May 12, 2014
Almost 40 percent of British Catholics brought up in the faith no longer identify as such, according to recent British sociological data.
Working to reverse this trend, Landings trains compassionate lay people to reach out to those cut off from the Church and offers a safe place to land, to tell one’s story, and to find a way home. To celebrate the re-launch of Landings in the U.K., “Exploring Ministries of Welcome to the Church: A Conference on Healing and Reconciliation in the UK,” will be held on July 5 at Heythrop College in London.
“This conference addresses the theology of the New Evangelization fostered by Pope Francis and ministries directed toward healing and reconciliation,” said Father Thomas A. Kane, CSP, director of Landings, a Paulist Fathers ministry of reconciliation currently found at more than 300 sites in the U.S., U.K., Canada and Singapore. “This ministry is multi-faceted, with invitations to the wider society, to the Church, to parish communities, and to individual Catholics in various pastoral situations.”
There are many different arenas, according to Father Kane, such as ministering to those who feel distanced from or hurt by the Church; to those who have drifted away from the Church; to groups touched by abuse; reconciling women, prisoners and divorced Catholics; and examining models of healing in ecumenical and interfaith situations.
The conference will address many of these issues beginning with a keynote presentation on “Catholic ‘Disaffiliates’ in the UK” delivered by Stephen Bullivant. Mr. Bullivant is senior lecturer in theology and ethics at St. Mary’s University College in Twickenham. “The Art of Compassionate Listening,” is the subject of the second keynote speech by Father Brendan Callaghan, SJ, a clinical psychologist who taught “The Psychology of Religion” at Heythrop College for 30 years.
After lunch, participants will attend two workshops of their choice, and the day will wrap up with a panel discussion including many of the conference presenters.
“This day is all about how to bring people into reconciliation with one another, with the Church and with God,” said Father Thomas Kane, CSP, director of Paulist Reconciliation Ministries and associate professor at the Boston College School of Theology and Ministry. “We hope this day will enkindle the spirit of reconciliation in the U.K.”