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Justice and Peace Issues

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Delia Smith's Daily Silence for Lent

Prayer for peace in the Middle East

Prayer for Lent CAFOD Fast Day

Prayer on the 5th Anniversary of the War in Darfur

The Fairtrade Foundation | Fairtrade - Cadbury Dairy Milk commits to going Fairtrade

(from an e-mail from Jenny Medhurst)

"I met a Ghanaian cocoa farmer last night at Traidcraft . He was very proud of all the progress they have made since they started selling to the Fairtrade market - over 200 tube wells installed, empowerment and income generation for women in the hungry months, their own credit union, and membership of an active democratic organisation producing Pa Pa Paa - the best of the best cocoa. He said how grateful he was for all our work in promoting the sale of Fairtrade chocolate - but when I asked him how much of their cocoa gets the Fairtrade price the answer was just 10%, because we don't eat enough Fairtrade chocolate!"

So today's news - that one of the three chocolate giants which have a stranglehold on the UK choc market is to convert to Fairtrade is great news - it will mean a threefold increase in Ghanaian cocoa farmers' sales straight away - and I hope will prompt Nestle and Mars to follow suit. Enjoy some good news at:

http://www.fairtrade.org.uk/press_office/press_releases_and_statements/

february_2009/cadbury_dairy_milk_commits_to_going_fairtrade.aspx

Pax Christi - Reflection and Action

Reflection

"We have to ask ourselves: ’Who is Christ, and where do I meet him and what is the connection between his Passion and death in our life now? Belief in his divinity means believing that he lives in every individual and that what we do to another we also
do to him."

Prayer

O God, may the contemplation of your Passion and death so affect the core of our minds and hearts that all our desires, decisions and actions may be directed to your Kingdom of justice, peace and truth. We ask this through Jesus our Lord, Amen

("Oh God, Why: Journey through Lent for
Bruised Pilgrims" by Gerry Hughes sj)

"I have been trying during these Sundays of Lent to uncover in divine revelation, in the word read here at Mass, God’s programme to save people and individuals. Today, where history offers our people various proposals, we can say with assurance: the programme that better reflects God’s programme will prevail. And this is the Church’s mission. And so, in the light of God’s word revealing God’s plan for the happiness of people, we have the duty of also pointing out the realities, of seeing how God’s plan is reflected among us or despised among us."

(Archbishop Oscar Romero
in his final homily on 23 March 1980)

For further information visit the Pax Christi Web site at: http://www.paxchristi.org.uk

Information from the CAFOD website: www.cafod.org.uk
Please commit to a daily silence for Lent

Delia Smith, one of Britain's best-loved cookery writers, offers you a golden opportunity to take time out and spend 20 minutes a day in silence during Lent

Starting on 25 February, Ash Wednesday, Delia will be encouraging our supporters to make a "daily commitment to stillness and silence", and a piece of Scripture chosen by her will be emailed each day to individuals who sign up.

"Lent is the perfect time to make a commitment to spending serious one-to-one time in God's presence," writes Delia in her introductory reflection, One thing needed.

Prayer for peace in the Middle East.

God of peace, bearer of hope,
we seek your help
for the peoples of the Middle East.
Quiet the clamour of war
and guide us towards peace.

Where there is hatred and division
sow seeds of calm and openness.
Where there is destruction
help us to rebuild.
Where children are crying
bring an end to tears.

Shelter your peoples and protect them
Guide them and keep them from harm.
Show us how to break down the barriers of history and fear
and breathe whispers of hope.

Amen.

Prayer for Lent CAFOD Fast Day.

God's love transforms us

God of now and God of tomorrow,
your love knows no boundaries of time,
and overcomes
all the barriers of difference.
Open our hearts to your love.

Imaginative and creative God,
you pierce our complacency
and turn us towards you.
Open our selves to your purpose.

Loving, searching, enfolding God,
open our ears
to the cries of your people
and our eyes
to the devastation of your creation.
Open our being to your Spirit.

Everlasting, ever-living God,
transform us and guide us,
overturn us and free us.
Open our hands to your work.

Amen

Prayer on the 5th anniversary of the war in Darfur

O God, You are our Creator, the Creator of all mankind.

You created us all equal, with the same dignity and therefore You want us to be brothers, to love and respect each other.

In Darfur there is no union, no love, no respect for the person.

Millions of people, children and elders, women and men, are living without dignity, suffering and dying.

Give them courage to bear their difficulties patiently and help and bless the organizations who put their efforts towards alleviating their sufferings.

Help those who work for peace, trying to convince the parties to put an end to the war.

Touch the hearts and enlighten the minds of the parties in war, so that they think of the good and welfare of the suffering people, instead of their personal good and interest.

O God, peace is your gift and You are the God of peace: bring peace in Darfur and put an end to the sufferings of innocent people.

AMEN.