Creation Care Conference - 17th January
“Let Justice Flow Like Rivers”: All-Ireland Churches to Gather for Landmark Creation Care Conference
Newry, 17th January 2026
Church leaders, politicians, theologians, scientists and grassroots practitioners from across Ireland will come together in Newry this January for a major all-Ireland conference on Creation Care, organised by the Irish Council of Churches in partnership with the Irish Inter Church Meeting and Church Leaders.
Entitled “Let Justice Flow Like Rivers”, the conference will take place on Saturday 17th January 2026, from 10.00am to 3.30pm in the Canal Court Hotel, Newry and will focus on how churches can respond credibly and practically to the ecological crisis through theology, science, reconciliation and action.
Andrew Muir MLA, Minister for Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs, will attend, alongside a government representative from the Republic of Ireland, highlighting the all-island significance of this gathering. The conference will be chaired by BBC reporter Louise Cullen, who will act as MC for the day, guiding participants through keynote sessions, discussion panels and commitments for action.
High-profile keynote speakers
The morning programme will feature three keynote contributions bringing together theology, science and lived experience:
Dr Hilary Marlow:
Fellow, Graduate Tutor and Director of Studies at Girton College, Cambridge, and an Affiliated Lecturer in the Faculty of Divinity. She teaches Hebrew Bible and Biblical Hebrew and is a leading scholar in ecological hermeneutics, exploring how Scripture shapes Christian responsibility towards the natural world. She is the author of The Earth Is the Lord’s: A Biblical Response to Environmental Issues and is currently editing the Oxford Handbook on Bible and Ecology. Her research also includes interfaith engagement, particularly through Scriptural Reasoning, bringing Christian, Jewish and Muslim traditions into dialogue on Scripture and creation. Dr Marlow is a trustee of the Christian conservation charity A Rocha and regularly speaks to academic and wider audiences on faith, Scripture and care for creation.
Professor Jim McAdam OBE:
Retired agricultural and environmental scientist with over 40 years’ experience in government research and Queen’s University Belfast, will bring a scientific perspective. His work includes peatland restoration, agroforestry, ecosystem services and a major 2023 climate change and carbon storage study for Lough Neagh.
Dr Gail Gunst Heffner
Author of Reconciliation in a West Michigan Watershed, cofounder of Plaster Creek Stewards and a leading practitioner in church-based environmental restoration, will reflect on reconciliation between communities, churches and damaged ecosystems, drawing on real-world watershed recovery projects.
These keynote sessions will be followed by moderated discussion and questions from participants.
From Reflection to Action: Churches Sharing Lived Practice
In the afternoon, the focus will shift from inspiration to implementation, with a substantial session entitled “What contributions can and do churches make to Creation Care?” Churches from different traditions will share concrete experiences, challenges and measurable impacts.
Contributors include:
- Eco Congregation Ireland, outlining how churches are engaging spiritually, practically, locally and globally in care for creation.
- The Moravian Church, reflecting on Creation Care in the context of a minority church with historic buildings and limited resources.
- Methodist Centenary Church, Dublin, sharing volunteer-led sustainability initiatives and lessons learned from long-term commitment.
- The Archdiocese of Dublin, presenting its Energy Masterplan, including data-driven approaches to reducing emissions, energy costs and land use impacts.
A facilitated Q&A will allow participants to explore how these approaches can be adapted in their own contexts.
The conference as a clear objective: to equip churches across Ireland to move from concern to commitment in caring for creation. The day will conclude with a shared liturgical moment and a “River of Hope” pledge, inviting participants to name one concrete action they will take — personally or within their church — in response to the ecological crisis, particularly in relation to water, land and climate justice.
By bringing theology, science and lived church practice into conversation, organisers hope the conference will strengthen cooperation across denominations and encourage measurable, hope-filled action rooted in faith.
Tickets are £10 to be purchased at https://letjustflow.eventbrite.ie
Further info from: info@irishchurches.org
Introduction to the Enneagram
If you missed this wonderful workshop the first time because it was oversubscribed, you’re in luck as Nuala Prince will return to the Belfast Jesuit Centre in January to run it again.
This gentle and insightful workshop offers an introduction to a rich system of nine personality types that blend traditional wisdom with modern psychology. The sessions will explore how the Enneagram can deepen self-understanding, strengthen relationships, and support spiritual and emotional wellbeing.
Whether you’re new to the Enneagram or returning with fresh questions, all are welcome. The workshop is also ideal for teams and groups seeking to grow in mutual understanding.
A Christian Approach to the Enneagram
At the BJC, we use the Enneagram not as a belief system or spiritual path in itself, but as a simple human tool that can support the work of human growth. Within the wisdom of our Christian faith and the discernment tradition of St Ignatius, the Enneagram becomes one more way of noticing the patterns that help or hinder our freedom in Christ.
