A day of short inputs, drama, poetry, prayer and interactive workshops to help us listen better to others and to understand their real needs
In order to respond to Pope Francis’s invitation to become a Church ‘with and of the poor’ perhaps in our particular context a pre requisite task is to develop as a ‘listening Church’ willing and able to cross boundaries and as Jean Vanier puts it ‘crossing the street’ to make contact with those we would usually prefer to ignore or avoid.
Even those eager to “speak truth to power’ can neglect to build relationships with the poor and those who are often just ‘overlooked’. St Thomas Aquinas stressed that the roots of what we now call Catholic Social Thought lies in a process of discernment rather than in a simple ‘protest narrative’ which involves engaging with the other and learning together to balance competing interests as we search for the Common Good.
We need therefore to become a people capable of listening and to foster a culture of encounter to become a Church of deep and transformative listening.
If you would like to attend, please CLICK HERE to book your place.
