Advent is a time of grace to free ourselves from the false belief that we are self-sufficient, to confess our sins and welcome God’s pardon, and to ask forgiveness from those we have offended.
Pope Francis
To view Justice & Peace Newsletters click here
including latest download on Practical Action (on plastic waste)
Justice & Peace Minutes:
Debt relief – questions and issues
Debt Relief Responses Rebecca Paul November 2024 (Click link to view)
Live Simply Award Poster Nov 2024 (click to view)
Can we be a Live Simply Award Parish?
The Live Simply Award is an opportunity for Catholic communities to respond to Pope Francis’ invitation in Laudato Si to “work with generosity and tenderness in protecting this world which God entrusted to us”
The Live Simply Award is earned by communities which show how they have been living
It celebrates what we have already done and will inspire us to do more. It will help us to live, not just more simply, but also more fully.
Father Tony has submitted a plan on behalf of the parish which comprises our application for the award. In the plan three main actions have been outlined which all involve smaller actions.
Every member of the parish, of all ages, can be involved on a personal and/or communal basis.
The main actions are:
When we are ready CAFOD will organise two assessors to visit the parish to hear about what we have been doing and to celebrate our achievements .
Live Simply Review and Report November 2024
Practical Action project launched and updated – J and P newsletters July 2023, Jan 2024, July 2024 (final article planned for Jan 2025). See PNL website thenativityofthelord.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/JP-Newsletter-Jul-23-web.pdf New Leaf shop promoted via pyramid scheme “invite 3 friends” Plant Sales – April 2023 – £425 raised May 2024 – £450+ raised. Confirmation group participation and help. Final plant sale April 2025 Big Green week June 2024 UCM Merstham – bulb planting October 2024, meeting discussion about how to improve lifestyles, Dr Camody Grey film shown, church flowers from own gardens, participation in Merstham Baptist Church community garden. St Teresa’s church – work with Merstham Community Facilities Trust and local churches on local projects to enable local residents to improve their neighbourhood, learn new skills, access free mental health peer support, repair faulty equipment, run a food club collecting food that would otherwise go to waste from local supermarket for a community fridge, regular community litter picking, run an IT café for free help for residents to access their computers and mobile devices, a community allotment to grow food for those that can’t afford an allotment and a community bee keeping project Magical Music Marathon event – “fill St Joseph’s church with music for 12 hours” £500+ raised – see report and programme thenativityofthelord.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/JP-Newsletter-Jan-24-_final02.pdf Afternoon Concert planned for March 1st 2025 Beavers activities and talk on “re-use, recycle and refill” – June 20th 2024 |
Laudato Si engagement Diocesan Justice and Peace Assembly January 2023 (Modern Slavery) and 2024 (Domestic Abuse) attended by several parishioners. Jan 2025 to be attended Week for Climate Justice February 2024 ambassadors prayed Rosary outside House of Parliament with ecumenical group. “Restoring Nature” talks at Quaker Meeting House in April 2024 attended by several parishioners. Season of Creation Sept 1 – Oct 4 2024 prayers of intercession “caring for our common home” Confirmation group led Stations of the Cross using CAFOD environment based sequence during Lent 2023 and 2024 Parish Book Club – chosen book Laudato Si (x2) and Fratelli Tutti Wild flower area worked on by team of 8+ parishioners at St Joseph’s church – in progress Journey to 2030 – varied participation by parishioners |
CAFOD Advent and Lent Fast Day Appeals – October 2023 , Feb 2024, October 2024 -readings at 4 masses and collections. Feb 2025 planned Lent appeal CAFOD talk by Jenny Finlayson open to all parishioners – film, talk and discussion. Soup brunch Friday 23rd Feb 2024 Big Lent Walk completed by individual parishioners – see Jan 2024 J and P newsletter Confirmation Group held cake sale in aid of CAFOD Fix the Food System signing at parish open mass in May 2024 – good response, submitted to CAFOD central office. CAFOD pre-election training 4 May 2024 Pre-election parish open meeting with presentation and discussion, June 2024. Agreed questions submitted to candidates. See responses on PNL website. 2 local MPs have been approached concerning support for a debt justice law October/November 2024. Appointments to be arranged See July 2023 Justice and Peace newsletter |
Fairtrade Support of Fairtrade fortnight via Reigate group Feb and Sept 2024 – see Face book. UCM confirm use of Fairtrade goods Availability in local shops only achieved via Reigate Fairtrade Group |
Other Initiatives Peace Jan 14 2024 – distribution of prayer cards and parish lunch – see Jan 2024 J and P newsletter. Same proposal for Jan 2025 CND, Stop the War and other peace activities highlighted in J and P newsletters and monthly J and P minutes. Peace Vigil for Gaza in Reigate attended by parishioners Nov 2024 |
Gatwick Detainees Welfare Group Visiting detainees by trained individuals in Brook House and Tinsley House at Gatwick Airport. Provision of clothes collected by parish members. Participation by many parishioners in annual and monthly Refugee Tales walks – see Jan 2024 J and P newsletter |