Our workshops are grounded in prayer, Scripture, and the conviction that our deepest identity is found only in God, not in any personality type. Used in this way, the Enneagram can help us recognise the habits that limit love, deepen our compassion for others, and open us more fully to the transforming grace of the Holy Spirit.
Times:
Friday 23rd Jan: 7–9.30pm
Saturday 24th Jan: 10am–4pm
Participants must be able to attend both sessions.
Suggested donation: £35–£50 (includes refreshments; bring a packed lunch on the Saturday)Venue: Belfast Jesuit Centre, 193–195 Donegall Street, BT1 2FL
Enneagram Subtypes Workshop
Already familiar with your Enneagram type? This one-day workshop at the Belfast Jesuit Centre offers a deeper dive into the instinctual subtypes; self-preservation, social, and one-to-one; that shape how each personality type is expressed.
Led by Nuala Prince, the day will explore how these instinctual drives influence behaviour, relationships, and stress responses, offering practical tools for growth, balance, and compassion.
Ideal for individuals, spiritual directors, educators, and teams seeking to enhance communication, navigate conflict, and deepen self-awareness.
Suggested donation: £35–£50 (includes refreshments; bring a packed lunch)
Venue: Belfast Jesuit Centre, 193–195 Donegall Street, BT1 2FL
A Christian Approach to the Enneagram
At the BJC, we use the Enneagram not as a belief system or spiritual path in itself, but as a simple human tool that can support the work of human growth. Within the wisdom of our Christian faith and the discernment tradition of St Ignatius, the Enneagram becomes one more way of noticing the patterns that help or hinder our freedom in Christ.
Our workshops are grounded in prayer, Scripture, and the conviction that our deepest identity is found only in God, not in any personality type. Used in this way, the Enneagram can help us recognise the habits that limit love, deepen our compassion for others, and open us more fully to the transforming grace of the Holy Spirit.
Silence in the City - Silent Prayer in Lent
A gentle invitation to rest, reconnect, and rediscover the sacred within
In a world that rarely stops talking, Silence in the City offers a quiet alternative – a space to breathe, to listen, and to simply be.
This six-week introductory programme led by Sean O’Brien, is a warm and welcoming invitation to explore the ancient, life-giving practice of silent prayer. Whether you’re new to prayer or seeking a fresh approach, these sessions will gently guide you into a deeper awareness of God’s presence – not through words or effort, but through stillness and simplicity.
What to Expect
Each session offers a calm, supportive space to:
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- Let go of the pressure to “get prayer right”
- Rest in the quiet presence of God, who is already near
- Discover the peace that comes from simply being, not doing
- Reconnect with your true self beneath the noise and demands of daily life
You won’t need prior experience – just a willingness to pause and be present.
Is This for You?
This programme may speak to you if:
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- You feel spiritually weary or stuck in routine prayer
- You long for a deeper, more intimate connection with God
- You’re overwhelmed by life’s noise and crave inner stillness
- You’re curious about silence but unsure how to begin
Practical Details
- When: Fridays during Lent beginning with tea/coffee at 11:00 am for a prompt 11.15am start
- Where: Belfast Jesuit Centre
- Duration: Six sessions, each around one hour
- Format: Simple, spacious, and beginner-friendly
- Optional: Join us for Mass at 12.30pm
Come as you are. Leave with a little more peace.
Learning From Matthew's Church with Fr Kieran O'Mahony
The Gospel of Matthew is unique; it is the only Gospel to use the word “church.” Written in the later first century, Matthew offers a vivid window into a community navigating identity, conflict, and mission. Struggling as a kind of orphan from Judaism, Matthew’s church forged structures for ministry and teaching that continue to inspire us today.
Guided by Kieran O’Mahony OSA, of Tarsus Scripture School (tarsus.ie); renowned biblical scholar and great friend of the Belfast Jesuit Centre, this course invites you to journey with Matthew’s community, discovering lessons for our own time through scripture, prayer, and reflection.
Together we will explore:
- 3rd February: Emerging Churches: placing Matthew in the later first century
- 10th February: Matthew’s church: challenges and emerging structures
- 17th February: Jesus as Moses in the Gospel according to Matthew
- 24th February: The Lord’s prayer and the place forgiveness across the Gospel
- 3rd March: The parables of the end of time (Matthew 24-25)
- 10th March: Mission in Matthew’s church: the Mission Discourse (9:35-11:1) closing tableau (28:16-20)
Join us as we learn from Matthew’s church; a community of faith that speaks powerfully to the challenges and hopes of today.
Places are limited and registration is essential.