Justice and Peace Assembly
19th October 2024
Theme:Called to be Peace Makers
Thank you to everyone who attended this event and a special thank you to our two guests speakers Bishop Kenny and Aisling Griffin. We also thank Ann Kelly for leading our liturgy and Kris for keeping us on track throughout the event.
Speakers introduction: given by Kris
Right Reverend William Kenney, Auxiliary Bishop Emeritus of Birmingham
Bishop Kenney was born in Newcastle upon Tyne, and was brought up in Birmingham where he went to St Phillip’s Grammar School, in Edgbaston. He made his Religious Profession as a Passionist in 1963 and Ordained Priest on 29 June 1969.
He studied sociology and psychology at the universities of Växjö and Gothenburg and obtained the Swedish equivalent of a BA.
He worked as a parish priest and academic sociologist within the Catholic Church in Sweden, before pursuing doctoral studies at the London School of Economics from 1977 to 1979.
He then lectured in the Sociology of Religion and was Director of Studies at the Department of Religious Studies in the University of Gothenburg between 1979 and 1982 and from 1984 to 1987. He was a General Councillor of the Passionist Congregation, resident in Rome, from 1982 to 1984.
On 13 May 1987 he was appointed Auxiliary Bishop of Stockholm, Sweden. His Episcopal Ordination took place on 24 August that year.
From 1991 until 1999 Bishop Kenney served as Chair of Caritas Europe and Vice-chair Caritas Internationalis. The major part of this work concerned the challenges of and for refugees and immigrants within Europe and the building up of the Caritas organisations in the eastern part of our continent.
On 17 October 2006, Pope Benedict XVI, appointed Bishop William Kenney, as an Auxiliary Bishop in the Archdiocese of Birmingham.
Bishop Kenney has been spokesman on European questions for the Catholic Bishop’s Conference of England and Wales since 2006.
Aisling Griffin – Pax Christi
Aisling Griffin is the Schools and Youth Education Officer for Pax Christi England and Wales. In her role she works with children, young people and educators to explore and promote peace and peace education.
She’s a former secondary school teacher of French and Spanish, having first encountered justice and peace through Bosco Volunteer Action, a Salesian overseas volunteering programme with which she volunteered in Bolivia. Through that she met the Columbans who invited her to the NJPN conference where she first met Pax Christi.
Speakers introduction: given by Kris
Right Reverend William Kenney, Auxiliary Bishop Emeritus of Birmingham
Bishop Kenney was born in Newcastle upon Tyne, and was brought up in Birmingham where he went to St Phillip’s Grammar School, in Edgbaston. He made his Religious Profession as a Passionist in 1963 and Ordained Priest on 29 June 1969.
He studied sociology and psychology at the universities of Växjö and Gothenburg and obtained the Swedish equivalent of a BA.
He worked as a parish priest and academic sociologist within the Catholic Church in Sweden, before pursuing doctoral studies at the London School of Economics from 1977 to 1979.
He then lectured in the Sociology of Religion and was Director of Studies at the Department of Religious Studies in the University of Gothenburg between 1979 and 1982 and from 1984 to 1987. He was a General Councillor of the Passionist Congregation, resident in Rome, from 1982 to 1984.
On 13 May 1987 he was appointed Auxiliary Bishop of Stockholm, Sweden. His Episcopal Ordination took place on 24 August that year.
From 1991 until 1999 Bishop Kenney served as Chair of Caritas Europe and Vice-chair Caritas Internationalis. The major part of this work concerned the challenges of and for refugees and immigrants within Europe and the building up of the Caritas organisations in the eastern part of our continent.
On 17 October 2006, Pope Benedict XVI, appointed Bishop William Kenney, as an Auxiliary Bishop in the Archdiocese of Birmingham.
Bishop Kenney has been spokesman on European questions for the Catholic Bishop’s Conference of England and Wales since 2006.
Aisling Griffin – Pax Christi
Aisling Griffin is the Schools and Youth Education Officer for Pax Christi England and Wales. In her role she works with children, young people and educators to explore and promote peace and peace education.
