A call to faith in action – countdown to National J&P Conference

There are just two weeks to go to this year’s National Justice & Peace Network annual conference Friday 19 - Sunday 21 July. The theme is ‘Breaking Open the Word - a call to faith in action’ and it is being organised in conjunction with Hallam Justice & Peace Commission. The venue is The Hayes Centre, Swanwick, Derbyshire and it is expected to attract around 400 participants.

Through input from the main speaker, MEGAN McKENNA, and a range of workshops and creative spaces, the conference will explore ways of integrating action and faith through prayer, art and lifestyle, reflection on Catholic Social Teaching and ideas for concrete action.

Speakers

Megan McKenna, a native of New York City, has lived in and visited North and South America, Europe and islands around the world. She works with indigenous groups, in base Christian Communities and with justice and peace groups, parishes, dioceses and religious communities. In 2002 she was appointed an Ambassador of Peace for Pax Christi. An internationally known author, theologian, storyteller and lecturer, she is foremost a lover of words: the Scriptures, stories and tales, poetry, images and phrases spoken aloud, written down and spun to make meaning and how these both convert and transform us and bring meaning and hope to the world.

John Battle, a long-time member of the Justice and Peace movement, former Minister of State and former Director of Church Action on Poverty, will chair the conference.

Workshops

Workshops include: CAFOD Hungry for Change; Adult Formation; Progressio—Women and fragile states; Prayer and Action; Media; Racism; Church Action on Poverty; Environment; UK Austerity; Peacekeeping; Gender; Music as an expression of social justice; Working with allies in a secular society; Asylum Seekers and Refugees. Plus: An Eritrean Coffee Ceremony.

There will be a reflective space throughout the weekend facilitated by Inspirative Arts.

Young People

A Y-KIDS Programme has been organised for 5 to 11 year olds. Based on Merseyside, Y-KIDS has led the children’s programme at the conference for a number of years. There will be messy games mixed with craft making, songs and drama put on by a qualified youth team.

12 to 16/18 year olds will explore the conference theme in an active and thought-provoking weekend led by the InReality Youth Team from Hallam Diocese.  The In Reality team works with young people to show them that their faith is very much real and relevant in their everyday lives. Working in parishes, schools and colleges in the Diocese of Hallam, they use music, drama, and discussion to encourage young people to explore and share, bringing their faith to life

Booking form at: www.justice-and-peace.org.uk/documents/CONF2013BookingFormpdf.pdf

There are just a few places still available.

Young people up to 16 only £40/£60 for the weekend

Read an article about Megan McKenna by Ellen Teague at: http://meganmckenna.files.wordpress.com/2013/06/meganmckennamay2013.pdf