‘Baptised and Sent - our call to be missionary disciples’ was the theme of the annual Justice and Peace Assembly, organised by the Birmingham Archdiocese Justice & Peace Commission and the Columban Missionary Society at St Peter’s School, Solihull, on Saturday 12 October.

Based on the ‘See, Judge, Act’ model, participants learnt about mission from a variety of perspectives and about engagement in practical action for justice, peace and care of creation.

More than 100 people attended from parishes across the Archdiocese. The day was facilitated by Sr Anna O’Connor of the Justice & Peace Commission and James Trewby, the Columban Education Worker.

School staff and students – including Headteacher Mrs Murphy – were attentive hosts.

Morning sessions ranged from global and local mission perspectives and interreligious dialogue delivered by Columban priests and lay co-workers, to ‘Youth and Mission’ by the Birmingham Diocesan youth team.

For ‘Church Community on Mission’, ecumenical partner Olton Baptist Church members talked about missionary outreach to their local area.

The action workshops in the afternoon looked at mission with young people, Liturgy and Mission, justice and peace action and how to become a LiveSimply parish.

Mass concluded the day, where the main celebrant was Fr Gerard Murray, Chair of the Commission.

In his homily, Columban Director Peter Hughes spoke about Columban mission responding to the 'Cry of the Earth and the Cry of the Poor', based on the encyclical Laudato Si’, and his own three decades of mission in Chile.

Bidding prayers were offered for the success of Columban mission, the Synod on Amazonia and in thanksgiving for the life and witness of St John Henry Newman.

Find out more:

Birmingham Justice & Peace Commission

Columbans in Britain