She’s a former secondary school teacher of French and Spanish, having first encountered justice and peace through Bosco Volunteer Action, a Salesian overseas volunteering programme with which she volunteered in Bolivia. Through that she met the Columbans who invited her to the NJPN conference where she first met Pax Christi.
Bishop William will speak on 'Called to be Peacemakers',
the teaching document issued by the Bishop's Conference in May, this year.
Bishop William is one of the co-authors.
Aisling Griffin, Pax Christi will speak to us in the afternoon
Aisling Griffin is the Schools and Youth Education Officer for Pax Christi England and Wales.
A former secondary school teacher, in her current role she works with children, young people and educators to explore and promote peace.
Opening Liturgy and closing prayers will be led by
Ann Kelly
NJPN Membership Support Co-ordinator
Please follow the link to download / read the Called to be Peacemakers document.
https://www.cbcew.org.uk/called-to-be-peacemakers/
The Grimshaw Room
St Chad's
Birmingham
Registrations: 10am
Assembly: 10:30am to 3:30pm
Bring your own lunch
light refreshments will be provided
Donations to help cover the cost of the hire of the room etc, gratefully received.
Follow link to book on now
https://bit.ly/JandPassembly2024
Assembly will be chaired by Kris from the Justice and Peace Commission.
10am Registration
10:30 start
10:30 prayers house-keeping – Opening liturgy - Ann Kelly
10:50 Speaker Bishop Kenney to talk about Called to be Peace Makers
11:20 Q & A
11:30 Comfort break / take drinks with you to the discussions
11:40 discussion groups - sharing reactions to and reflecting on Bishop William's talk
12:10 Feedback from groups
12:30 lunch break, bring your own lunch
13:15 Pax Christi Speaker Aisling Griffin
13:45 Q & A
13:55 Discussion groups: Part 1 – sharing reactions to and reflecting on Pax Christi talk.
14:15 Comfort Break / take drinks with you to the discussions /
14: 25 Discussion groups Part 2 - bringing together the two topics and identifying actions
14:45 feedback, Question and Answer session, summing up and thanks
15:15 Closing prayers - Ann Kelly
Finish by 15:30pm
10am Registration
10:30 start
10:30 prayers house-keeping – Opening liturgy - Ann Kelly
10:50 Speaker Bishop Kenney to talk about Called to be Peace Makers
11:20 Q & A
11:30 Comfort break / take drinks with you to the discussions
11:40 discussion groups - sharing reactions to and reflecting on Bishop William's talk
12:10 Feedback from groups
12:30 lunch break, bring your own lunch
13:15 Pax Christi Speaker Aisling Griffin
13:45 Q & A
13:55 Discussion groups: Part 1 – sharing reactions to and reflecting on Pax Christi talk.
14:15 Comfort Break / take drinks with you to the discussions /
14: 25 Discussion groups Part 2 - bringing together the two topics and identifying actions
14:45 feedback, Question and Answer session, summing up and thanks
15:15 Closing prayers - Ann Kelly
Finish by 15:30pm
Justice and Peace Assembly
28th October 2023
Theme:
Climate Action in the
Archdiocese of Birmingham
Links to presentations:
Fr Robert Taylerson presentation : climate_action_oct_23.pptx
Tom Piotrowski presentation: j__p_presentation_tom_.pptx
LAUDATE DEUM (Praise God) because “a human being who pretends to take the place of God becomes the worst danger to himself". Eight years after the publication of Laudato si', the reactions and the steps taken have proved to be largely insufficient. Global cooperation is essential to address the climate crisis! Pope Francis appeals to all people of good will to react, and recalls the responsibility of all to care for God's creation.
