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Katherine Murray, parishioner and until recently the Associate Director of the Centre for Spiritual Renewal at St. Dunstan's is inviting various forms of support (see Katherine's appeal below) for her upcoming trip with Peace Train Canada to participate in the Third Meeting of the Treaty for the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons (TPNW) to be held at the United Nations in New York City from March 3 to 7, 2025 at the invitation by MP Elizabeth May.  

The total cost of the trip is $3,875.  Katherine needs to fundraise 75% of the cost and is inviting financial and prayer support from her personal network.  

The Rector is contributing $200 through the Clergy Discretionary Fund to this worthy cause of Christian public witness.   If you are moved to support Katherine financially, you may top up this amount by making a tax-deductible donation to St. Dunstan's Clergy Discretionary Fund by March 1, 2025.  Click HOW TO GIVE to find out ways to donate.  

* Note for Online Donation: Since the page is not yet set up for donation directly to the Clergy Discretionary Fund, please choose the "Ministry of the Parish" option and specify in the "Write a private message to us" memo box "Clergy Discretionary Fund".

Below is Katherine's personal appeal:

In November 2024 from the 15th-24th, I travelled with a group of about 40 people from Vancouver to Ottawa by Via Rail as part of a project called Peace Train Canada. We came from different places and different faith traditions but we gathered around a shared vision that Canada become committed to, invested in, and promote a culture of peace both nationally and internationally. We also specifically requested via petition that the Canadian government establish and fund a Centre of Excellence for Peace and Justice focused on education, research and training in conflict resolution, diplomacy, and peace operations. The Centre would serve all peoples - elected officials, NGOs, military, police, civil service, and society. If you want peace - train for peace, plan for peace, prepare for peace. Learn the ways that make for peace. 
As we journeyed to Ottawa we held vigils at the train stations we stopped at along the way to raise awareness and so that we could connect with others who could not make the trip but were in solidarity with this effort.
While in Ottawa we had a reception attended by 11 MPs with representatives from every federal political party. We also met individually with MPs from our respective ridings.

Peace Train Canada has now been invited by MP Elizabeth May to go to the Third Meeting of the Treaty for the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons (TPNW) to be held at the United Nations in New York City from March 3 to 7, 2025.  Peace Train Canada has been authorized as an official delegate NGO to the meeting. Attending these meetings will allow Peace Train Canada to continue to call on the Canada Government to invest in and promote a culture of peace. We fly to Montreal on February 28th and will travel by train on March 02 from Montreal to New York.

Attached to this email you will find these documents:

  1. Peace Train Canada Vision
  2. Archbishop John Stephen's Letter of Support for Peace Train Canada
  3. My Personal Reflection on the first trip to Ottawa, November 2024

John Longhurst, journalist for Winnipeg Free Press and recent recipient of the Order of Canada, travelled to Ottawa with Peace Train Canada in November and wrote a blog of events. Below is a link to one post on our reception with Canadian MPs. He will also blog for our trip to the UN.

https://peacetraincanada.blogspot.com/2024/11/you-are-inspiring-in-these-difficult.html

I hope this information is helpful in understanding the vision and the present opportunity for Peace Train Canada.

There are three opportunities to participate in this work:

  • Prayer
  • Sign the Paper Petition asking Canada to invest in a Centre for Peace and Justice (paper copy available at St. Dunstan's)
  • Contribute financially to sponsor the trip to the United Nations

I am so very grateful for your support. 

With love and peace,
Katherine

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