15.03.2013
Diocesan Faith in Action Conference to Take Place Next Month
Parishes in the Dioceses of Dublin and Glendalough are being encouraged to put their faith into action and reach out to those in need in their areas. The Faith in Action Conference 2013, organised by the Diocesan Social Action Group, takes place on Saturday April 20.
The aim of the conference is to create an environment that raises the profile of social justice and social action within the churches to help motivate, encourage and inspire people to connect with the needs of those around with them.
The event will take place in the Church of Ireland College of Education in Rathmines from 9.30 am to 3.30 pm. There will be a range of speakers who are experienced in the field. These include Fr Peter McVerry, Alice Leahy and Olive Donoghue.
A range of workshops focusing on debt and finance, engaging with new communities, tackling educational disadvantage, healthy eating, positive mental health, suicide and online bullying have also been organised to help people identify ways to meet the needs of their particular areas.
Encouraging people to attend the event, Archbishop Michael Jackson said: “I hope you feel this will be a valuable way for your parish to play a key role in reaching out to those in need. My hope and prayer are that, by encouraging the joint focus of mission and social justice, we can have a sense of uniting the diverse streams of the church that are present everywhere, but inevitably present here in our Diocese in specific ways, in a sense of common purpose.”
Chairperson of the Diocesan Social Action Group, Graham Jones added: “There is such goodwill out there and people really do want to help. This event will help people find a way to engage with the needs around them so that they can practically make a difference.”
Serving clergy from throughout the dioceses have been invited to attend. In addition, rectors have been asked to bring along a lay person from their parish who they fill would be helpful in creatively expanding the Christian witness of the parish. The conference is also open to other lay people.
Those wishing to attend can register by emailing the Archbishop’s PA at archdublinoffice@gmail.com giving their first name, surname, parish and email address. Information about workshops will be sent out following registration.