ST PAUL’S POST St Paul’s Province Weekly Newsletter: 53 23 October 2017

Our birthday girls

for the next 2 weeks

are:

Melanie Maguire 23 October

Eily May White 23 October

Anthony Mary Ward 26 October

Anne Hammersley 31 October

Srs Monica Higgins & Kathleen Shelly;

Marguerita’s brother-in-law, Brendan;

Damian’s brother, Brendan

and her sister, Betty;

Anna Hainey’s brother, Danny;

Francis’ niece-in-law, Val McCartan and

Francis’ brother, Austin, who has

deteriorated and is quite ill again;

Catherine Kealy’s brother-in-law, Tony.

Sr Sheila McNally’s brother, John.

Also continue to pray for:

Please pray for:

Sr Edith Culliton, who remains in a

critical condition on ICU following

her recent heart surgery.

Carmel Gorman’s sister-in-law,

Mary.

I am greatly touched by the number of sisters who prayed, had Masses offered; who sent words of sympathy either by card, e-mail or phone; or who in person listened as I related the story of Lily's unexpected death. Sisters, I thank you all most sincerely.

Carmel Gorman

There will be no St Paul’s Post next week. Next edition will be out on Monday 6 November.

Peace is not the product of terror or fear.

Peace is the generous, tranquil contribution

of all for the good of all. Oscar Romero

News from Chile

Preparing for Mass

Carmen Gloria, Ann Cotter,

Fr Jerman CP, Anne

Culliton and Nora Callisto

The Sisters in Chile at their Assembly in Santiago.

Back row L to R

Srs Anita Jara, Palmira Morales, Cecilia Duarte, Ann Cotter, Ann Langan, Nora Calisto, Carmen Gloria Hernandez, and Betty Verdejo

Front row L to R

Srs Breda Colbert, Inez Muzzio, Victoria Astorga, Eliana Laborda, Anne Culliton, Clare Hickey

Srs Betty Verdejo, Ann Langan and Inez Muzzio Srs Brid O'Rawe, Eliana Laborda and

Cecilia Duarte

Centrepiece at Chile Assembly

by Máire O’Sullivan

A Short Summary of the Justice Peace and Integrity of Creation Links Annual Conference

on the subject of the Arms Trade and Non-Violence

On Saturday 7th October 2017 a number of religious sisters, (including 3 CP Sisters: Rita, Marcella & Eily May) brothers, associates and friends from various Roman Catholic and Anglican orders gathered in central London for the annual meeting of the Justice Peace and Integrity of Creation Links group. The talks and discussions at this conference were facilitated by three lifelong peace activists: Bruce Kent, Valerie Flessati, and Henrietta Cullinan. I attended this meeting with Sister Diana (CHN) who has been on the steering group in the past. The main statement I heard coming out of the day was this: The Church should take a leading role in helping the world move away from a violence is normal mentality and in encouraging our own country to let go now of using the Just War principle as its default guide. We were reminded that for the first few centuries of its existence the Church was pacifist. It was also put to us that the Church needs to recognize and recommit to the centrality of Gospel nonviolence.

We were reminded that the original intention of the Just War principle was to avoid excessive violence, whereas in reality it has tended to be used to justify combat. It was suggested to us that now would be a good time to let go of the Just War principle and to allow ourselves to think outside the box. We heard

how a study has shown that armed combat has a 27% success rate when it comes to resolving conflict and bringing about stability, whereas non-violent action has a 54% success rate. We read together some non-violent success stories and used them as case studies for learning what attitudes and practical actions are needed in order to attain peaceful conflict resolution.

Perhaps the most important part of the day was discussing what practical and manageable things we as churches and individual Christians could do in working for peace. One of the suggestions aimed at churches was that they made sure not to avoid or neglect the subjects of violence and war when focussing on connected issues such as poverty or human rights or the environment. Simple practical suggestions included things like putting the United Nations Charter on a church notice board or website.

At the conference we were also given an overview of the numerous ways that individuals can get involved with campaigning for peace. Letter-writing might appeal more to some personality types, awareness-raising might appeal more to others, while physically preventing vehicles from getting to arms fairs might appeal more to others.

Two things in particular stood out to me from the day. The first was something that Sister Diana and I read in the newspaper on the train ride from Derby to London that very morning and which was pointed out at the conference as being extremely encouraging. This was the fact that this year’s Nobel Peace Prize was

awarded to the International Campaign to Abolish Nuclear Weapons. The second thing that stood out to me was the story that Valerie told of how just one letter she wrote to a supermarket / department store business seemed to make so much difference. She related how a certain company known for its good treatment of staff and heart-warming Christmas adverts had been involved with promoting a warfare-related event. She wrote a letter to question the morality of this and how this was in keeping with the ethos of their business. She received a well considered response and the company hasn’t advertised these kinds of events since. Both of these incidents encouraged me that seemingly small actions towards peace are worth undertaking, and can make a difference.

Sr Lizzie Hartley, (CHN)

Two of the Anglicans present :

Br Hugh & Sr Diana

A Dominican Sister from Iraq had drawn

a symbol of what peace meant to her.

Sr Diana (CHN), Bruce Kent, Valerie Flessati, Lizzie (postulant with CHN),

Sr Maureen (CSF), Br Hugh (SSF)

Dear Sisters, Ronan and Lewis,

Please pray for Ron who has sent us this request:

Please pray for me as I try to carry my cross of HIV which the Lord has blessed me with. Pray for my wife who has been supportive since I contracted HIV. Thank you.

Thank you for your prayers. Our ‘Positive Faith’ launch event went very well yesterday. I attach a few photos for your interest, I hope. You might also enjoy visiting the new Positive Faith website, where you will see some of the videos that we have made over the past year.

(Photos – RC Archbishop Peter Smith; Tim Radcliffe OP; some of the production team and participants inc Anglican Bishop Christopher Chessun.)

New videos at http://www.positivefaith.net/index.html

Dear ACTA Friends,

Prof Tom O'Loughlin, the National President of the Catholic Theological Association, has just sent us this link (see below). It's a great opportunity to sign a petition in support of Pope Francis at this time when some Cardinals and Bishops are challenging the direction in which he is leading our Church.

If you feel as I do, I'm sure you'll want to sign it yourself and forward it to your entire address book. Please do just that!

Don't be put off by the German - just click at the top right corner to get it in English.

Many thanks for your participation in this.

God bless Pope Francis.

God bless and love,

Jean Riordan - Coordinator of Birmingham Diocesan Area ACTA

http://www.pro-pope-francis.com/site/home