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Dear Sisters and Friends,
Firstly, I would like to take this opportunity to wish you all every blessing and good wish for 2026. In this first issue of the year, I would like to draw your attention to a number of timely items and events that have engaged the Justice Desk and continue to call for our attention.
I was privileged to moderate a hugely popular webinar entitled Christ Among the Ruins – Finding Light in Gaza’s Darkness, which was attended by over 150 people. Below, you will find a recording of the event, along with the resources that were shared on the evening.
I also attended an online lecture offered by David Ryan entitled Uncovering the Stories of the South Presentation Convent Burial Grounds. A recording of the lecture is available HERE and below.
We include some accessible updates on COP30 – the highs and lows, and reflections on what may come next.
Shabana Mahmood, the Home Secretary, shared some of her personal background when briefing MPs on new rules for legal migration. This can be accessed HERE.
Just before Christmas, the Africa Europe Faith and Justice Network hosted a webinar entitled Power in Your Purse – From Consumer to Caretaker. A recording of the event is included below, along with the accompanying resources.
The Minister for Children, Disability and Equality, Norma Foley, has launched a new National Strategy for Women and Girls, which we highlight in this issue.
All Together in Dignity (ATD) Ireland currently has a new project on display at Axis Ballymun until 16 January. If you are nearby, do pop in and have a look. The exhibition, Building Communities, promotes ways to foster inclusive communities where no one is left behind. The project is supported by Dublin City Council. Further details can be found at www.atdireland.ie.
Act to Prevent Trafficking in Ireland (APT Ireland) recently marked its 20th anniversary. I was privileged to represent the Presentation Sisters at this event, as the Congregation was among the founding members of APT Ireland. Below, I include photographs and two articles—one written by myself and another published in The Tablet. During 2026, APT Ireland will host a number of events aimed at raising awareness of the ongoing reality of human trafficking.
We also mark the Presentation Congregation at 250 years, with associated resources and a message from Jessica Dewhurst of the IPA.
Finally, there are a few additional news items / articles to share.
I would also like to warmly invite you to send us any news, photographs, or reports of events you have attended—or anything else you would like to share. We would love to hear from you and, with your permission, to share your news with our Sisters and Friends.
Thank you, as always.
With every good wish,
Brian
Justice Desk
PS
The Department of Climate, Energy and the Environment has launched the Public Consultation on the development of Ireland's third Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) National Implementation Plan.
The Department of Climate, Energy and the Environment has launched the Public Consultation on the development of Ireland's third Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) National Implementation Plan.
The aim of this consultation is to gather stakeholder feedback on the preparation of Ireland's Third SDGs National Implementation Plan, which sets out the overarching national governance, coordination and monitoring framework for the SDGs in Ireland.
The detailed policy approaches to progress individual SDGs and targets are addressed in relevant national policies set out in the SDG Policy Map. We will be making a submission.
Christ Among the Ruins Finding Light in Gaza’s Darkness
NJPN UK & Pax Christi England and Wales on December 1st last.
We were hugely encouraged by the numbers attending and the kind comments that were sent to us during and after the event. We are sorry for any delay but we have been collating resources to be sure that we offered a complete package to all in this email.
You can watch back the recording HERE
I attach the REFLECTION that we used and one of the Powerpoint presentations. We are hugely grateful to all who prepared, presented, contributed and attended this event.
Ann Farr in her contribution outlined a number of resources and links that you might find useful as you consider and contemplate your next steps. We now attach this for your convenience and consideration.
Robert Cohen, who generously presented, has offered us his script and I attach this below also.
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We are also encouraging you to keep in contact with NJPN and Pax Christi England and Wales
To sign up to the NJPN Newsletter Click HERE
To sign up to the Pax Christi Newsletter Click HERE
Some of the links that were shared with us in the chat are included below:
Israel flying Palestinian refugees to South Africa https://www.aljazeera.com/opinions/2025/11/16/israel-cant-fly-us-all-out-to-south-africa
Here are some informative videos: https://youtu.be/W8olgqPv54c?si=5OF7T0TB9vtUX4oo
Israel is stealing a large chunk of Lebanon: https://www.instagram.com/reel/DRGGIXfDdwh/?igsh=dzNvYnF4bnJydnBu
Further news: https://www.instagram.com/p/DRm8D_ijXBy/?igsh=bHFneWI2MmJsMTR
Please write to your MP: Cancel UK contracts with Elbit Systems Israel - it has been found to be using banned cluster munitions in its bombing of Lebanon made by Elbit Systems, Israel's largest arms company. Ask your MP to sign a motion making this demand: https://palestinecampaign.eaction.org.uk/clustermunitions
Here is the sermon given by the Bethlehem Lutheran pastor to go with his "Christ in the Rubble" it is very to the point: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Md_hw_A-oIs
Peace Sunday January 18th 2026 Peace to All Towards a Disarmed and Disarming love Pope Leo XIV
Resources to celebrate Peace Sunday in parishes and schools are available on the Pax Christi website
https://paxchristi.org.uk/peace-sunday-2026/
Uncovering the Stories of the South Presentation Convent Burial Grounds.
