Columban team at the National Justice and Peace Network (NJPN) Annual Conference.
A large Columban team attended the National Justice and Peace Network (NJPN) Annual Conference at the Hayes Conference Centre in Derbyshire 19-21 July 2024. As in previous years, we ran a stall, provided media support, and led a workshop.
James Trewby - head of the Justice, Peace and Ecology (JPE) Team - ran a workshop ‘Voices from the Margins,’ using zoom to interview Columban people around the world. Marj Engcoy in the Southern Philippines and Fr Liam O’Callaghan in Pakistan spoke about the impact of the climate crisis on their countries and peoples, alongside frustration that not enough is being done to tackle the problem. A recent typhoon hitting the Philippines flooded much of Manila, and Pakistan too has seen recent flooding in Lahore and record high temperatures of more than 40 degrees centigrade. Other workshops gave delegates an opportunity to update their understanding of issues like UN Sustainable Development Goals, nonviolence, and neoliberalism.
During the weekend, Columban Faith in Action volunteer, Hannah Lonergan, was thanked for her year of youth service with Columban Justice, Peace, Ecology and Interfaith outreach. She is now moving on to university.
Sir John Battle, a Catholic and a former Member of Parliament (MP), chaired the conference, saying that the weekend was “about active, practical hope,” coming so soon after the General Election on 4 July and with the theme, ‘Just Politics’. It was an opportunity to engage with nearly 200 participants, all working in justice, peace, advocacy and social action, inspired by personal faith and by the principles of Catholic Social Teaching. Participants travelled from many dioceses across England, Wales and Scotland. Religious orders were also represented. The wide range of age groups was also notable.
Speaker Dr Guli Francis-Dehqani, the Anglican Bishop of Chelmsford and member of the House of Lords, said, “politics creates the world we see around us and can shape our society towards more, or less, Christ-like ends.” She said politically-engaged Church groups are inspired by the Gospel message of Christ “which is inherently political” and affirmed all Church-based social justice groups already engaging with MPs. She herself has been active in the House of Lords on such social issues as housing, immigration and asylum.
Two Quaker speakers called for more citizenship education and engaging with the democratic process. The importance of political lobbying on justice and peace issues was stressed. Many of these issues were highlighted on stalls in a ‘Just Fair’ which included Palestinian goods and Fairtrade chocolate. The work of the Columbans, SVP, Pax Christi, CAFOD, Christian CND, Operation Noah, and many more were showcased.
Eight young adults led ‘Perspectives from Emerging Leaders,’ a question-and-answer session which received a standing ovation in recognition of the quality of their input. Recent research was quoted which found that only 47 per cent of young people felt the Church cared ‘a lot’ about social justice.
The panel valued regular participation in the annual NJPN conference, which addresses issues of concern to them, particularly Conflict, Wellbeing, Equality, Racism and Discrimination. Intolerant language towards refugees by politicians was singled out for criticism and also sexism in churches, such as the use of non-inclusive language.
From the Northern Diocese of Hexham & Newcastle, Fr Chris Hughes brought a team to share the innovative work of Tyne & Wear Citizens which he co-chairs, linking into Citizens UK. Tyne & Wear Citizens has achieved significant local change, addressing living wage provision, mental health support and the free school meals systems. Catholic medical student Shantel Suneesh recounted her campaign on equitable bus fares for young adults in education which has benefitted 23,000 young people. Eleven dioceses have now promised to push for their dioceses to make a commitment to the Living Wage. Pax Christi England and Wales will look into community organising techniques for planning its Autumn campaigning against arms trade fairs taking place in UK.
Mass was celebrated by Fr Dominic Robinson SJ, Chair of Westminster Diocese Justice and Peace Commission in London. He urged the congregation “to pass on a message of great hope, proclaiming a Kingdom of Justice and Peace. Bidding prayers called for “just and caring politics” and for J&P campaigners “to model a better way of living and being in our communities so that we can be an inspiration for a just politics.”
Ellen Teague, Columban Justice and Peace Media in Britain.
Related links
- Read more from the current Columban PEJ eBulletin.
