as a parish we volunteer and help a large number of groups, including the one below.
Helping with Syrian Refugees in Guildford
We have all seen the haunting images from Aleppo and the refugee camps of Syria. Our prayers are essential but I am sure that some of you have felt as Ido some identification with the people St. James rebukes in his epistle-it's no good saying to someone that they should eat well and stay warm unless you try to do something about it.The "doing something about it" has been difficult.I discovered online what seems to be an excellent charity -"Samara's Aid" and recommend looking it up.
However, there are possiblilties to help near at hand . We now have in Guildford four families of Syrians with another arriving this month. This has been organised by Anglicans in Guildford in conjunction with Guildford council.There has been a comprehensive programme providing and preparing their homes, settling them in and placing the older children in schools. They all need help with English which is how I became involved-maybe some other parishioners with experience of EFL teaching would like to help. A social group has been arranged for Thursday mornings to encourage the use of English and people are needed to look after two or three under school age children while their parents particpate. Do some parishioners have hobbies or talents that would apeal to the families? There is a particular need for something for the men-for example are there any keen gardeners who could encourage vegetable growing? Above all the need is to make them feel welcome.
Meeting some wonderful people has been a great experience which can only spur us on to want to do much more.
If you want more information please ring 01483 57116
However, there are possiblilties to help near at hand . We now have in Guildford four families of Syrians with another arriving this month. This has been organised by Anglicans in Guildford in conjunction with Guildford council.There has been a comprehensive programme providing and preparing their homes, settling them in and placing the older children in schools. They all need help with English which is how I became involved-maybe some other parishioners with experience of EFL teaching would like to help. A social group has been arranged for Thursday mornings to encourage the use of English and people are needed to look after two or three under school age children while their parents particpate. Do some parishioners have hobbies or talents that would apeal to the families? There is a particular need for something for the men-for example are there any keen gardeners who could encourage vegetable growing? Above all the need is to make them feel welcome.
Meeting some wonderful people has been a great experience which can only spur us on to want to do much more.
If you want more information please ring 01483 57116
An History of Justice and Peace in Guildford
It all started in 1980 when the St Pius Parish Fr Brian O’Sullivan had a request from Fr. Bede Hill at Worth for funds to support a project in Brazil. Fr. Brian agreed we could send £500 and “recoup” it with a collection at Christmas…hence the first 10% collection. This collection continues annually at St Pius X to this day. Three charities, chosen by the congregation, benefit from this.
And then:
The First Friday evening Mass at St. Mary’s Burpham was offered for a J and P cause and this ran for a few years.
Several “Rich world / Poor world” meals were held; we linked with a town centre initiative to support families in Newham….. A few of us went to meet the people there and see their projects, 6 families took Newham children for a week;
we held a vigil for racial harmony and one for an end to apartheid in South Africa; Sr. Deidre Duffy (Pax Christi) spoke at all Masses about disarmament; two talks were on the Arms trade were organised….one speaker-an Arms Trader and the other from CAAT (Campaign Against Arms Trade); 3 talks on Development…speakers Hugh Comerford, Brian Davies and Andrew Martin; Fr. Gerry McFlynn (Pax Christi) gave a talk on Northern Ireland;
In May 2015 members joined from the other churches in Guildford and this coincided well with the creation of the setting up of the Catholic Parish of Guildford, we have members, now, from St Pius X, St Joseph’s and St Edwards.
The group is blessed to have, among its number, several who have a wealth of knowledge of the Catholic Faith as well as having been/ or still are involved in matters concerned with Justice and Peace issues, education, and the poor and disadvantaged both here in the UK and overseas.
During my time with this group I have been involved in MakePovertyHistory which was a huge campaign directed at the G8 in Edinburgh in 2005. Some of us went to Edinburgh and others worked in St Pius and in the High Street obtaining signatures for the petition that was sent up to Edinburgh in time for the Prime Minister to receive it. We also made white paper chains, at St Pius, collecting some 200 signatures which were delivered to Downing Street.
In 2007 we marked the 200th Anniversary of the Abolition of Slavery and the actions of William Wilberforce and we promote and highlight Racial Justice Sunday every year. In 2008 and 2009 we held debates with St Peter’s 6th Form entitled: ‘Is it better to buy locally grown food or to buy fairly traded goods’ and ‘The responsibility for Climate Change rests more with the individual than any other group, political or otherwise’.
