This year’s annual National Justice and Peace Network (NJPN) Conference on 25-27 July in Derbyshire, took the theme: ‘Towards a Just Peace – Challenging the Inevitability of Violence.’ Fr. Kevin McDonagh was one of the Columban Justice, Peace and Ecology team members there and he described the conference as exploring “prophetic peacemaking.”
Among the 160 participants, who shared this view of prophetic peacemaking, were Justice and Peace representatives from 17 dioceses in England and Wales, Justice and Peace Scotland, and religious orders, including Faithful Companions of Jesus (FCJ), Srs of St Joseph of Peace (CSJP), Presentation Sisters, and Mary Ward Loreto UK. Organisations running stalls included CAFOD, Catholic Social Action Network, Laudato Si Movement, Archbishop Romero Trust, Columban Justice, Peace and Ecology and Christians Aware. Peace groups included Pax Christi, Christian CND, and Peace Pledge Union. Petitions were signed on tackling international debt, dismantling nuclear weapons and the Big Bank Switch towards greener banking.
The 47th annual conference opened on Friday evening with a Litany of Peace by Dan Shutte with the chorus ‘Let us be your peace,’ led by Sheena, Anna, Eleanor and Andrew Marshall. Then Anne Peacey, the NJPN Chair, introduced the conference as an opportunity “to commit to becoming peacemakers in our troubled world.” She said, “we thank God for the witness of Pope Francis and now Pope Leo.”
Gospel Nonviolence was explained in an opening dialogue between Sr. MaryAnne Francalanza FCJ, of the Centre for Faith and Ecological Justice in North London, and Sr. Katrina Alton CSJP, the National Chaplain to Pax Christi England and Wales. Katrina said Jesus’ way is a way that combines a rejection of violence and a focus instead on the power of love and truth in action for justice, peace and integrity of creation. Katrina told of her experience at a protest vigil at an arms fair at the Excel Centre in London where, as she knelt in prayer, a delegate whispered in her ear, “I fear you are right.” She pointed out how most casualties in modern warfare are civilians and that combatants are young people.
At a panel discussion on ‘Just Peace’ on Saturday morning, chaired by James Trewby, Justice, Peace and Ecology Co-ordinator for the Columbans in Britain and Andrew Jackson, CEO of Pax Christi England and Wales, highlighted the “deep spirituality in a commitment to nonviolence”. Bokani Tshdizu of Operation Noah spoke of her commitment to fly less and reduce her carbon footprint to try and protect “our beautiful world.” She felt, “we must do more in the community – such as vigils, street protests, being active in our churches,” to build peace. She asked, “are we doing enough on racial climate justice?”
Speaking during the conference Mass, celebrated by Westminster priest Fr. Joe Ryan, Ann Farr of Pax Christi International called for a Just Peace for Gaza, particularly for greater respect for international law.
On Sunday, Joanna Frew of Rethinking Security – a network of organisations, academics and activists working together for security based on justice, cooperation and sustainability – explored what real security looks like today. She suggested root causes of global insecurity, such as the climate crisis and extreme poverty, should be addressed. An alternative vision of security should be considered, based on Gospel values of loving enemies, welcoming the stranger and Earth care as stewards of creation, for “there is no security without a viable planet.”
In a groupwork session on Sunday led by Brian O’Toole, Director of the Presentation Interprovincial Justice Desk, he suggested that, “we must build a new narrative, based on the common good and common sense.” Diocesan groups fed back ways to “challenge the creep of militarism in our country”, including exposing the arms trade and encouraging our religious leaders to speak out more on peace. There was widespread criticism of the criminalisation of people campaigning for peace and environmental justice
Workshop contributors include Richard Solly of Jesuit Missions and Ellen Teague of the Columban Justice, Peace and Ecology Team who explored links between violence and environmental problems. It is hoped that the Season of Creation between the 1st September and the 4th October 2025 will present an important opportunity for these links to be highlighted further.