Care of the Community Warm space provision and open church Ongoing regular home-visiting work of SVP and weekly notice in parish newsletter informing about available help Weekly contributions in 3 churches collected in yellow buckets and delivered by teams of parishioners to St Matthew’s church foodbank, Redhill |
Care of Church and reduction of fuel use No-mow May participation. Lighting changed to LED lamps where possible. Heat loss encouraged by considered use of church front doors. Heating system use streamlined Recycling boxes in use for triaging plastics/paper/ card etc in 3 churches. Candles collected from our parish and other churches – recycling of wax and metal cups. Reduced frequency of changing altar candles. Old Advent candles cleaned up for reuse and Paschal Candles painted (rather than purchase embossed ones) Soap dispensers in toilets refilled (rather than renewed) Sanctuary light containers recycled |
Not mentioned in application A and B Diocescan “Against Modern Slavery” group working with Southwark and Chichester Anglican dioceses – ambassadors and other individuals trained, commissioned and doing ongoing work. Diocese of Southwark event in Methodist Church Reigate – organisation and active part played by PNL ambassadors and other parishioners Winter Night Shelter for homeless hosted on Tuesdays at St Joseph’s church centre. Many parishioners involved. February and March 2024 February and March 2025 See Jan 2024 J and P newsletter report |
The Justice and Peace Group sent a number 0f important questions, based on an join initiative between CAFOD ad SVP to our local Parliamentary Candidates ahead of the General Election. Click here to see the questions and responses received; also delayed response from Rebecca Paul (p.1 and p.2)
Our Parish has a committed Justice & Peace Group that meets on the second Wednesday of each month at 8pm in the PNL centre at St Joseph’s. All are welcome to come and join us to reflect on topical issues and how we can raise awareness in the Parish, engage with the wider community, and help to make the world a fairer place for all peoples.
Our various groups and activities in the parish include: Cafod; Traidcraft; Amnesty International; Gatwick Detainees. We also have regular prayer liturgies to pray for peace and justice.
THE PNL PARISH CHARITY
What is “The PNL Parish Charity”
A charity chosen by the PNL parishioners to support as our one charity.
Why have a Parish Charity?
Fr Kevin introduced the PNL Parish Charity. The nominated charity provides focus for parishioners to work together to support one charity for a defined period of time. The charity benefits too with larger funding for bigger projects.
Who decides?
Everyone in our parish can put forward and charity and vote.
How are charities chosen?
Every 1 to 2 years a new charity is selected for the parish to support. Ideas and suggestions come from parishioners, a short-list is drawn up by the J & P group and, if there are a number of suggestions, a vote is held in the parish.
What charity do we support? ….
Since the PNL Parish Charity was introduced, overseas charities have included the CAFOD Connect2 project, Warmi Hausi in Peru and Mary’s Meals. Previous UK charities were the Manna Society in London Bridge, Depaul UK and the Medaille Trust, which came to an end in September.
Our New Charity for the Parish – one of the projects directed by Practical Action
This project aims to transform the lives of informal waste workers in Faridpur, Bangladesh by creating a new market for a stream of plastic waste that currently has no commercial value.
This project has several hugely advantageous effects:
Context
As plastic waste flows downstream towards the ocean, this innovative project ensures its removal from the waterways, while creating local employment and better incomes at each stage of the recycling process.
Bangladesh is facing a serious waste management issue. The population generates around 800,000 tons of plastic waste per year, along with rubbish shipped to its shores from wealthier countries. With frequent rural to urban migration and ever-growing informal settlements, the mountains of rubbish in urban areas look set to increase. Local authorities lack the necessary funds to provide adequate waste services, while informal waste workers are poorly paid, unrecognised within society and subject to unhygienic, dangerous conditions and discrimination.
Without suitable disposal means, flimsy plastic waste blocks up drainage systems, polluting neighbourhoods and creating a health risk. Since plastic doesn’t biodegrade, it finds its ways into the river and eventually the Indian Ocean where it poses a significant threat to marine life.
Functioning as a pilot, the project is presenting and trialling a social, technical and business model for reducing the amount of plastic waste pollution in the local environment and oceans, that will simultaneously improve the lives and livelihoods of waste workers.
Our goals
It is hoped that this project will stimulate us all to review and question our own use of plastic and other waste. Besides supporting the residents of Faridpur we can play our own part in improving our environmento
Parish Office
122 Ladbroke Road
Redhill, Surrey, RH1 1LF
01737 761017
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The Parish Of the Nativity of the Lord is part of the Diocese of Arundel & Brighton
The Arundel & Brighton Diocesan Trust is a Registered Charity No. 252878.