Written by Peter McVerry SJ

A collection of writings spanning the career of well known social campaigner Peter McVerry. In 1974, as a newly-ordained Jesuit priest, Fr McVerry chose to live and work in the inner city with a small group from his order. He began working with young people from severely disadvantaged families and communities. To a young priest from a middle-class background the experience was a complete culture shock. It opened his eyes to what is happening in our very divided society and called into question his understanding of God. This book contains his reflections on these experiences.

Read more...

Written by The Jesuit Centre for Faith and Justice

Christian Spirituality is social - it is about how we live our life in society and has implications for our relationships and for our actions in the personal, social, political, and religious spheres. Within the framework of a Christian understanding, the contributors to this book consider social dimensions of spirituality as part of the response to the search for a more just world. The authors are all practitioners in the field and their experience and commitment are transparent in what they write: how a Christian understanding of the world can motivate, nourish and sustain our efforts to bring about a more just world.

Read more...

Written by The Cherry Orchard Fairth and Justice Group

"We live in a physical environment that is under strain. There are few facilities, one corner shop for over 5,000 people, no public phone boxes, no schools, cinemas or local health centre."

So state the members of a Faith and Justice Group based in Cherry Orchard, Dublin. In this book they go on to analyze the reasons behind this state of affairs, and to reflect on their experience in the light of the Gospel. Amid the signs of decay they find room to hope...

PDF version of 'One City, Two Tiers'

Written by Brian Lennon SJ, Gerry O'Hanlon SJ, Bill Toner SJ, Frank Sammon SJ

Women are alienated from the Roman Catholic Church. Not all women. Not everywhere. But a significant number of women in Ireland see the institutional Church as something alien to them. Over four years, four male priests engaged in a dialogue with a group of women from both lower and middle classes. In this paper they present some of the points put to them by these women and give an initial response to them.

Read more...

Written by Tim Hamilton, Brian Lennon, Gerry O'Hanlon & Frank Sammon

This deals with such questions as: Why has the position of deprived people in Ireland improved so little over the past twenty years? Why is there still bitterness an enmity in the Northern conflict? What is the link between Christianity and our secular world? The authors of this book argue that a greater solidarity between different groups in Ireland is necessary if any of us are to live proper human lives. They stress particularly the passionate love that God has for deprived people and the demands this makes on the better off.

Read more...