https://youtu.be/Pwe_bd0TUjk?si=qTWni5T3NlCbRFsm
Fr Robert Taylerson presentation : climate_action_oct_23.pptx
Tom Piotrowski presentation: j__p_presentation_tom_.pptx
LAUDATE DEUM (Praise God) because “a human being who pretends to take the place of God becomes the worst danger to himself". Eight years after the publication of Laudato si', the reactions and the steps taken have proved to be largely insufficient. Global cooperation is essential to address the climate crisis! Pope Francis appeals to all people of good will to react, and recalls the responsibility of all to care for God's creation.
https://youtu.be/Pwe_bd0TUjk?si=qTWni5T3NlCbRFsm
The Grimshaw Room
St Chad's
Birmingham
Registrations: 10am
Assembly: 10:25am to 3pm
Speakers:
Tom Piotrowski
and Fr Robert Taylerson
responding to the climate crises in our homes, parishes and communities
St Chad's
Birmingham
Registrations: 10am
Assembly: 10:25am to 3pm
Speakers:
Tom Piotrowski
and Fr Robert Taylerson
responding to the climate crises in our homes, parishes and communities
Fr. Robert Taylerson
Tom Piotrowski
|
Programme
Theme: Climate Action in the Archdiocese of Birmingham 10:00 Registrations and refreshments. 10:25 Introduction and welcome - Fr Gerry 10:35 Opening liturgy 10:45 Speaker: Fr Robert Taylerson 11:15 Comfort break 11:25 Informal discussion groups 12:00 Feedback with Q & A 12:30 Lunch 12:55 Reconvene 13:00 Speaker: Tom Piotrowski 13:30 Comfort break 13:40 Informal discussion groups 14:15 Feedback with Q & A 14:45 Brief plenary "What are we taking away from here?" 14:55 Closing prayers 15:00 Depart |
Fr Rob (Robert Alcuin) Taylerson
Roles and responsibilities:
Spiritual Director Oscott College, Lecturer in Spirituality to seminarians and permanent diaconate candidates at Oscott College, Lecturer for B. Div. at Maryvale Institute, Member of the Bishops’ Conference of England and Wales Spirituality Committee, Occasional author for Catholic Truth Society, Archbishop’s Adviser on Rural Affairs, Member of Editorial board for “Country Way”
(Rural Christian Ministry periodical), Member of Birmingham Catholic Archdiocese Climate Action Committee, member of two further diocesan committees.
Relevant background includes; 23 years as parish priest in Birmingham Archdiocese parishes, (34 years as a priest of Birmingham Archdiocese.)
Prior to priesthood 11 years were spent in agriculture including being an agricultural lecturer at Kent County College (Hadlow) and then at Warwickshire College of Agriculture and Horticulture (Moreton Morrell), being a soil chemist for Kent County Council, and a junior soil scientist in agricultural research (at Rothamsted).
Laudato Si #49 calls us to "...hear both the cry of the earth and the cry of the poor" and in my talk I'd like to discuss what such a mandate might imply for agriculture and food production, both nationally and internationally.
Tom Piotrowski
Tom works for one of the largest social housing providers in the country, and is an excellent example of how a four-day working week creates opportunities to volunteer and work for the community. He has been involved in launching or reviving several community initiatives in Worcestershire.
Born and raised in Poland, Tom also lived in the USA for 10 years before moving to Worcester in 2006.
Tom is very familiar with Battenhall having lived there for seven years. He describes the residents as a tightly-knit community who want to see positive changes to their ward, which is why Tom is thrilled to be running to be their representative on the local council. As a Councillor, Tom is especially interested in promoting active travel, education, decreasing isolation and loneliness, and creating economic prosperity while respecting the environment. He wants to bring a sense of seriousness to the city council and to focus on making local voices heard.
Justice and Peace Assembly 2022
Refugees, Current Laws, and Church Teaching
Date: Monday 26th September
Time: 7pm
Speaker: Megan Knowles
Chair: Philip Mayland
Abstract: Megan Knowles is Communications and Development Manager at the Jesuit Refugee Service UK, leading a small team to accompany; serve and advocate for the rights of asylum seekers in the UK. Megan manages a team of staff and volunteers responsible for raising awareness and amplifying the voices and experiences of refugees which can lead to positive changes in their lives. Megan also leads on fundraising at JRS and her varied role takes her across the UK speaking to schools, parishes and communities about the work of JRS and the importance of welcoming refugees in our own communities.
