During the month of May, I had the opportunity to participate in two significant conferences that deepened my understanding of the relationship between faith, justice and our responsibility to care for both people and creation. Although each gathering focused on different issues, they were united by a common call to live out the Gospel through action, solidarity and a commitment to justice.

From May 4th to 6th, I attended the Canadian Religious Conference's Justice, Peace and Integrity of Creation (JPIC) Gathering at the Jesuit Retreat Centre just outside Montreal. Approximately 70 members of Religious congregations from across Canada came together to reflect, share experiences and discern how we can strengthen our commitment to Biblical justice.

The central theme of the gathering was Integral Ecology—a way of living that honours the interconnectedness at the heart of life on earth and throughout the universe. Integral ecology reminds us that life is fundamentally relational and that every issue of justice is connected to the whole of creation. Rather than viewing environmental, social and spiritual concerns separately, we were challenged to see them as inseparable dimensions of one reality.

Throughout the gathering, participants identified three major priorities for future action.

The first priority was the organization of a Day of Action that would combine advocacy, contemplation and public witness at both the national and local levels. Participants envisioned a day centred on prayer and action, including gathering on Parliament Hill and meeting with Members of Parliament to advocate for meaningful change.

The second priority focused on developing a culture of integral ecology through formation and education. Suggestions included festivals, practical learning experiences similar to the Blanket Exercise, online courses, youth engagement initiatives and the development of workbooks and other educational resources to help communities deepen their understanding and commitment.

The third priority emphasized the importance of creating and sustaining connections among those committed to Justice, Peace and the Integrity of Creation. Ideas included strengthening base communities, expanding national networks, organizing regular national JPIC gatherings and continuing monthly Zoom meetings by building on the existing JPIC Coffee Hours.

As discussions continued, several proposal themes emerged as areas requiring particular attention. These included advocacy at every level of government to address climate change, supporting Indigenous rights, protecting sacred spaces, exploring the theological understanding of deep incarnation, promoting food sovereignty, reflecting on the ethical implications of artificial intelligence and strengthening solidarity among communities working for justice.

Participants also considered the best timing for future initiatives, with many suggesting a Day of Action during September's Season of Creation or around October 4th, the Feast of St. Francis of Assisi. There was also a strong emphasis on coalition building, developing formation programs, allowing local communities to adapt initiatives to their own circumstances, sharing experiences through the Canadian Religious Conference, amplifying local voices, making effective use of Zoom technology and ensuring that elderly Religious could actively participate.

As I reflected on the gathering, I was reminded that in much of Western Europe and North America, the Church's traditional commitment to Biblical social justice has gradually moved to the margins of Religious Life. Declining numbers, leadership challenges and changing priorities within the institutional Church have diminished the strong emphasis on serving the poor and marginalized that characterized the years following the Second Vatican Council. Today, many people who remain committed to justice, peace and the integrity of creation often find themselves expressing that commitment through organizations and movements outside the institutional Church.

Just over a week later, from May 14th to 16th, I attended a second conference at Canadian Mennonite University in Winnipeg entitled Palestine, Western Churches and Settler Colonialism.

I participated as a representative of the Redemptorists through Catholics for Justice and Peace in the Holy Land. In addition, I am a member of Doctors Against Genocide, where every Sunday we meet via Zoom with doctors currently serving in Gaza. These meetings provide firsthand accounts of the immense suffering and what they describe as the genocide unfolding there. I am also a member of International Catholic Priests Against Genocide and the Catholic Caucus of Christians for a Free Palestine.

The Winnipeg conference centred on listening to Palestinian Christian voices while placing the situation in Palestine within the broader context of settler colonialism, church complicity, ethical witness and Christian responsibility. We heard presentations from Palestinian Christian leaders and scholars John and Samuel Munayer, together with clergy, students and ecumenical partners, some of whom participated through Zoom.

A central focus of the conference was Faith in a Time of Genocide, which seeks to equip churches and faith-based institutions with the theological, ethical and pastoral resources needed to respond faithfully and responsibly to the ongoing crisis. The conversations challenged participants to reflect deeply on the role of the Church in situations of injustice and to consider how faith communities can become more effective advocates for truth, peace and human dignity.

While in Winnipeg, I also stayed with our Redemptorist community. This provided an opportunity to receive an update on the situation in Ukraine, where members of our congregation continue to minister under difficult circumstances. My interest in Ukraine goes back many years to my time working in Rome, when in 1993 I was able to visit and meet with our Redemptorists who had survived decades of living underground following the end of the Second World War.

Looking back on these two conferences, I was struck by the common thread that connected them. Whether discussing integral ecology, climate justice, Indigenous rights, Palestine or Ukraine, each gathering reminded me that our Christian faith cannot be separated from our responsibility to stand with those who suffer, care for creation and work tirelessly for justice and peace. The Gospel continues to call us beyond words into faithful action, inviting us to build communities rooted in compassion, solidarity and hope.