Oxford Peace Pilgrimage: Blog 3

Oxford Peace Pilgrimage

Faith Justice, who are members of the Passionist community, along with other faith denominations, have embarked on a six-day Peace Pilgrimage from Oxford to the DSEi Arms Fair in London, which will end at the Excel Centre. It is here where they will participate in a candlelit vigil with others on Monday 11 September at 7pm, which you are invited to join.

On Thursday 7th, Our pilgrims started their journey from High Wycombe. The first part of the day involved walking through suburban areas before transitioning into a more rural terrain of, tree-lined country roads, footpaths, and bridleways that wind through the rolling Chiltern Hills. The walking was tiring due to the hot weather, with a mixture of inclines and uneven ground. Regular breaks were welcomed with lots of water to quench their thirst, it was here where they learned the power of perseverance, self-care and mindfulness.

After a long walk, they stopped at the Royal Standard of England pub for refreshments. The pub was established in 1213 and is now considered a historic landmark and a symbol of British heritage. Set amidst charming landscapes, it provided our weary travellers with a much-needed break.

After lunch, they proceeded on their journey, which included a stop at Jordan's Quaker Meeting House, accessed by a small winding road and sitting among ancient woodland in Beaconsfield. The Meeting House was constructed in just three months during the autumn of 1688, making it one of the earliest Quaker meeting houses built after James II issued his Declaration of Indulgence in 1687. This declaration allowed Quakers and other non-conformist groups to worship legally for the first time. The Meeting House holds great historical significance as it is the final resting place of William Penn, the founder of Pennsylvania.

During their time at the Meeting House, they had the opportunity for physical and spiritual refreshment. They were invited to sit in meditative silence in the original meeting hall, with its oak beams and centuries-old tiled floor. The plain wooden seats they occupied were the same ones that had been used by many others before them, each with their own story to tell. They felt a quiet sense of connection to those who had come before them, as well as to their deepest selves and their Creator, providing feelings of unity and harmony among them.

The pilgrims' journey concluded for the day at the Catholic Worker Farm, which was birthed from the Catholic Worker movement. The property spans two acres of land in idyllic countryside, with a large grassed garden to the rear, which on a hot day is soothed by the cool lapping waters of the large lake that adjoins it. The hospitality shown to our pilgrims was, attentive, generous and welcoming, with the peace and charm of the farm enshrouding.

The Catholic Worker Farm is a place of peace, refuge and healing for many people. It is a place where women and children find refuge. It Was started by Scott Albrecht, who is a Former Chaplain, US Military and Third Order Franciscan, as well as a Faith Based Peace Activist. Scott is married to Birthe.

The Catholic Worker Farm has provided shelter for vulnerable women since it opened in August 2006. Over 600 women have been accommodated, with nineteen women and children currently residing there. These women have faced difficult circumstances, including torture, rape and the loss of loved ones. More often than not, these women and their children's experiences, either directly or indirectly, are a result of war. It is here that they are offered free accommodation, food, English classes, counselling, and other important services.

Female asylum seekers and their children are often destitute as they do not always have access to Public Funds. All the women at the Catholic Worker Farm are homeless and referred by refugee services and agencies. Most women's refuges in the UK are state-funded, which means they can't take in women with No Recourse to Public Funds (NRPF). As of now, there are no organisations in The South of England dedicated to housing mothers with children with NRPF.

The Catholic Worker Farm write on its website:

'We believe that our faith leads us into a life of repentance and resistance. That is, God is calling us to change our minds and hearts as well as the minds and hearts of the beloved community outside our sphere of immediate influence, our brothers and sisters on the street, in the military, at the Ministry of Defence and at Downing Street, London. To create a place, through the guidance of the Holy Spirit where Justice and Peace embrace. We vigil (stay awake) outside Northwood Military Headquarters, Middlesex, U.K. While the state wants us to remain sedated, we watch and pray for just one hour. See: http://thecatholicworkerfarm.org/web/who-we-are/resistance/

The Peace Pilgrimage is sponsored by the Sisters of St. Joseph of Peace, whose founder Margaret Anna Cusack wrote in 1874 that "force was no longer to be the rule, except, indeed, the force of love." At the Catholic Worker Farm, we witness the force of love in action.

'To Be Who We Say We Are' is a Chapter Act of The Sisters of St Joseph of Peace and within the Chapter Act it is written.

"Urged by a burning desire to speak and act boldly with open, loving and adventurous hearts, and in collaboration with others, we now commit to:

- Cultivating and practising peace through justice by the intentional living of interculturality, anti-racism, and inclusion
- Addressing, healing, and being present to the wounds and broken relationships among ourselves and all of God's Creation
- Resisting every form of war and violence
- Making a place for everyone at the table where all are welcomed and gifts are honoured.
- To Be Who We Say We Are, these seven words are powerful and set a high bar for us all to attain. Yet this is lived out by the Sisters I serve, the staff and volunteers at the Catholic Work farm, those on the Peace Pilgrimage and strangers that I meet.
- To Be Who We Say We Are is a pilgrimage itself, which you are invited to.

The Catholic Worker Farm exists through the generous donations and support of others. If you would like to support them in their work, you can donate through their website, which can be found at: http://thecatholicworkerfarm.org/web/