liturgy   |   outreach   |   other groups

[ amnesty international ]   [ charities ]   [ fair trade ]   [ food fair ]

[  justice and peace ]   [ meals for the homeless ]   [ microfinance group ]

[ rotterdam soup kitchen ]  [ unemployed support ]

 

JUSTICE & PEACE GROUP

The Justice and Peace Group meets most months with the aim of pulling together the outreach activities in the parish and and of helping to maintain a common focus on why we are carrying out these charitable activities. We believe that it is very important for us to show solidarity as a parish in carrying out the will of God with the aim of making His world a better place for the many who are suffering needlessly.

WHO MAKES UP THE JUSTICE & PEACE GROUP?

The groups which are represented include Amnesty International, Fair Trade, Charities Committee, Liturgy, MIcrofinance Group, green Team, St Egidio, Students. Any parish member who can spare time to contribute to ideas and their development is very welcome to join us -we need all the support we can get. However, you don't even have to be a member of the group to contribute -we can all find achievable ways to help (see examples later).
top of page

New members are always welcome. Meeting dates are published in the bulletin and in the monthly calendar. Contact: Mikel DelaGrange

The Group is also responsible for our annual Parish Lenten Campaign.

LENTEN CAMPAIGN 2011-CHILDREN’S RIGHTS
Our Campaign this year supported two projects. First the national Campaign done together with the Roman Catholic Church in The Netherlands. It serves a project in Mindoro Diocese and the Mangyan Mission in The Philippines. There the local population, together with the KPLN works for sustainable farming and teaches children how to interact responsibly with nature.

Secondly we supported Youth work and holiday programmes for deprived youngsters in The Hague. During the summer Don Bosco House in Rijswijk organises many events for young people who have no means for a holiday. During one of our Adult Formation sessions Salesian Fr. Biju talked about this project. Throughout Lent the theme of Children’s Rights, according to the U.N. charter, was highlighted from different perspectives.

Both projects received €2,000 from the parish.

PREVIOUS CAMPAIGNS
In preceding years we have had a range of different campaigns - 2010 was about raising awareness on 'Green' issues; 2009 it was to raise funds to create our own Fair Trade shop once the church renovations have been completed. 2008 it was creating a fund to allow us to set up a microfinance group which continues to invest in people through the organisation Kiva; in 2007 we helped to finance the building of houses in The Philippines; in 2006 we supported the work of the Street Pastor in The Hague (which has led to an ongoing commitment to the Homeless Shelter here) and in 2005 we provided money to buy mosquito nets in Kenya.

You can read a little about these past campaigns HERE

LET'S MAKE IT OUR MISSION!
THE WORLD MILLENNIUM GOALS

What are the Millennium Development Goals?
The eight Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) - which range from halving extreme poverty to halting the spread of HIV/AIDS and providing universal primary education, all by the target date of 2015 - form a blueprint agreed to be all the world's countries and all the world's leading development institutions. They have galvanised unprecedented efforts to met the need of the world's poorest.

The Goals

     Eradicate extreme poverty and hunger

     Achieve universal primary education

     Promote gender equality and empower women

     Reduce child mortality

     Improve maternal health

     Combat HIV/AIDS, malaria and other diseases

     Ensure environmental sustainability

     Develop a global partnership for development

"We will have time to reach the Millennium Development Goals - worldwide and in most, or even all, individual countries - but only if we break with business as usual. We cannot win overnight. Success will require sustained action across the entire decade between now and the deadline. It takes time to train the teachers, nurses and engineers; to build the roads, schools and hospitals; to grow the small and large businesses able to create the jobs and income needed. So we must start now. And we must more than double global development assistance over the next few years. Nothing less will help to achieve the Goals." Ex-United Nations Secretary-General Kofi A. Annan
 
 
2002 © ESIRC - English Speaking International Roman Catholic Parish of The Hague

Parish Office and Pastoral Centre - Koningin Marialaan 2, 2595 GB Den Haag
Tel. 070 - 328 0816