Former head of CAFOD Education becomes papal knight

After two decades as Head of Development Education at CAFOD and many years of service to the Birmingham Archdiocese Justice and Peace Commission and to Interfaith Dialogue, Brian Davies, 83, was invested as a Knight of St Gregory on 2 April.

The investiture was conducted during a Mass at Brian's parish, Sacred Heart Church in Rugby, celebrated by Bishop William Kenney, auxiliary in Birmingham, and in the presence of Papal Knight William Ozanne and Papal Dame Nora Whelan. "We are drawing attention to the good things Brian has done with CAFOD and Justice and Peace", said Bishop Kenney, "and through these things God is shown to our world - that God's kingdom is among us". He said that one role of a papal knight is to defend the weak and oppressed against injustice, and Brian has already been doing that for many years. There were four concelebrants, including parish priest Fr Gerry Murray, and they stood in front of six beautiful 'Days of Creation' windows.

Brian and his wife Diane were also celebrating their golden wedding anniversary. The joyful mass was packed with family members, parish friends and longstanding colleagues with CAFOD and Justice and Peace. These included Julian Filochowski, former Director of CAFOD; Pat Gaffney, Director of Pax Christi; and theologian Mary Grey.

While at CAFOD Brian oversaw development education campaigns on such issues as 'Migrant labour in South Africa', 'The causes of Africa's crisis' and 'Renewing the Earth'. He was keynote speaker at literally hundreds of conferences and day events - including many linked to the National Justice and Peace Network of England and Wales - focusing on the issues, the pastoral cycle process of Justice and Peace formation, and both Liberation and Creation theology. And he has edited several books on the Church's Social Teaching. Recent campaigns on Food and Climate Change and education work around Laudato Si were brought by him into his diocese and parish. Since 2003 the parish has had a series of talks each Autumn with Brian playing the leading role in securing speakers. Following three years on Vatican II, the theme of the tenth series in 2013 was its Spirituality. There were talks on Kingdom, Franciscan and Peace Spirituality with a contribution from Birmingham's Archbishop on Ecumenical Spirituality.

A more recent theme has been the renewal of the Church being brought about by Pope Francis, whom Brian described as "an inspiration to all of us".

There are 18 papal knights in Birmingham Archdiocese and around 200 throughout England and Wales.