Catholics for Justice and Peace in the Holy Land (CJPHL) was privileged to participate in the Call for Repentance conference held at St Paul’s University in Ottawa from the 28th till the 30th of May. The gathering brought together Christian leaders, justice advocates, and representatives of faith-based organizations from across Canada, the US, and Palestine, for a powerful time of reflection, truth-telling, and a renewed commitment to justice—especially in relation to the Palestinian struggle

The conference was grounded in a deep spiritual call to confront the complicity of churches and Christian institutions in historical and on going forms of oppression. Over several days, participants engaged in advocacy talks, theological reflection, and dialogue focused on decolonization, human rights, and faithful solidarity.

Keynote addresses included Rev. Dr. Munther Isaac, virtually presenting on his new book, Christ in the Rubble , Jonathan Kuttab, “Beyond a Two State Solution”, and Shadia Qubti on Reimagining the Parable of the Sower in Palestinian Theological Context Amid Gaza. Several panel discussion included a Working Group on Settler Colonialism and Decolonization, Reimagining Interfaith Relations in Solidarity with Palestine and Gender and Gendered Violence. Presentations were also made on Apartheid free Churches and communities.

CJPHL’s participation centered on highlighting the Church’s silence and, at times, it’s enabling role in the suffering of the Palestinian people. We were able to share about our ongoing advocacy work, the partnerships we’ve built with Palestinian Christian communities, and the urgent need for the Canadian Catholic Church to raise its voice in the face of the humanitarian crisis and Genocide unfolding in Gaza and the West Bank. Our presence also included networking with other justice-minded organizations to build collective strategies for action and accountability.

The conference was not simply about words, but about action—challenging participants to take concrete steps toward repentance and repair. It was a reminder that repentance is not only a spiritual act but a public, political, and relational one. For CJPHL, this meant recommitting to our core mission: to call the Canadian Catholic Church into courageous solidarity with the people of Palestine, and to speak truth in love to systems of injustice.