On October 3-5, we were happy to be able to gather in person at Villa Madonna in Rothesay, NB, for our first in-person JPIC Atlantic event in three years! Sister Donna Brady and Darlene O’Leary attended the JPIC event in person, and Sister Marion Sheridan was able to participate in part by Zoom.

JPIC is a Network of members of the Canadian Religious Conference in Atlantic Canada working for Justice, Peace and the Integrity of Creation.

The gathering was facilitated by Sabrina di Mateo from the Canadian Religious Conference. We began with prayer and reflection on the social and ecological challenges we have faced over the past few years. We were joined the next day by David Perley, a member of Tobique First Nation and retired director of the Mi’kmaw-Wolastoqey Centre at UNB. He led us in a wonderful presentation called “A Season of Reconciliation” as well as a powerful talking circle. We also had the chance to hear from Kyla Lohnes, a MA graduate, who shared her research findings on faith communities engaging in climate action – its challenges and opportunities.We then had time to share some of the programs and projects that our communities have initiated, including on reconciliation, climate action, and poverty eradication. We ended our gathering discussing options for further collaboration, a shared action from our gathering, and future thinking on what might be next for JPIC Atlantic. It was a truly rich time together!