Sophie Manaeva
Sophie is our Theology intern. She supports our research projects by conducting interviews, researching, and providing general academic assistance as needed. She has a BA in Religion and Classical Civilisation from Trinity and is starting her masters in Theology and Social Justice at Trinity.
Murmuring filled the room as we moved onto our second round of discussions. It was a shockingly beautiful Saturday, considering the non-stop rain that we have become used to over the past few months. Around me, a dozen or so young adults were deeply engaged with the question that was put to us: what are your reflections and hopes for the Economy of Francesco in Ireland?
From an Economy that Kills into an Economy of Life
The Economy of Francesco is a global movement of young adults seeking to transform and rethink the economy. A transformation guided by values of universal fraternity, the common good, and care for others and all Creation. The aim of EoF is to promote and shape an alternative economic future through interdisciplinary research, social and entrepreneurial projects, advocacy and education, and policy proposals.
EoF was founded on an open call from Pope Francis, in 2019, for young entrepreneurs, economists, and changemakers to join him in Assisi, to begin imagining an economy inspired by the values of St. Francis: an inclusive, sustainable economic future. Through this grew a grassroots global community. Key themes that EoF is concerned with, called ‘Villages’, include Agriculture and Justice and Business in Transition.
Critical to EoF are its local hubs. These are regional anchors where young people can come together to discuss projects they are working on, to collaborate across disciplines, and build friendships and community in their locality. There are over 50 EoF hubs throughout the world, and, this weekend, we added Ireland to that list.
Ireland’s Place in the Economy of Francesco
Last November, an international EoF event was held in Castel Gandolfo. It was here that the seeds of our Irish hub were sown. Whether people went together to the global event, or found each other there, it became clear that there was great enthusiasm for EoF amongst the Irish people present.
On the 21st of February, we gathered for the first time in Ireland. We were hosted graciously by the Faber Companions in their home in Rathmines. Our session, led and moderated by Cormac Slattery, began with an address by Fr Niall Leahy, who introduced EoF to those of us in the room who were unfamiliar with it. We received a video welcome and encouragement from Carlos Figueira, from the EOF Youth Assembly, connecting us to the existing European network of Hubs.
Following this, myself and Teresa Buxó presented to the group on our EoF projects. I spoke about a collaboration between JCFJ and Bohemian Cooperatives, and our involvement in culture-building from a Catholic Social Teaching perspective for the launch of their cooperatives in the north inner-city. Teresa presented Care Again, a global online platform she is building for the provision of open-source medical technology to hospitals with limited resources. Her project is inspired by her experience in the sector, and the flawed way that medtech is donated to poorer countries.
Once we had discussed these projects, we broke into smaller groups to first reflect silently, to then offer a reflection, and then respond to one another. It struck me at this point just how absorbed everybody was in their conversations; not one person was disengaged. On the contrary, it was like a feedback loop, our enthusiasm for our ideas and reflections inspiring one another.
What emerged from our broader discussion was the significance of community in achieving environmental justice. Too often people, especially young people, can become fatigued by environmental concerns. It feels overwhelming and futile to challenge environmentally harmful policy. Community, and connecting with like-minded people, even if they are working on completely different projects or initiatives, is critical in sustaining the energy of a movement. Needless to say, there was a desire to keep the momentum going with EoF in Ireland, and we are already looking forward to our next event.
For those interested in the Economy of Francesco in Ireland, keep an eye on the JCFJ Instagram and Bluesky accounts. And if you are a young adult (18-35) interested in becoming a part of our Hub, you can join our WhatsApp community here or email [email protected].