Click the picture below to watch back the recording.
During the event itself the slides didn't come through on the recording but there are included in the link HERE
Some digestible news of COP30 - the Highs and Lows and what next?
This poster was created by Crista, one of our altar servers, and shows what the care of creation means to her. As the COP30 Climate conference comes to a close, we thought it was a good time to share it.
Crista is one of our regular altar servers at 12 o’clock mass on a Sunday. She won first prize with this in her school and we’re not surprised.
Meanwhile, the news from Brazil is less encouraging. Negotiators at #COP30 reached an agreement to increase payments to countries affected most by climate change. However, they failed to explicitly agree on the roadmaps to transition away from fossil fuels and halt deforestation that many countries (including Ireland) and stakeholders had advocated. #cop30belem
I have prepared a day by day table below of the key highlights, Wins & Challenges that came from the most recent COP30 Negotiations. It's an easier read!
COP30 (Belém, 2025) from the perspective of faith-based organisations:
followed by a summary infographic of the final take-aways from COP30
Britain isn’t just full. It’s super-saturated with all the wrong kind of people. We were referred to this Guardian article here by a Presentation Engish Associate. HERE
Many thanks to everyone who joined our recent webinar on ethical holiday spending. Together, we explored how our Christmas choices can shift us from being consumers to becoming caretakers for our planet and global community.
The session opened with a reminder of the quiet but powerful influence we carry through ethical consumption. We reflected on how our everyday purchases—especially during the holidays—can support fairness, sustainability, and justice.
We heard a powerful story about the impact of climate change and conflict on families in the Horn of Africa, inviting us to consider how our shopping habits connect to global realities. The simple framework Think – Trace – Transform encouraged us to examine where products come from and who benefits from our spending.
We also explored the challenges of online shopping, including worker exploitation and environmental impacts, and discussed practical ways to shop more ethically—buying local when possible, reducing returns, and being mindful of supply chains.
A new Ethical Consumption Advent Calendar was launched, offering daily reflections, Fair Trade insights, and ideas for conscious gift-giving. Participants also learned about tools that help identify companies linked to injustice, encouraging more intentional purchasing.
In group discussions, attendees shared creative ethical gift ideas such as:
• Charity shop and pre-loved gifts
• Buying local and reducing waste
• Sending meaningful messages instead of cards
• Choosing charity gifts
• Prioritising presence, hospitality, and community
The session closed with suggestions for ethical product alternatives and a commitment to keep learning, sharing, and supporting justice-focused producers—especially those in vulnerable communities.
Thank you to everyone who took part. Let’s make this Christmas a season of ethical joy, solidarity, and meaningful giving.
The Strategy has seven key goals to create a gender equal society:
women can pursue their ambition and achieve their potential in any field
women can live free of violence and harassment
women have their fair share of economic and financial power
women are enabled to enjoy wellbeing throughout their lives
women are supported when they give care and when they need care
women can live free of harmful gender norms and stereotypes
the needs of women are taken into account in the design of policies and laws
All Together in Dignity - ATD Ireland has a new project on display in the Axis Ballymun now until 16th January, pop in and have a look. Building Community: Promotes ways to build an inclusive community where no one is left behind.
Supported by Dublin City Council. www.atdireland.ie (We attended the display)
Act to Prevent Trafficking in Ireland (APT Ireland) at 20 years of age. I was privilged to represent the Presentation Sisters at this event given that the Presentation Sisters were amongst the founding members of APT Ireland. I include photos and two articles (one that I have written) and another that was publised in the Tablet. 2026 will be a year where APT Ireland will host a number of events that will seek to raise awareness of the issue of Human Trafficking.
APT Ireland is a faith-based NGO whose mission is to raise awareness of the issue of Human Trafficking. There are about 55 congregations represented and we meet monthly and speak to others regularly about the issues of Human Trafficking in Parishes, Schools and others settings.
I composed and article entitled 'Twenty Years of APT in Ireland' that was disseminated in Ireland to those with an interest in Human Trafficking and you can read this article HERE
250th Anniversary Resources – Presentation Founding
250th Anniversary Resources – Presentation Founding
Click HERE ot the picture below to see the resources.
Last few items that may be of interest!
I offer below a selection of recent articles that speak directly to our work in Justice and, more broadly, to several of our IPA commitments.
The first addresses the excessive energy demands arising from the rapid expansion of data centres in Ireland.
The second is a poem, A Different Field by Cian Ferriter, which remembers Manchán Magan—an ardent champion of the planet, the Irish language, and so much more during his short life. We have much to be grateful to him for, and much to mourn in his passing.
The third article highlights the persistently high levels of unemployment among the Roma and Traveller communities.
The fourth piece explores the role and influence of faith-based communities in supporting newly arrived immigrants to integrate fully and meaningfully into their new communities.
Finally, we reference the issue of naming domestic violence abusers, to ensure they cannot move seamlessly into new relationships and inflict the same harm again, unbeknownst to a new partner. This has long been a concern and a specific request in our submission to Ireland’s Universal Periodic Review some years ago
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