2007 forum a success, 2008 being planned Nearly 40 Catholic students representing 16 different university chaplaincies and Cathsocs from all over England and Wales took part in this year’s Catholic Student Forum (CSF). Not only was the weekend full of challenging content and inspiring speakers, but it was a chance for students to meet other Catholics in a “safe space”, network and have fun!
The weekend focused on “Simply Living”. All were invited to "shake up their lifestyle and to choose to live simply, sustainably and in solidarity with people living in poverty." Pax Christi’s Hilary Topp facilitated the main workshop looking at ‘Peace – at what Cost?’
Students were invited to reflect on how peace could be encouraged, fostered and sustained through fair trade and the support of the world’s poor. |
At the close of the weekend, each student was encouraged to make a simple promise to the wider community to "live simply".
“The Catholic Student Forum offers an opportunity for Catholic students to come together and share ideas at a national and international level. These meetings offer a “safe space” to build friendships, to question, to challenge and to grow in relationship with God. This year, students reflected on how they could live more simply in keeping with Gospel values and how they could then take this message back to their campuses to encourage others to get involved.” says Adam Berry, Catholic Youth Services Development Officer.
This is the fourth meeting of the Catholic Student Forum - an annual event aimed at bringing Catholic students together, organised in collaboration with chaplaincies and Cathsocs up and down the country. CSF started as an initiative by the Catholic Youth Services (CYS), the Conference of Catholic Chaplains in Higher Education (CCCHE) and a representative student consultative body. Weekends are designed to both deepen relationships between chaplaincies and Cathsocs from different Higher Education Institutes and to challenge students to get involved in social action.
The theme for this year’s Catholic Student Forum was chosen to mark the 40 years since the publication of Pope Paul VI’s Populorum Progressio (On the Development of Peoples) and links in to the LiveSimply challenge.
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Jessica Moorhouse, President of King’s College Cathsoc, adds: “I would recommend any chaplaincy and Cathsoc to join the Catholic Student Forum, so that we can unite our efforts and promote true solidarity throughout England and Wales.”
Next year’s CSF will be taking place at Southwell House, London on 22nd – 24th February 2008.
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CHAPLAINCY RETREAT:
Bristol & Cardiff at Downside Abbey
It’s only been a little while since the Catholic Student Forum took place back in February but already there have been some encouraging developments between Chaplaincies.
Bristol and Cardiff University Catholic Chaplaincies showed some real partnership by holding a joint retreat to Downside Abbey outside Bath at the beginning of March. This event built upon the series of joint events held by Cardiff CathSoc and Bristol CASSOC over the last few years which has sparked many new friendships.
The weekend was led by Fr. Alexander from the Benedictine community based at the Abbey who gave a number of insightful talks on the Holy Spirit.
(continued on page 5)
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