As well as highlighting the usual special Sundays for racial justice and poverty etc through the year, in 2015 we held a series of sessions teasing out the message and meaning of Pope Francis Encyclical in 2015 ‘Laudato Si’ – “Care for Our Common Home”.
We have had a Car Free/Car Share weekend to highlight environment issues. We had an Aberfan 50th Anniversary Memorial input in October, and each autumn a "A Prayer Vigil for Peace in our World"
The Diocesan Christian Education Centre at Crawley holds a Justice and Peace meeting every January and several of the Group attend this and find it very enlightening, encouraging, and supportive.
Some have attended the Anglican Diocese of Guildford session on Refugees and we continue to update our knowledge of the situation. Very recently we had a meeting with Aidan Cantwell from our Diocese, and Diane Peters from the Guildford Diocese, on the latest situation on refugees arriving in the UK.
We meet monthly (except in August), generally the first Tuesday of each. We welcome anyone who would like to come along to our meetings to see what goes on. The more members we have the more impact we could have and it would be great to have more people to help with our projects.
Christine Learoyd
And then:
The First Friday evening Mass at St. Mary’s Burpham was offered for a J and P cause and this ran for a few years.
Several “Rich world / Poor world” meals were held; we linked with a town centre initiative to support families in Newham….. A few of us went to meet the people there and see their projects, 6 families took Newham children for a week;
we held a vigil for racial harmony and one for an end to apartheid in South Africa; Sr. Deidre Duffy (Pax Christi) spoke at all Masses about disarmament; two talks were on the Arms trade were organised….one speaker-an Arms Trader and the other from CAAT (Campaign Against Arms Trade); 3 talks on Development…speakers Hugh Comerford, Brian Davies and Andrew Martin; Fr. Gerry McFlynn (Pax Christi) gave a talk on Northern Ireland;
In May 2015 members joined from the other churches in Guildford and this coincided well with the creation of the setting up of the Catholic Parish of Guildford, we have members, now, from St Pius X, St Joseph’s and St Edwards.
The group is blessed to have, among its number, several who have a wealth of knowledge of the Catholic Faith as well as having been/ or still are involved in matters concerned with Justice and Peace issues, education, and the poor and disadvantaged both here in the UK and overseas.
During my time with this group I have been involved in MakePovertyHistory which was a huge campaign directed at the G8 in Edinburgh in 2005. Some of us went to Edinburgh and others worked in St Pius and in the High Street obtaining signatures for the petition that was sent up to Edinburgh in time for the Prime Minister to receive it. We also made white paper chains, at St Pius, collecting some 200 signatures which were delivered to Downing Street.
In 2007 we marked the 200th Anniversary of the Abolition of Slavery and the actions of William Wilberforce and we promote and highlight Racial Justice Sunday every year. In 2008 and 2009 we held debates with St Peter’s 6th Form entitled: ‘Is it better to buy locally grown food or to buy fairly traded goods’ and ‘The responsibility for Climate Change rests more with the individual than any other group, political or otherwise’.
As well as highlighting the usual special Sundays for racial justice and poverty etc through the year, in 2015 we held a series of sessions teasing out the message and meaning of Pope Francis Encyclical in 2015 ‘Laudato Si’ – “Care for Our Common Home”.
We have had a Car Free/Car Share weekend to highlight environment issues. We had an Aberfan 50th Anniversary Memorial input in October, and each autumn a "A Prayer Vigil for Peace in our World"
The Diocesan Christian Education Centre at Crawley holds a Justice and Peace meeting every January and several of the Group attend this and find it very enlightening, encouraging, and supportive.
Some have attended the Anglican Diocese of Guildford session on Refugees and we continue to update our knowledge of the situation. Very recently we had a meeting with Aidan Cantwell from our Diocese, and Diane Peters from the Guildford Diocese, on the latest situation on refugees arriving in the UK.
We meet monthly (except in August), generally the first Tuesday of each. We welcome anyone who would like to come along to our meetings to see what goes on. The more members we have the more impact we could have and it would be great to have more people to help with our projects.
Christine Learoyd
