300 at social justice forum

Sydney
6 April 2003

Peace ... harmony

Rugby league scores a try in a GPS college

Passing the baton

Peaceful action for peace

Catholic Weekly takes a holiday over Easter

Tissue project wins archbishop’s grant

A voice for the disabled

Faith centre moves

Younger set is 50

Fr Chris is guest

Ecumenical Stations of the Cross in wetlands

US move welcomed on partial birth abortion

Project Compassion 2003 - Leyte farmers can face better future

Editorial - Victims of war

Letters - Ash Wednesday

Conversation - Fr Patrick Byrne, Rome-based head of Children’s Mission: Big project or small, ‘it must be for kids’

Voice of Youth - Renaissance of thinking about the Middle Ages

Celebrate Love? Live it to the ‘max’

Heading off conflict before it hits crisis point

Crucifixion story wouldn’t go away

New home for new breed of priest

Christian Brothers spread social justice net

Luke’s Story wins award

300 at social justice forum

Music lets Andrew ‘share my faith’ ...

300 at social justice forum

Students from 12 schools - Catholic and non-Catholic, girls, boys and co-educational - addressed issues as diverse as social disadvantage, world debt, refugees, mental health and homophobia in a social justice forum at Mt St Benedict College, Pennant Hills.

Barriers of working with teenagers from other schools and the opposite sex were soon lifted as they were challenged by situations very different to their experiences.

In workshops they talked to people who work face to face with the socially disadvantaged.

Twelve workshops were held by groups advocating social justice: Fairwear, Youth Off The Streets, Caritas, Greenpeace and representatives from groups who deal with social disadvantage, homophobia, teenagers with disabilities, Aboriginal issues, world debt, women in prisons, refugees and asylum seekers and people living with mental illness.

Teacher Mark Smith, ministry coordinator at Mt St Benedict, said: “Having nearly 300 students come voluntarily after school is a real testament to a genuine interest in social justice.”

Principal Helen Sinclair said the return of social justice portfolio captains from past years for the evening “gives evidence of how important social justice is to both past and present students”.

Patrick Fox (pictured), a missionary who was involved in negotiations that ended the 36-year-long civil war in Guatemala, gave the keynote address on War, peace and terrorism in the world today.