Fr. Peter Henriot to Keynote

Fr. Peter Henriot, born in Tacoma Washington, is a member of the Zambia-Malawi Province Society of Jesus (Jesuits). He has worked in Zambia since 1989, and, since 1990, has been  the director of the Jesuit Centre for Theological Reflection (JCTR) in Lusaka, Zambia.  The JCTR is a project of the Zambia-Malawi Province of the Society of Jesus, founded in 1987 to assist the local church and other groups in matters of political, economic and social justice concerns, through research, education, advocacy and consultation.  Their work includes studies on constitutional reform, good governance, poverty eradication, debt cancellation, education for justice, theological reflection.

From 1971 to 1988, he was part of the Center of Concern in Washington, DC, a project founded by the United States Catholic Conference and the Society of Jesus to promote study and advocacy on social issues. He served as Director from 1978 to 1988.   Peter is the author of numerous articles, scholarly and popular, on socio-economic development and on church’s social teaching.  He is the co-editor of “The Pastoral Circle Revisited: A Critical Quest for Truth and Transformation,” Orbis Books, 2005; co-author of  “Catholic Social Teaching: Our Best Kept Secret,” Orbis Books, fourth and expanded edition, 2003.  Co-author of “Social Analysis: Linking Faith and Justice,” Orbis Books, 1983.  Author of “Opting for the Poor: The Challenge for the Twenty-First Century,” Center of Concern, 2004.  Peter is a weekly columnist for THE POST, Zambia’s independent newspaper.

AFJN is thrilled to feature Fr. Peter as the keynote speaker for our 2010 Conference - "Justice in Africa: On Whose Terms?"

"Women & Spirit" Exhibit in D.C. Coincides with AFJN April Conference

Need another reason to come to Washington, D.C. for the AFJN conference in April? “Women & Spirit: Catholic Sisters in America,” a traveling exhibit sponsored by the Leadership Conference of Women Religious (LCWR) in association with Cincinnati Museum Center, will be featured at the Smithsonian until April 25th. This coincides with our April Conference!

The exhibit features innovative American women and depicts how their passion for justice helped shape the nation’s social and cultural landscape. Learn of women who corresponded with President Thomas Jefferson, talked down bandits and roughnecks, lugged pianos into the wilderness, and provided the nation’s first health insurance to Midwestern loggers. Discover sisters’ courage during the Civil War, the Gold Rush, the San Francisco Earthquake, the Influenza Epidemic, the Civil Rights Movement, and Hurricane Katrina. The untold story of these unsung heroes is now recounted, documenting a vital and significant perspective of American history.

Let us know if you are interested! AFJN may be able organize a group visit around the time of the conference so we can experience this exciting tribute together.

Furthermore, in honor of this exhibit, AFJN is assembling our own tribute to U.S. Women Religious missioned in Africa over the years and the profound role they have played in promoting peace, justice, and solidarity with our brothers and sisters on the continent. This exhibit will be displayed at the AFJN conference, April 17-19^th. To learn more or to contribute your stories or photos, contact Fr. Rocco Puopolo at director@afjn.org.

To learn more about the “Women and Spirit” exhibit, which will be at the S. Dillon Ripley Center at the Smithsonian (Washington, DC) January 15 through April 25, 2010, visit http://www.womenandspirit.org/