Justice and Peace: Wear Valley Justice and Peace is a small ecumenical group based at St Cuthbert’s, with linksto the Justice and Peace Co-ordinating Council of the Diocese of Hexham and Newcastle. Inspired by faith, we hold monthly meetings, aiming to promote peace and social justice through our actions and prayers. These are some of the areas that we are currently focused on:
Refugees and Asylum Seekers: We hold a fortnightly drop-in to welcome local refugees and one of our members is involved with asylum seekers in Stockton. We attend the Interfaith Vigil at the gates of Derwentside Immigration Removal Centre on the first Sunday of each month (we usually meet in the St Cuthbert’s Centre car park around 2.00pm and travel together)
Aid Agencies: Christian Aid – We support Christian Aid week and organise quizzes to raise money for Christian Aid. Cafod – We fundraise for the Family Fast Day appeals by organising soup lunches etc. Fair Trade – We support and promote Fair Trade, in particular the sale of Palestinian produce and crafts to support communities in the occupied West Bank.
Prayer: Recognising the importance of prayer to underpin all our activities, we pray continually for peace and justice, while highlighting significant issues and marking important dates. We holdservices marking Peace Sunday in January, the bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki is remembered in August, and the Season of Creation in September is celebrated with prayers marking the feast of St Francis on 4 October.
With the Daughters of Divine Love, we are asked to pray for the situation in Nigeria, as well as other African countries that are seldom reported on in the news.
Here at Our Lady Immaculate and St Cuthbert RC Church there is a weekly prayer vigil for peace in areas of conflict, with a focus on Israel/Palestine every Thursday evening from 7:00 pm to 7:30 pm. All are welcome to join these sessions.
For further information on the Justice and Peace group within the Diocese of Hexham & Newcastle please click here: https://diocesehn.org.uk/news/justice-peace-co-ordinating-council-update-march-2025/
Click below for the report from the latest Justice and Peace council meeting.