Profile: Megan studied chemistry at St Andrews, and Contemporary Ethics with the Jesuits at Heythrop College. Before joining JRS UK, Megan worked in the campaigns team at CAFOD and prior to this spent two years volunteering in Southern Africa with the Salesians of Don Bosco. In her spare time, Megan enjoys sewing and exploring the UK with her husband, Chris.
Thanks to our speaker Megan Knowles from the Jesuit Refugee Service [email protected]; and to Philip Mayland for leading us. You can see the recording of the talk and the feed back sessions on YouTube.
Talk: https://youtu.be/BrJVDFLL2EU
Feedback: https://youtu.be/MmOIAvFCJq0
Some links from this session that you may find useful:
https://birmingham.cityofsanctuary.org/category/schools
https://www.restore-uk.org/news/restore-training-course/
https://www.brushstrokessandwell.org.uk/
Monday 3rd October - Poverty / cost of Living / Energy Prices
Time: 7pm
Speaker: Niall Cooper [email protected]
Chair: Deacon Nick St John
Abstract: The key points they have are:
- Causes of Poverty
- Tackling poverty as a movement and in partnership
- Working with communities for change
- CAP Initiatives: Your local pantry, Poverty Round Table, Churches on the Margins initiative,
Speaking truth to power, Challenge poverty week
- How churches can become involved at institutional, national and local level. Practical steps
Profile: The session will be facilitated by Niall Cooper. Niall has been the Director of CAP for 25 years, playing a key role in the development of their work and campaigns. He has had extensive involvement in a wide range of work to raise awareness of and combat the causes of poverty.
Thank you to our speaker and everyone who contributed to the discussions in the breakout rooms.
You can see the recording of the talk and the feed back sessions on YouTube.
Talk: https://youtu.be/a7b2uZPOy4c
Feedback: https://youtu.be/botLOR--b2E
What would it mean to put the ideas of building dignity agency and power into practice in our parish or community?
How do you respond to Pope Francis’ challenge to become a poor church of and for the poor?
What is already happening to challenge poverty that we might want to celebrate?
What practical steps could we take to listen to the stories and experiences of people struggling against poverty in our communities?
Some links from this session that you may find useful:
Church Action on Poverty: What we do:
https://www.church-poverty.org.uk/what-we-do/
Challenge Poverty Week:
https://challengepoverty.co.uk/
What is a Pantry event?
https://challengepoverty.co.uk/event/what-is-a-pantry/
Time: 7pm
Speaker: Niall Cooper [email protected]
Chair: Deacon Nick St John
Abstract: The key points they have are:
- Causes of Poverty
- Tackling poverty as a movement and in partnership
- Working with communities for change
- CAP Initiatives: Your local pantry, Poverty Round Table, Churches on the Margins initiative,
Speaking truth to power, Challenge poverty week
- How churches can become involved at institutional, national and local level. Practical steps
Profile: The session will be facilitated by Niall Cooper. Niall has been the Director of CAP for 25 years, playing a key role in the development of their work and campaigns. He has had extensive involvement in a wide range of work to raise awareness of and combat the causes of poverty.
Thank you to our speaker and everyone who contributed to the discussions in the breakout rooms.
You can see the recording of the talk and the feed back sessions on YouTube.
Talk: https://youtu.be/a7b2uZPOy4c
Feedback: https://youtu.be/botLOR--b2E
What would it mean to put the ideas of building dignity agency and power into practice in our parish or community?
How do you respond to Pope Francis’ challenge to become a poor church of and for the poor?
What is already happening to challenge poverty that we might want to celebrate?
What practical steps could we take to listen to the stories and experiences of people struggling against poverty in our communities?
