No.7 Summer 2008 CENTREPOINT Newsletter of the Presentation Centre for Policy and Systemic Change 346 Orwell Park Close, Templeogue, Dublin 6W. Tel: 01 4298680 Fax: 01 4298615 Web: www.presentation.ie Email: info@presentation.ie Towards a more Compassionate, Just and Sustainable World By David Rose A new plan for Presentation ministry outlines While all ministry is rooted and key areas of work and challenges facing grounded in spirituality, and there are Presentation Sisters and co-workers in the people working in initiatives in faith years ahead. development and retreat centres; the plan will complement this with a team The plan can be likened to a map that charts whose focus is creating new the future direction for our work. However, opportunities for people to engage in no map or plan adequately describes the the search for spirituality and faith journey into ministry that is the privilege of development. working with people, the sharing of hopes and dreams, anxieties and fears in working Learning Innovation for a more compassionate, just and Learning Innovation involves sustainable world, which is our mission. developing new approaches to learning in particular to combating educational the inate dignity of each person. From a This mission is rooted in the Christian disadvantage. Any one of us, who as Christian perspective it means recognising tradition of social transformation. This calls educators has taken the time to try a new way that each person is created in the image and us to build the kingdom of God. The of learning with a student who is struggling, likeness of God. Its about awareness raising kingdom is often likened to the pearl of great is an innovator. and campaigning to change systems that price, that fulfills the heart’s desire. Our trample on people’s rights. Promoting desire as Presentation people is enabling The nature of learning is changing rapidly. In fairtrade, development education projects individuals, including ourselves, this, the digital age (see article by Michael like Challenge to Change and tackling communities, and society to be fully human Hallissy in this newsletter), a shift in corporate greed are examples of recent work and fully alive. This is the vision of liberation understanding is occurring from learning as in this area. The Nagle Community and the at the heart of the gospel. It is also about providing content in schools and institutions International Presenation Association give us Participants in South Presentation process, including migrants, sisters and students from Presentation Secondary School sustainability, living in ways that respect the to learning as enabling people define their capacity to do this is a focussed way but it Ballyphehane, Cork at launch of Report. Photographed by Sean McDougall balance of life in all of creation. own solutions and possibilities. We are also involves our personal choices. challenged to be pioneers again, like Nano What are the stepping stones on the way to Nagle, in moving to the cutting edge of A New Vision for South Presentation Ecology this vision? How do we as Presentation educational innovation. Global warming, climate change and limited people contribute to realising this vision? energy resources are very much in the public By David Rose The plan calls for action in five key areas. We are doing this by supporting initiatives consciousness. We stand at a critical The Presentation Centre has published a new report titled We Made This , an important new survey of local needs in the area around South These are spirituality, learning innovation, that target educational disadvantage in the moment in Earth’s history (Earth Charter) Presentation, Evergreen Street, and some of the suburbs of Cork. South Presentation will be redeveloped as a centre for social inclusion social inclusion, human rights and ecology. formal and informal education sectors; for There is a a call to live in sustainable ways based on ideas generated by the people themselves. example, the Kildare Community Education the respect the delicate balance of nature. Spirituality Partnership. Conferences on learning spaces The Nano Nagle Centre and organic farm, Spiritality goes to the heart of the matter. It is and our e-learning initiative Notschool.net, We Made This tells the story of how a community of local residents and from across the city of Cork, teenagers, the elderly, Traveller Ballygriffin and the sustainable living about beliefs and values. It is what shapes targeted at 14-16 year olds who are not women, people in recovery, recent immigrants and Presentation Sisters and others came together to identify common needs and devise programme are major organisational and moves us and influences all of our benefiting from the system are other ways of dealing with them. initiatives in response to this global crisis and relationships with self, people, institutions, examples of this. complement the many personal choices for the environment and with God. Sr Terry Using innovative design consultation techniques, the various groups have turned their attention to social problems and unmet needs, change that people are making. Abraham, Congregational Leader, speaking Social Inclusion which are increasingly putting society under pressure. The Presentation Centre in association with Sean McDougall of Stakeholder at a meeting on the plan said: Social inclusion means accepting people as Design facilitated the consultation process. Conclusion they are and listening to them. It is about The plan for ministry exists only to benefit The heart of the spirituality of communion is extending a welcome and being with those “We Made This proves that when communities are given the means to innovate, they are more than capable of building solutions the people we work with and the planet to behold the divine in every piece of for whom life can be a struggle. The plan that foster inclusion, cooperation and respect for diverse views,” said Sr Anne Coffey, organiser of the process. entrusted to our care. The extent to which it creation, in ourselves and in one another. It’s builds on the movement in ministry to does this will be the measure of its success. a huge challenge to change our perception, working with and learning from people on The Presentation Sisters have a long history of addressing unmet educational and social needs in partnership with the Significant steps have already been taken our behaviour and our choices. If we live the margins. It includes work with Travellers, community. The South Presentation Convent is where Nano Nagle, founder of the Presentation Sisters first started her towards its implementation. with that mindfulness, look at the world with prisoners, ex-offenders, migrants and small schools over 200 years ago for children denied the right to an education. holy eyes, would there be war and violence? refugees, the homeless and local David Rose is director of the Presentation Would there be hunger and poverty? Would communities experiencing exclusion. The Centre. We Made This will inform the redevelopment of the South Presentation Convent there be destruction of the earth? Presentation Centre adds value to this work complex as an inclusive global learning hub, being designed both to meet local through its policy work based on the direct needs and to build on the global presence and work of the Presentation The challenge for us is to unpack this experience of those with whom we work. understanding of spirituality from within our Sisters and co-workers around the world. Christian tradition but also in dialogue with Human Rights the other great religions. Working for human rights means respecting Copies of the report are available, email info@presentation.ie Page 8
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