Irish Churches Collaborating on Social Issues
The Church in Society Forum is a specialist group established under the auspices of the main churches in Ireland who are represented within the Irish Inter-Church Committee. CSF's mandate is to advise the Churches on economic, social and public policy issues. CSF also seeks to stimulate specific ecumenical projects on relevant social issues.
Integration
at the local Parish level
The current major CSF project is the Parish Based Integration Project which is promoting integration at local parish/congregation level.
The project promotes
- Respect for the rich cultural diversity of our churches
- Respect, which is more than acknowledgement and tolerance
- Realisation that difference is a permanent feature of reality
- Understanding that difference should be valued in its own right
- Engagement and interaction with difference within our faith communities
The project has the potential to:
- Counteract social exclusion of immigrants from society
- Enable our church communities to foster intercultural interaction
- Address racism and prejudice in our churches
- Reveal the potential blessings of many cultures in our churches
- Assist churches to create a feeling of belonging for all in our faith communities
Effective integration seeks to create culturally diverse local parishes that are intercultural and that are fully integrated.
Follow the menu links above for more information.
Latest
additions to the website:* A leaflet "Racism Defined" produced by the North West Inner City Network is available from the Resources page* A detailed Resource Book based on the ten key guidelines for parishes is now available here to download. Printed copies are also available from the project office.* Locations page information for St Peters parish updated to include details about the Micah project there. Also new entries for Cavan (Hosanna House), Belfast (City Church) and Dublin (Victory Fellowship) * The project brochure can be downloaded as a PDF file from here, and freely printed and distributed as required for information. * Summary Guidelines for Parishes. * Booklet (in 8 languages) added to Resources section on living in your own home (rented accomodation), produced by Vicentian Refugee Centre & SVP * Details on where Masses in their own language are provided for different Ethnic groups, and where immigrant chaplains are based, is available from the project office directly, or using the 'Contact us' page on this site |
[This project has received financial support from the integration fund administered by the Office of the Minister for Integration, Ireland]