A tribute to Brian Davies

Brian Davies

The death of Brian Davies as the National Justice and Peace Network (NJPN) was holding its recent annual conference was poignant timing. He was a huge supporter of the Justice and Peace Movement and the predecessor National Justice and Peace National Liaison Committee. When the news was announced, many around the room acknowledged the very significant contribution he had made to their personal formation and the growth in the 1980s and 1990s of J&P workers in dioceses and at national level.

Brian was the Head of Development Education at CAFOD for more than two decades. In a tribute during the conference Mass former CAFOD Director Julian Filochowski described him as "inspirational," motivated by his faith and commitment to Catholic Social Teaching. Current director Christine Allen tweeted that he was "a powerful force for justice and peace, always rooted in deep spirituality and Catholic Social Teaching... a legend." NJPN expressed "great sadness" and thanked him for his mission to further the causes of justice and peace.

Brian went to CAFOD with a theological background. He was 12 years a Jesuit, leaving just before ordination, and doing his theology at the Jesuit University in Lyon. He taught for a time at the Theology Department at St Paul's College.

In CAFOD he played a key role in the selection and delivery of education campaigns in the 1980s. I remember the day he called me into his office to meet a Columban eco-theologian Fr Sean McDonagh who had recently returned from mission in the Philippines and gave us copies of his first book, 'To Care for the Earth'. I read it that evening and agreed with Brian that we could break new ground with a campaign on Environment and Development, underpinned by spirituality of Creation-centred theology. Images of desertified landscapes from the Ethiopia famine of 1984 had been prompting more attention to the natural world in development work. This became the work of our team - including Pat Gaffney, Denise Carter, Sr Margaret Clarke, Seamus Cleary and Barbara Crowther - with support from Elizabeth Rendall on resources - for the next three years. In his last weeks, Brian was wearing a 'Renewing the Earth' tee-shirt, produced for that ground-breaking campaign.

We organised six regional conferences every November with a focus on training in use of the pastoral cycle process of Experience - Social Analysis - Theological Reflection - Action. And then Action was under the headings of Awareness Raising, Political/Commercial Action, Lifestyle and Liturgy. Many who came through CAFOD training in the 1980s are still active, including myself. Brian never lost faith that the process of J&P was as important as the issues. Many learnt about structural injustice, social analysis, Liberation theology and Church Social Teaching from Brian. He was very musical, and I remember us learning African and other chants from the global south to teach participants in CAFOD conferences.

He was keynote speaker at literally hundreds of events - including many linked to the NJPN - focusing on the issues, the pastoral cycle process of J&P formation, and both Liberation and Creation theology. He worked hard to strengthen J&P structures, including fund-raising to pay for the first national fieldworker, Rosemary Read, and for some of the diocesan workers.

He was strong on ecumenical work through CAFOD, being an enthusiastic supporter of One World Week and the World Development Movement, alongside cooperation with Christian Aid.

He was compassionate and affirming. Anne O'Connor, editor of the North-West NJPN e-bulletin, wrote last week: "Brian was a wonderfully gentle and empathetic person and a great support to me and many others. I looked forward to receiving his acknowledgement of the NW NJPN E Bulletin mailing each month, always with words of encouragement that meant so much to me, especially in the early days of the bulletin when I was finding my feet with a new venture after my involvement with my own diocese came to an abrupt and painful end. When my daughter Annie died in June 2020 and I took time off, Brian kept in close contact and assured me of his prayers and those of the people to whom he circulated the bulletins. He will be greatly missed by all who knew him."

Others have written: "Brian offered me kindness, challenge, humour and knowledge and I shall miss him." And "a true mentor in my journey in understanding development issues and a rights-based approach."

With his dedication to CAFOD and many years of service to the Birmingham Archdiocese J&P Commission and to Interfaith Dialogue, Brian was invested as a Knight of St Gregory in 2017 by Bishop William Kenney, auxiliary in Birmingham. Many friends gathered at Brian's parish, Sacred Heart Church in Rugby, and heard Bishop Kenney say, "we are drawing attention to the good things Brian has done with CAFOD and Justice and Peace and through these things God is shown to our world - that God's kingdom is among us". Most of us will be in the parish again for his funeral on Friday 25 August.

Brian edited several books on the Church's Social Teaching. In the late 1990s he worked with Fr Ed O'Connell on popularising 'The Coming of the Third Millennium', a letter to the Church by Pope John Paul ll announcing that the year 2000 would be a Jubilee year and asking the Church to begin preparing. A popular version produced in Latin America was translated into English and then used by the J&P movement in its campaigning work to pick up on jubilee themes, particularly the cancellation of the debt of poor countries.

From 2003 his parish organised a series of talks each Autumn, with Brian playing the leading role in securing speakers. One theme was the renewal of the Church being brought about by Pope Francis, whom Brian described as "an inspiration to all of us". I did several of these talks over the years, but the most prominent in my mind was one on 'Women in the Church' in the 2011 series, 'Living Faith and the Future of the Church'. Brian urged me to be speak honestly and boldly and we both faced some backlash afterwards!

Brian could be determined in the promotion of development education. When he received an OBE from Queen Elizabeth ll in 1999 for 'Services to Development Education', he prepared a succinct response to the question he thought she might ask: 'What is development education?' She didn't.

More recently he used to phone some of us regularly to touch base and stress the importance of love. He had plenty of it himself for the poorest in the world, his various communities of friends and colleagues and for his dear family. He was so close to our family that we invited him to be godfather to our second son.

Warm condolences to his wife of 56 years, Diane, and his two sons and grandchildren. He used to tell us that marrying Diane was "the best decision I ever made". She supported his life's mission wholeheartedly despite it taking him away from home many weekends as well as weekdays over a number of years.

Brian didn't quite reach his 90th birthday, due later this month, but he had a long life of service promoting the common good which will be treasured by all who knew him.