Some links from this session that you may find useful:
Church Action on Poverty: What we do:
https://www.church-poverty.org.uk/what-we-do/
Challenge Poverty Week:
https://challengepoverty.co.uk/
What is a Pantry event?
https://challengepoverty.co.uk/event/what-is-a-pantry/
Tax Justice: What? Why? For Whom?
Date: Monday 10th October
Time: 7pm
Speaker: Sue Richardson
Chair: Canon Gerry
Abstract: Working on a See-Judge-Act process, the session is intending to explore the role tax plays in our creation of a just and life-enhancing society and will look at how public opinions on tax are created and sustained, the social elements that tax enables, the values that it expresses and how our faith speaks to the modern conversation that tax must always be reduced. Some aspects of the campaigning and lobbying work of Church Action for Tax Justice will be introduced.
Profile: Sue Richardson, who will facilitate the session, is a Roman Catholic from the Diocese of Nottingham. She worked for Christian Aid for 35 years as a member of Regional Staff in the East Midlands and, for the last decade, as a Theological Adviser for the charity specialising in theological education. She was shaped some decades ago by her participation in the Nottingham Diocesan Justice and Peace Commission, which she chaired for a while. Since retiring from Christian Aid she has been Chair of Church Action for Tax Justice, a programme of the Ecumenical Council for Corporate Responsibility, which enables her to bring her interests in economics and theology together. She is also a practitioner of an approach to Bible study called the Popular Reading of the Bible developed by Catholic communities in Brazil.
Thank you to our speaker and everyone who contributed to the discussions.
You can see the recording on YouTube.
Introduction: https://youtu.be/p3P8We-gq3Q
Judge, Reflect, Act: https://youtu.be/q6Yx5Hb9XY4
Here are the links that were put into the chat:
Church Action for Tax Justice: The Good Measure Campaign
https://www.eccr.org.uk/good-measure-campaign/
Fair Tax Foundation: Fair Tax Week June 2023
https://fairtaxmark.net/supporters/fair-tax-week/
Also: Tax Justice UK www.taxjustice.uk
Patriotic Millionaires https://www.patrioticmillionaires.uk/
Gary Stevenson https://www.youtube.com/c/garyseconomicsAll
Date: Monday 10th October
Time: 7pm
Speaker: Sue Richardson
Chair: Canon Gerry
Abstract: Working on a See-Judge-Act process, the session is intending to explore the role tax plays in our creation of a just and life-enhancing society and will look at how public opinions on tax are created and sustained, the social elements that tax enables, the values that it expresses and how our faith speaks to the modern conversation that tax must always be reduced. Some aspects of the campaigning and lobbying work of Church Action for Tax Justice will be introduced.
Profile: Sue Richardson, who will facilitate the session, is a Roman Catholic from the Diocese of Nottingham. She worked for Christian Aid for 35 years as a member of Regional Staff in the East Midlands and, for the last decade, as a Theological Adviser for the charity specialising in theological education. She was shaped some decades ago by her participation in the Nottingham Diocesan Justice and Peace Commission, which she chaired for a while. Since retiring from Christian Aid she has been Chair of Church Action for Tax Justice, a programme of the Ecumenical Council for Corporate Responsibility, which enables her to bring her interests in economics and theology together. She is also a practitioner of an approach to Bible study called the Popular Reading of the Bible developed by Catholic communities in Brazil.
Thank you to our speaker and everyone who contributed to the discussions.
You can see the recording on YouTube.
Introduction: https://youtu.be/p3P8We-gq3Q
Judge, Reflect, Act: https://youtu.be/q6Yx5Hb9XY4
Here are the links that were put into the chat:
Church Action for Tax Justice: The Good Measure Campaign
https://www.eccr.org.uk/good-measure-campaign/
Fair Tax Foundation: Fair Tax Week June 2023
https://fairtaxmark.net/supporters/fair-tax-week/
Also: Tax Justice UK www.taxjustice.uk
Patriotic Millionaires https://www.patrioticmillionaires.uk/
Gary Stevenson https://www.youtube.com/c/garyseconomicsAll