Columban Mission Institute Closure - PEJ

Twenty years of the Centre for Peace Ecology and Justice

In 1997, the Centre for Peace, Ecology and Justice (PEJ) was formed. The founding members, Frs Michael Gormly, Cyril Hally, Tom Rouse and Pat O’Shea had experiences of structural injustice, oppression of the poor, ecological destruction and militarism in the Philippines and South Korea. They knew that issues around peace, ecology and justice were connected. Responding to them is our Christian mission and part of Columban mission globally. In early 1998, Fr Michael Gormly, the first PEJ Convenor, wrote in an article for The Far East: “What is happening in God’s world today. Why so much violence? Can we identify sources of hope for the poor and the next generation? How do we help to promote fullness of life and harmony with God’s creation?” So they began the work of the Centre by engaging with Catholic and secular social justice groups in reflection, action and advocacy on issues such as justice for East Timor and West Papua, the effects of mining in the Philippines, and international poor country debt. Networking with diocesan agencies, religious congregations, catholic education offices and other churches became a large part of the work of the PEJ Centre.

Photo: Missionary Society of St ColumbanIn 1999, for the preparation of the Great Jubilee 2000, the Columbans in Australia and elsewhere were involved in the preparation of resources highlighting the Jubilee biblical themes of Sabbath, Land, Reconciliation, Freedom from Slavery, Sight for the Blind and Forgiveness of Debt (Luke 4: 16 -30). Fr Brendan Hoban was part of the Centre at this time. Then Director of Columban Mission Institute (CMI), Fr Trevor Trotter, approached John McGrath, Director of Mission Services at the Broken Bay Catholic Schools Office, regarding a partnership. Anne Lanyon, a teacher and Religious Education Coordinator, was employed as the Diocesan Jubilee Coordinator. Thus began mission formation in schools.

In 2000, the first Social Justice Day for students in Broken Bay was held and continued annually for 16 years. Since then the Centre has run numerous workshops for students in various dioceses on peace, ecology and justice issues. The formation of teachers began in Broken Bay with programs related to Jubilee 2000, then continued with Anne Lanyon and Ken Nobin of Parramatta Diocese working in partnership to run a Social Justice Train the Trainer Program.

By 2009, this had evolved into a two day formation program now known as 'Growing a Culture of Peace' (COP). It is run across dioceses by Anne Lanyon, Columban Fr Jack Evans and Luke Tobin who was a teacher in the Sydney Archdiocese and now works with Catholic Mission. Catholic Mission will continue to run this program when PEJ closes. Partnerships have enabled us to do more with limited resources.

In 2001, Fr Brian Gore moved to Sydney from Melbourne to become the second Convenor of the PEJ Centre, whilst at the same time acting as the Columban ANZ Regional Justice, Peace and Integrity of Creation Coordinator (JPIC). Brian’s passion for the poor inspired people across Australia with workshops and strong involvement in the Jubilee 2000 Drop the Debt campaign. He initiated a national 'Run for Life' series of events with ultra-marathon 'running priest' from the Philippines, Fr Robert Reyes. At this time PEJ became the Coordinator of the Jubilee 2000 Working Group. The Centre maintained this commitment to keeping alive the awareness of the foundational Hebrew Jubilee principles of economic and environmental justice through Anne Lanyon’s board membership of Jubilee Australia.

Growing Peace Forum with Christians & Muslims at Sydney City Council. Sr Pauline Rae (left), Anne Lanyon, Silma Ihram, Fr Patrick McInerney, Chantelle Ogilvie, Afroz Ali, Susana Ng & Fr Charles Rue (right) - Photo: Missionary Society of St ColumbanIn 2002, PEJ’s venture into written publications led to the newsletter, Columban Connections, being produced three times a year. This eventually became an electronic monthly newsletter. Written resources for parishes, schools and religious congregations used colourful leaflets for a variety of purposes. The 9/11 Twin Towers bombing and the violent response of the invasion of Iraq prompted the Centre to be proactive in promoting active Gospel nonviolence. The Way of Peace was produced. Other resources which are all still available online at www.columban.org.au are The Gospel of Life on the Beatitudes, The Lantern on Evangelisation, Ecological Liturgy resources for Lent and Advent and the Australian version of The Stations of the Forests DVD.

