Columban Legacy on Justice, Peace and Ecology

Columban Advocacy worker Julia Corcoran with Vocation for Justice

By: Ellen Teague

The Spring 2018 Vocation for Justice focuses on Columban legacy in the area of Justice, Peace and the Integrity of Creation (JPIC). It links in the Columban Centenary celebrations this year under the theme 'Sharing Gospel Joy'.

In his Editorial Fr Peter Hughes points out that Columbans carry out mission "from the standpoint of solidarity with the poor". The Columbans are proud to work alongside so many people engaged in this mission in Britain and around the world. Some of these partners - such as Tomas Insua of the Global Catholic Climate Movement and Nan Saeki of Middlesbrough Justice and Peace - provide reflections on why JPIC work is so important in today's world.

In the Columban priority issue of Migrants, Scott Wright, Columban JPIC worker in Washington says: "Over the past year in the US, we have witnessed the tragic plight of Central American and Mexican families fleeing extreme violence in their homelands, to seek asylum in the US. We used to be a nation proud of our immigrant roots, and able to recite by heart the message on the base of the Statue of
Liberty in New York harbour: "Give me your tired, your poor, your huddled masses yearning to be free."

These immigrant families, many of whom are in danger of losing their temporary protective status, and the children who crossed the US - Mexico border a decade or two ago with their immigrant parents to become today's "Dreamers", invite us to remember the dream of every immigrant family, and the heritage we need to remember and proudly reclaim.

Young JPIC workers - James Trewby, Julia Corcoran and Jack Edwards - talk about putting faith into action and nurturing the next generation of JPIC activists. Jack Edwards feels, "that the next generation of young Catholics are putting their faith in action, and with your help might just change the world".

An invitation is made to all to come to the Columban Centenary Mass celebration at St. George's Cathedral in Southwark at 12.30pm on 30 June 2018.

LINK:

www.columbans.co.uk/media/vocation-for-justice-magazine/