Columban newsletter Vocation for Justice marks 25 years

Ellen Teague with Peter Hughes

Vocation for Justice, the Justice and Peace newsletter of the Columban Missionary Society, is celebrating 25 Years of production this year. The occasion is being marked by a special commemorative issue and an event at Heythrop College, London, on the evening of Friday, 13 May. The event will be chaired by Bishop William Kenney, auxiliary in Birmingham Archdiocese, with speakers Rosemary Read, Bruce Kent and Mary Colwell.

The newsletter was founded by Columbans Ed O’Connell and Mike Kelly. The editorial team today comprises Columbans Peter Hughes and Frank Nally with Ellen Teague. Based at St Joseph’s Pastoral Centre in Hendon, they work closely with the National Justice and Peace Network of England and Wales and with Justice and Peace Scotland.

“With this special edition we are acknowledging the contribution of so many people who commit their time and energy, very often without much acknowledgement or appreciation, to the mission of justice and peace,” says Peter Hughes, Coordinator of the Columban Team for Justice, Peace and the Integrity of Creation.

“The newsletter has made a very important contribution to work for justice especially in England and Wales,” according to Bishop Pat Lynch, auxiliary in Southwark Archdiocese, who has contributed an article on Church outreach to Migrants in the special issue. Other contributors include Julian Filochowski of the Archbishop Romero Trust, Pat Gaffney and Bruce Kent of Pax Christi, Christine Allen of Progressio and former MP John Battle. Columban eco-theologian Sean McDonagh suggests in his article that important issues Justice and Peace must address in the future are Climate Change, Extinction of Species, Nuclear Power, Large-scale Mining and the Patenting of Food.

The first issue of the newsletter in 1987 reached 250 Columban contacts. Today, three issues annually reach around 10,000 readers, covering such issues as Environmental Justice, Debt, Nuclear Weapons and UK Poverty. Contextual theology is always central. Over the years Vocation for Justice has promoted many campaigns, including Jubilee 2000, Stop Destructive Mining in the Philippines, Make Poverty History and Stop Climate Chaos. At their 1994 General Assembly the Columbans said that, “in looking at the world and the missionary challenges it presents, we do so from the evangelical standpoint of solidarity with the poor and the exploited Earth.” Justice and Peace is a vital element of mission work in all the 15 countries where Columbans are based.