🌟Congratulations to the Caritas students from St Joseph's Parish Blantyre and St Anthony's and St Mark's Rutherglen, who both hosted moving holy hour services in their parishes last week as part of a project supporting Justice & Peace Scotland. The young people led their communities in prayer around two issues that have dominated news headlines this year, bringing them before God to intercede for love, justice and peace.

​✝️The group in St Joseph's have been learning about the situation in the Holy Land through exploring stories of the "Living Stones"; the Christians of the Holy Land. On Tuesday of last week they led a "Pray for the Peace of Jerusalem" holy hour, reflecting on the violence that affects all people there and praying for a just and lasting peace for all families in Gaza, the West Bank, and Israel.

​🙏In St Anthony's and St Mark's the young people have been exploring the issue of refugees and migration. They hosted a "Welcome The Stranger" holy hour, inviting their parishioners to reflect on how the Holy Family were once refugees, fleeing violence to find safety in a foreign land. They led the community in praying for compassion, safety, and welcome for all those forced to flee their homes today.

💜 A huge thank you and well done to all the Caritas young people involved for their commitment, courage and witness and to the parish priests and volunteers who support them. We’re so grateful to everyone involved in bringing the Justice & Peace Scotland Caritas Parish Project to life.