9.00am
Registration & Exhibition Space
9:50am
Gathering In College Hall
10:00am
Welcome, Opening Prayer, Keynote address, Sarah Teather, Jesuit Refugee Service
11:00am
Coffee break
11:45pm
Conversation - “Faith in a world in need of Mercy”
1pm
Lunch
2pm
Workshop 1
3pm
Break
3:30pm
Workshop 2
4:30pm
Address - Bishop Noel Treanor
Closing Prayer
The Faith and Life Convention is a forum for people from across the diocese, and beyond, to gather together and to take part in a range of conversations about the meaning of faith and its relevance to every area of our lives. We invite you to join us for our third Faith and Life Convention on Saturday 24th September 2016 in Our Lady and St Patrick’s College, Knock, Belfast beginning at 10am. Sarah Teather, Jesuit Refugee Service will be the keynote speaker for the day and will invite us to reflect on the current refugee crisis and share with us her own journey of discernment that led her away from the benches in parliament to her current role. Our discussion will be picking up on all the hot topics reflecting on how the Church, and we as people of faith, position ourselves in current debates and engage more readily in the public square. An essential element of the day will be the afternoon workshops which will explore the place of faith in many different areas of our lives. Each participant can attend two workshops which will be booked on a first come, first served basis. So book early!
Since January 2016, Sarah Teather has been the Director of Jesuit Refugee Service (JRS) in the UK. She joined the JRS UK team from JRS International – work that took her all over the world, visiting projects in the Middle East, East Africa and in key pressure points in Europe like Greece-Macedonia border and Southern Italy where refugees attempt dangerous crossings over the Mediterranean.
Prior to joining JRS, Sarah served as a Member of Parliament for twelve years in inner London, where she took a particular interest in social justice and human rights issues, founding the All Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) on Guantanamo Bay, and chairing the APPG on refugees.
Initially elected as the youngest MP in Britain, she went on to hold office as Minister of State for Children and Families, where she had responsibility for tackling child poverty, supporting children with special educational needs, and negotiated the end of detention of children in the immigration system.
In the context of doing the Spiritual Exercises of St Ignatius in a 30 day retreat Sarah decided to leave parliament taking with her passion for the poor and an assurance that working with refugees through the JRS is how she wants to serve God.
Our Lady and Saint Patrick’s College Knock will be the venue for our Faith & Life Convention. The school is located at 120 Gilnahirk Road, Belfast BT5 7DL.
Click here for Map - This link will open google maps, by placing your own postcode into the directions tool you can then have step by step directions that will guide you to the college.
The College is fully accessible and Refreshments and Lunch will be provided within the College. Please follow the instructions of parking stewards and we would ask all delegates to park in the College grounds and to ensure that they do not block entrances of local residents. For more information on the College – Click here
Living Church Office
120 Cliftonville Road
Belfast
BT14 6LA
livingchurch@downandconnor.org
