What do we know about the lives and feelings of people with disabilities in our diocese? Do we hear the voices of our brothers and sisters with physical or learning impairments?
How can we best support them and their families?
Are there parishes with good practice which can be shared with others?
These questions have come up in J&P and Spark Social Justice discussions in recent months. As a starting point we have decided to have a Zoom conversation with Lisbeth Raeside, Director of Glasgow SPRED. SPRED’s vision is to work within the Church to nourish accepting and inclusive communities for people with learning impairments and their families. http://www.spred.org.uk/
We want to include people with a personal or pastoral interest in the lives of people with disabilities of all sorts, so if you want to take part – or just be a listener – then use the link to register and receive the Zoom link.
This 3 day course if for anyone interested in discovering, refreshing or deepening their understanding of Catholic Social Teaching.
Why? Catholic Social Teaching has been described as ‘the Church’s best-kept secret’. It offers a fresh way of understanding moral and social questions, deeply rooted in the Gospel, but accessible to anyone. It has rich resources for renewing a tired and confused political world. Ideal reflection for election year!
Who? The course will be taught by Sr Margaret Atkins, former lecturer at Trinity and All Saints, Leeds, and Oscott College seminary.
What? The weekend will offer lectures and discussions, shared meals and the option of joining the Community for Mass and Daily Office, along with some social time and space to explore our beautiful local area.
How much? The basic Guest House fee is £90 per day with full board (£140 for twin/double), plus the option of a donation to cover the costs of the course. (Reductions offered if needed – please ask.)
To book, email margaret@boarbankhall.org.uk
This one day conference is the Northern conference in celebration of 40 years of CARJ (The Catholic Association for Racial Justice).
The conference will begin at 10am with arrivals and coffee/tea.
The Bishop of Salford will open the meeting and welcome people at 10.30am.
The first keynote speaker is Max Farrar (Emeritus professor of Leeds Beckett University).
Max will be followed by Alison Lowe (Deputy Mayor of West Yorkshire).
There will be a complimentary lunch provided at about 1.30pm.
At 2.30pm there’ll be an item on CARJ’s ‘Agenda for change’ by Fr Phil Sumner, 
Parish Priest of Our Lady and St. Patrick’s Parish, Oldham
This agenda, building on experiences over the last 40 years, is intended to guide the efforts of CARJ, and all those of goodwill, to promote greater equality and to create a more racially just society.
At 3pm there’ll be workshops, with the opportunity for different diocese’s /parishes in the north of England to present something of what they are doing for racial justice.
The Conference will conclude with Mass at 4pm.
Anyone living or working in the Leeds Diocese will be able to claim public transport costs to and from Oldham. Simply email jandp@dioceseofleeds.org.uk if you are interested in taking up this offer and we will send you the details.
Every year we hold an extended Commission meeting to reflect on:
- the activities that we have undertaken,
- the current ‘signs of the times’
- where we can most effectively use our scarce resources of time and money over the course of the coming couple of years
- Do we need to adjust the way in which we work in the light of changing circumstances?
This year we will be including reflections from the Listening Events we have undertaken so far.
The venue is still to be confirmed.
Like all our Commission meetings, this meeting is open to anyone in the Diocese of Leeds to attend. If you would like to do so then please email jandp@dioceseofleeds.org.uk and we will send you any papers or details needed nearer to the date of the meeting.