Events

Leeds is a wonderfully diverse city, with a range of cultures and ethnicities making up our faith communities. How can we celebrate this diversity well, and actively engage with people of cultures that are different to our own? In this evening with Leeds Church Institute and Leeds Trinity University, you will learn how interculturalism, with its emphasis on understanding and interaction between people of different ethnicities, cultures and traditions, can help challenge racism and discrimination in our city. The event will look at how interculturalism, faith and racial justice can help churches and local communities thrive. Refreshments will be provided.

SPARK Social Justice, working with the Spirituality of Justice group within the J&P  Commission, are in the process of organising a one day retreat. However, it will be open to all J&P supporters who are interested in participating.

 

The day will be led by Fr. Luis Orlando Pérez Jiménez, S.J.

Earlier in 2025 we welcomed Fr Luis Orlando to give the Romero Lecture. People attending were moved by his descriptions of his work with the families of the disappeared in Mexico and with other marginalised groups. We are delighted that, with the financial support of the Jesuit Social Justice Fund, SPARK have been able to invite him to return to lead this day.

As well as input from Fr Luis Orlando, there will be time for discussion and private reflection. This retreat day will also include mass.

The day will incude a light buffet lunch and tea, coffee and water will be provided.

Although using Hinsley Hall as the venue, the room that we will be using will only accommodate up to a maximum of 25 people – places on this event are very limited.  So it is essential to book a place. Please use the button to go to the Eventbrite page. It is a donation event – you will need to pay a minimum donation of £1 on the Eventbrite page in order to book a place.

More Info & Book a place
 

This event is being organised by the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of England and Wales.

Drawing on the experiences and leadership of Catholic, Anglican and Methodist churches, as well as insights from political and local contexts, this event will reflect on the progress and achievements of the past decade. It will celebrate the power of faith in action and consider how collaboration can sustain and amplify that impact while addressing the challenges and opportunities ahead.

They have a great lineup of speakers including Bishop John Arnold and the Mayor of Greater Manchester, Andy Burnham.

Use the button to find out more details and to register (it’s free to attend but you must register as spaces are limited).

More Info & how to book a place

This event is being organised by Sabeel-Kairos

Churches are increasingly being called upon to meet the urgent needs in our communities. But how do we balance this important work with the Christian call to be a prophetic voice for change?

Are handouts really the answer? How do we find time while pulling people out of the river, to go upstream and find out who is pushing them in?

Jon Kuhrt is the Chief Executive of Hope into Action, a national Christian charity partnering with churches to provide homes for people who have been homeless.

He has worked with people affected by homelessness for 30 years, and has written a blog for the last 14 years on faith, transformation, and social justice called Grace + Truth. He is particularly interested in how practical social action links to social justice, how it empowers authentic change, and how it maintains a confident Christian distinctiveness.

The Hook Lecture is an annual public lecture on the ways faith interacts with public life.

It is jointly organised by Leeds Church Institute, Leeds Minster, and the Centre for Religion and Public Life at the University of Leeds.

This talk is free of charge and open to everyone.

More info & Tickets

SPARK Social Justice are sponsoring one of the films to be shown as part of this year’s Leeds Palestinian Film Festival. This year it will be one of the first films of the festival.

The film is called “There is another Way”. It is about an organisation called ‘Combatants for Peace’. This organisation is made up of former members of the Israeli Defence Force and Palestinian fighters who have renounced violence as a way of achieving peace.

After the film there will be a panel discussion.

A new venue for us this year! – St Chad’s parish centre on Otley Road in Far headingley.

Booking will open soon – we will publish it onto Eventbrite. As last year tickets will be £5 (£3 unwaged).