‍

Our Annual Justice & Peace Assembly on Saturday 28 January will explore food and conflict and the positive steps we can take towards a fairer, more peaceful world. The event will take place in person at The St Philip Howard Centre in Crawley with Bishop Richard and speakers from CAFOD, Pax Christi, and the Ecological Conversion Group. There is no cost to attend, please book your free place here >> or contact our Social Action Adviser E: Tessa.Ricketts@abdiocese.org.uk

‍

The timetable for the event is as follows:

9.30am Registration
10am: Introduction and opening prayer - Ashley Ralston, Chair of Social Action Commission
10.05am: Bishop Richard will welcome attendees to this year's Assembly.
‍

10.15am: The event's first speaker, Francis Stewart.

Francis is Theology Programme Advisor at CAFOD. He was born and grew up in Lancaster, attending St Bernadette’s parish. He studied philosophy and theology at Durham University with the Centre for Catholic Studies before spending some time working as a carer. He joined CAFOD's Theology Team in 2018, focusing on embedding Catholic Social Teaching within the organisation.

‍Frances will explore:

• God’s Food Bank – feeding the world as God intended it.
• An agrarian reading of the bible.
• God created the world with enough food for everyone - where is God in the system?  
  

(5-minute question time to be included)  

‍10.40am: The event's second speaker, Dr Ruth Segal

Ruth is CAFOD’s policy analyst on food systems and land. She has been working for more than 25 years on food and agriculture issues internationally and in the UK. This has included supporting development partners in Ethiopia; food security advocacy work in Nepal; research work in UK; and setting up a local food produce market in her own community. She has a professional interest in seed sovereignty and an amateur interest in bread baking.

Ruth will speak about:

• ‍‍Fixing the Food system – CAFOD’s Campaign

(5-minute question time to be included)

11.05am - Break

11.20am: Our third speaker is Aisling Griffin from Pax Christi

Aisling the Schools and Youth Education Worker for Pax Christi England and Wales. Her role involves working with children, young people and educators to explore and promote peace. Previously she taught French and Spanish at a secondary school and has volunteered with children and young people in different roles.

• Aisling will explore nonviolent communities, highlighting a number of practical things for people to do!

‍11.35am: Speaker number four is John Paul de Quay from the Ecological Conversion Group.

John Paul de Quay is a founder of the charity, ‘The Ecological Conversion Group’ and it’s project; ‘The Journey to 2030’ which aims to help communities imagine and build a better future for all. He has an education in biology and conservation and professional experience in illustration. He has spent many years working with the Church on community engagement around Catholic Social Teaching, particularly on integral ecology.

John Paul will talk about:

• Integral ecology and community – with reference to James Reebanks and farming in Cumbria
• The of Deanery Days
• Practical ‘take-aways’.  

‍11.50am: The fifth speaker, Niall Farall, will explore:

• How schools are involved (in practical ways) with a video presentation with students

12.05pm An opportunity to put questions to Aisling, John Paul and Niall.

‍‍12.15 Outcomes - introduced by Aisling
Attendees will have an opportunity to talk to one another, sharing among what they gained from the various presentations and how will they use the outcomes.

‍12.30pm Summing up (Aisling)

‍‍12.35pm: Notices and final prayer led by Tessa Ricketts, diocesan Caritas Social Action Advisor.

‍12.45pm: Opportunities for networking/lunch/stalls  

‍1.30pm - The Assembly ends

‍