Orientation Session February 2-3, 2014
Pilgrimage April 27-May 5, 2014
“I cannot think of any other way to give such an in-depth understanding of the issue.” – 2013 participants
“Great mix of activity, reflections and lecture. Appreciated the creative activities as a way of reflecting on each day. Never felt rushed, but days were full.” – 2013 participants
For over fifty years the Corrymeela Community near Ballycastle, Northern Ireland, has been engaged in making peace. Their motto is to “embrace difference, heal divisions and enable peace-making and reconciliation.” Throughout the Northern Ireland “troubles” and continuing on today the cross-community, inter-faith, youth and family work of this ecumenical Christian community has inspired peace and reconciliation programs worldwide, including Tatamagouche Centre’s Dialogue for Peaceful Change.
The goals of our trip are to deepen our understanding of peacemaking within the Northern Ireland context, and to learn more of the Corrymeela Community’s faith-based perspective, history and ongoing practice.
People of all faith perspectives – or none – who are seriously interested in building a culture of peace are encouraged to participate. Our pilgrimage will be a journey inward as well as outward. Daily reflection circles will link our Northern Ireland experience with our own lives and Maritimes context. Thus we expect to return transformed.
Beginning and ending in Belfast, we will spend six full days based at Corrymeela. While there, participants will have presentations and discussions with peace activists, along with opportunities to experience the rugged beauty of the Northern Ireland coast. As well, day trips to Derry and Belfast will provide an intimate look into the challenges of reconciliation within the Northern Ireland context.
To read about our 2013 experience, check out Martha Martin’s blog at http://marthaemartin.blogspot.ca/
Program Cost: $1,700 Includes registration, required orientation, all accommodation, travel within Ireland, resource sessions and food, for 8 days in Northern Ireland (except for lunches and dinners in Belfast for a day at each of the beginning and end of the trip). Costs include shared accommodation; private rooms may be available at extra cost. Canada-Belfast flight is not included. A deposit of $200 is required to register. The balance is due by April 6th.
Please register at least by January 15, 2014 to secure your place in this program.
Leadership
Paul Hutchinson
Paul Hutchinson is the Centre Director of Corrymeela (August 2009- present). He has a background in mental health, advocacy, mediation and the Arts. Paul worked for 12 years with NI Association for Mental Health. He was Associate Lecturer at the University of Ulster for 3 years. In the mid-90s Paul re-trained as a mediator and worked in a variety of contexts, ranging from community conflict, workplace mediation, race-relations, Public Order disputes. Paul has a background in various artistic fields: as film-maker, writer, photographer and musician. His latest book, Writing the Changes (2009), was a collaboration with the Ulster Museum. His recent lecture and workshop tour in Jerusalem (Nov 2011), explored the role of the arts in conflict transformation.
Martha Martin
Martha Martin, Program Resource Group (PRG) facilitator, is a Diaconal Minister in the United Church of Canada.
She has spent many years as a university chaplain, both in ecumenical and multifaith settings. She is currently United Church Chaplain at Dalhousie and Coordinator of the Dalhousie Multifaith Centre.