In 2003, the Centre developed greater opportunities for dialogue between religions and the secular. Amid the climate of fear, PEJ collaborated with the Centre for Christian Muslim Relations and local Councils to conduct public forums on 'Christians and Muslims Growing Peace'. Over four years the Centre ran 18 of these in New South Wales to break down barriers of ignorance through face to face meetings. By this time Columban Fr Charles Rue had joined the Centre. He initiated an event, 'Wonder and the Will to Care', which brought together 120 people of different faiths to share their ecological insights. So the Faith Ecology Network was born. In these times of planetary ecological crises, Faith Ecology Network (FEN) now has a global reach and has become a valuable Australian network for strengthening dialogue between the sciences and diverse religions. FEN holds public events and nature experiences to bring people together, to learn, grow ecological awareness and promote religious reasons for advocacy. In recent years Hannah Cifuentes and Liesje Barratt have assisted in the work of FEN. As PEJ closes, the FEN team has plans under way for it to flourish and grow into a new model that will take it into the future.

In 2004, Fr Brian Gore returned to the Philippines and Anne Lanyon became the third PEJ Centre Coordinator. Fr Charles Rue became the Regional Justice Peace and Integrity of Creation (JPIC) Coordinator, combining the two roles. PEJ Centre became more involved in a variety of secular and religious networks, bringing a global and Gospel perspective to local issues about food sovereignty, genetically modified food, fair trade and human trafficking. The workshop developed around the issue of slavery in the chocolate industry became much in demand in schools and the wider community.

In 2005, after the Columban Mission Institute moved from North Turramurra to Strathfield, opportunities for greater collaboration in mission education arose. Fr Charles Rue taught a course on Environmental Ethics at the Catholic Institute of Sydney. Anne Lanyon and Fr Jack Evans began guest lectures on peace, ecology and justice with Religious Education students at Australian Catholic University.

FEN participants Fr Charles Rue (left), Robert Iocapetta, Vijai Singhal, A Friend of North Head Sanctuary,  Anne Lanyon & Miriam Pepper (right) learning about Eastern Suburbs Banksia Scrub at North Head, Sydney - Photo: Missionary Society of St Columban For 20 years the Centre has adapted responses to the question “What is happening in God’s world?” in order to respond to where God’s Spirit is leading us. As well as education, formation, production of resources, networking and membership of many groups, through generous collaboration with others, some big initiatives were taken on. The Jubilee 2000 event for schools in the Diocese of Broken Bay was huge, involving 20,000 students and teachers. For the 2008 Sydney World Youth Day, with the help of a grant, the Cena Um dance group with Columban Fr Colin McLean from Brazil and the Preda Akbay theatre group from the Philippines travelled to Sydney. Together with wonderful dance and drama teachers from St Peter’s College, Tuggerah, the Columban Youth Theatre of the Oppressed performed in Sydney and on the Central Coast. In 2010 this enormous undertaking was followed up by coordinating an unforgettable return immersion experience in the Philippines with the St Peter’s College students. In 2016 there was a national speaking tour with Columban Fr Sean McDonagh to promote Pope Francis’ encyclical, Laudato Si’. Through the willing support of other Church agencies Fr McDonagh’s expertise directly reached over two thousand people plus mass media audiences. We are so grateful for the way cooperation can make the world a better place.

Although the PEJ Centre is closing, the challenges of our world are ever present. The same questions asked by Michael Gormly 20 years ago are still relevant. We give thanks for the leadership of Pope Francis in calling believers to a deeper commitment to mission and all peoples to ecological consciousness and action for the suffering poor and the earth. “The urgent challenge to protect our common home includes a concern to bring the whole human family together to seek a sustainable and integral development.” Laudato Si’ #13. We also give thanks for Pope Francis’ call to “Nonviolence: A Style of Politics for Peace” in his World Day of Peace Message 2017. As we close the Centre for Peace, Ecology and Justice we hand on to others. Let this not be an ending but a new chapter in a new beginning: “to make an end is to make a beginning." TS Eliot.

Anne Lanyon is the Coordinator for the Centre of Peace, Ecology and Justice at the Columban Mission Centre in Sydney.

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