2025 is a Year of Jubilee! Traditionally, a time of renewal, freedom and celebration: Debts were cancelled, people and the land could rest, prisoners and slaves freed, and land redistributed fairly, a year of the Lord’s favour. In Luke, Jesus read from the prophet Isaiah.“The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has […]
15 Dec – New Chair for SPARK Steering Group
The SPARK social Justice project started 6 years ago – initiated by the Leeds Diocese Justice & Peace Commission. In the first few months the project mainly worked in High schools, including St Mary’s in Menston.
12 Dec – Catholic Education Network Launch
by Kathy Shaw, SPARKThe new Catholic Education Network was launched in November at Hinsley Hall, led by Deborah Garcia, Head of Initial Teacher Education (ITE) at Leeds Trinity University. This positive and original idea will provide personal and professional support to students interested in working in faith-based education, attracting the best talent to apply for schools […]
9 Dec – Red Carpet in Gaza
By Joe Burns, Commission member The Commission part-sponsored the Leeds Palestinian Film Festival event at Wheeler Hall on 30 November. Rather than an individual film, this event showed several short films. The connecting thread for them was that in the previous 12 months, despite immense difficulties, there have been two film festivals held within Gaza itself. […]
6 Dec – What’s changed since Laudato Si?
By Joe Burns, Commission member This was the theme of the NDEG (Northern Dioceses Environment Group) zoom meeting on 27 November.
3 Dec – Just Stop Oil Action
by Mollie SomervilleFor many years, since the late 1960s, when I spent 2 years in Ethiopia, I was concerned about the inequality between the rich and poor worlds. I have been a supporter of CAFOD and Christian Aid ever since and a member of Global Justice Now (previously known as World Development Movement). I was […]
27 Nov – Where Olive Trees Weep
The SPARK-sponsored film in the Leeds Palestinian Film Festival this year (the tenth year) was called ‘Where Olive Trees Weep’. The film cleverly cut between talking heads, filmed footage from various encounters by ordinary Palestinians with Israeli military forces and some archive footage. It was at times harrowing to watch.