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Missionary speaks on work of Church defending rainforests, indigenous people in Latin America


Fr Peter Hughes

Fr Peter Hughes

“The Church is defending rainforests and indigenous people in Latin America ” says a Columban priest and CAFOD partner who will be speaking at the National Justice and Peace annual conference 21-23 July on the Church’s response to Laudato Si'.

Fr Peter Hughes, an Irish Columban priest from County Mayo who has spent five decades as a missionary based in Latin America, based primarily in Peru, will report on Church initiatives to protect the biodiversity of life in the Amazon and the indigenous people of the rainforest. He feels lives, land and culture are being destroyed by the onslaught of extractive industries, particularly mining and oil, and the construction of mega hydroelectric dams and agribusiness industries. He will say that the destruction of the Amazon rainforest has serious consequences for the stability of the planet’s climate.

His talk will be from the perspective of Latin America’s poorest communities, and reflect upon the renewal expressed by Pope Francis in Laudato Si’. As well as his work in some of the most desperately impoverished communities in Lima, Peter is an advisor to the Instituto Bartolome de las Casas and CELAM, the collegial council of Latin American bishops designed to promote pastoral leadership, initiatives and inspiration for the 22 bishops’ conferences of Latin America and the Caribbean. He works with REPAM, the Pan-Amazonia Ecclesial Network, and was part of a REPAM delegation which recently lobbied in Washington on behalf of indigenous communities living in the Amazon rainforest.

The National Justice & Peace Network of England & Wales (NJPN) annual conference will be held 21-23 July in Derbyshire and is entitled: ‘A Sabbath for the Earth and the Poor: The challenge of Pope Francis.’ Other speakers include Kathy Galloway, a former leader of both the Iona Community and Christian Aid Scotland and a published poet, author and hymn writer. And Dr Ruth Valerio, the Global Advocacy and Influencing Director for Tearfund, working to mobilise churches around the world to become agents for change on behalf of the poor and the Earth. The conference chair is Susy Brouard, Theology Programme Advisor for CAFOD.

WORKSHOPS include: Care for Creation; Sustainable Agriculture; Mining; Indigenous People; Stigmatisation of the poor; Divestment from fossil fuels; Archbishop Romero; Modern Slavery; Volunteering; Workplace Chaplaincy; Refugees. There will be time for relaxing and contemplative activities such as walks, art, and poetry.

Children and young people are a vital part of the NJPN conference. There will be a crèche for children under 5 and a programme for 5 to 11 year olds. 12 to 16/18 year olds will explore the conference theme in an active and thought-provoking weekend led by a Columban/Pax Christi/Salesian team.


BOOKING FORM: www.justice-and-peace.org.uk/conference/

Places available and some bursaries are available to help families who wish to attend with costs.

In advance of the conference, Fr Peter Hughes is also talking to CAFOD groups in Birmingham, Liverpool, Northampton, Southwark, Westminster and Arundel & Brighton 7 – 19 July.

His full programme is available at:

www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/listening-to-the-cry-of-the-earth-and-the-cry-of-the-poor-a-cafod-talk-tickets-34503283249

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