Pope Francis’ encyclical Laudato Si’ is widely recognised as addressing the environmental crisis, but it is more than that, containing a critique of an economic model which means that people, communities and nature are valued according to their economic potential rather than their intrinsic value as God’s creation.  He proposes an ‘integral ecology’ involving care for creation, justice for the poor, commitment to community and inner peace.

The Annual Justice & Peace Conference, ‘A Sabbath for the Earth and the Poor: The Challenge of Pope Francis’ seeks to explore this through the prism of the Sabbath which invites us to have time for rest, to accept the giftedness of creation, of each other and of ourselves. As well as inputs from the speakers this will be done through a range of workshops. 

These will address our responsibility to care for creation; mining in the Amazon, its effects on indigenous people and the environment and how the Church is working with them to defend rights; and our complicity through investments in pension funds and banking.

Operation Noah’s campaign for divestment from fossil fuels and investment in clean alternatives, as well as CAFOD’s campaign to give access to renewable energy to the world’s poorest communities, focus on the need to transition to a low carbon economy to tackle climate change.

We are called to be an inclusive community.  Church Action on Poverty invites us to learn how deep listening to those on the margins can be transformational and build new relationships; Housing Justice calls on us to journey with people experiencing homelessness and offers ideas on how your parish can help; Caritas Social Action Network (CSAN) will introduce the Community Sponsorship Scheme whereby parishes and local communities can welcome Syrian refugees.

In Laudato Si’ Pope Francis talks of the ‘technocratic paradigm’ warning against relying on technology to fix our ecological problems because technology is not neutral.  This will be explored in two workshops: one in relation to food diversity, challenging the claims and practices of ‘Big Ag’ and the Biosciences versus many localised small scale solutions to feeding the world; while another examines the ‘politics of technology’ and how the design of technology can be brought under democratic control to serve real human needs rather than those of the powerful.

Reflecting on the nature of the work from which we rest, workshops will look at: the most exploitative form of work, trafficking into sex work; the role of workplace chaplains in helping people to connect their working lives with their faith; and the place of voluntary work.

A critical Bible study aims to help rediscover the radical Jesus to empower our work for justice; while the life of Blessed Oscar Romero, voice of the poor and an inspiration for many working for justice and peace, will be explored in this centenary year of his birth.

But the Sabbath reminds us that we also need to take time out to care for ourselves, to appreciate nature, spend time with others and do things simply for enjoyment.  So there will be a space in the programme to relax, reflect in quiet spaces or sample activities such as art, gardening, walking, an ‘eco-walk’, movement, sharing food and discussion, Tai Chi and more.

The conference takes place at The Hayes Conference Centre, Derbyshire from 21-23 July.  Keynote speakers are Ruth Valerio, Fr Peter Hughes (missionary in Peru) and Kathy Galloway. 

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This article first appeared in the Catholic Universe 16.6.17

At a time of increasing uncertainty and growing insecurity as witnessed by the recent frightening events in our country we will explore as a faith community:

• The call to overcome fears, anxieties and become renewed by the light of the Spirit amidst growing darkness.
• Reflect from the margins of society, the world of the Latin American poor, the renewal expressed by Pope Francis in Laudato Si, of life threatened, the increasing danger for the future of our planet caused by climate change linked to the dominance of the techno economic model of development to the detriment of human needs and the care of creation.
• The ever increasing breech that separates rich and poor with increasing impact of armed conflict and massive migrations. The plight of the dispossessed, bereft of rights or a voice, reduced to hopelessness by a culture of greed and exclusion
• The initiatives of the church in Latin America for the defense of the life of the Amazon and the destruction of the rain forest, the indigenous peoples whose lives, land and culture are being destroyed by the onslaught of extractive industries, mining, oil, mega hydroelectric dams and agribusiness with serious consequences for the climatic stability of the planet.
• The interconnectedness of all creation as the basis of spirituality to create new horizons of hope, peace and a more human, just world.
• Renew our faith in the God who walks with us in our brokenness, struggles and encourages to share the warmth of togetherness and solidarity.

“Sunday, like the Jewish Sabbath, is meant to be a day which heals our relationships with God, with ourselves, with others and with the world.” (Laudato Si’ para237)

We live in a world where people and nature are more often valued according to their economic capacity or usefulness to humans, rather than their intrinsic value as God’s creation. In order to be liberated from this commodification, consumerism and utilitarianism, the Sabbath reminds us to rediscover a sense of awe and wonder, to see the beauty in creation and also in relationships, especially with the poor and marginalised.

Organised by NJPN in partnership with Church Action on Poverty, CAFOD, Caritas Social Action Network, Vincentians in Partnership, Operation Noah, and Columban JPIC, the venue will be: The Hayes Conference Centre, Swanwick, Derbyshire.

The conference will seek to: help us understand current realities; find ways to live out and advocate for a different value system; and provide a space for creativity, celebration and contemplation.

SPEAKERS:

FR PETER HUGHES is a Columban priest who has spent most of his life as a missionary in Peru, working in some of the most impoverished communities in Lima. A former executive secretary of the Department of Justice and Solidarity of the Latin American Bishops, he continues to be a theological advisor. He works with REPAM, the Pan-Amazonia Ecclesial Network which supports indigenous communities living in the Amazon rainforest.

KATHY GALLOWAY is an ordained minister of the Church of Scotland and a former leader of both the Iona Community and Christian Aid Scotland. She is also a published poet, author and hymn writer.

DR RUTH VALERIO is Global Advocacy and Influencing Director for Tearfund, working to mobilise churches around the world to become agents for change on behalf of the poor and the Earth.

POVERTY HEARINGS —hearing from those with direct experience of poverty.

WORKSHOPS include: Care for Creation; Sustainable Agriculture; Mining; Indigenous People; Stigmatisation of the poor; Divestment from fossil fuels; Archbishop Romero; Modern Slavery; Volunteering; Workplace Chaplaincy; Refugees.

‘FESTIVAL’ time, in line with the theme of the conference, will offer relaxing and contemplative activities e.g. walks, art, and poetry.

Children and young people are a vital part of the NJPN conference. There will be a crèche for children under 5 and a programme for 5 to 11 year olds. 12 to 16/18 year olds will explore the conference theme in an active and thought-provoking weekend led by a Columban/Pax Christi/Salesian team.

CONFERENCE CHAIR:Susy Brouard, Theology Programme Advisor for CAFOD since 2002.

CELEBRANT: Fr Martin Poulsom, Chair of the Livesimply Coordinating group and Head of Theology at Heythrop College

BOOKINGS
https://www.justice-and-peace.org.uk/conference/

Some bursaries are available to help families who wish to attend with costs.

Media enquiries:

 Ellen Teague on 07956 317 338