Faith in Politics, the Parliamentary and Public Affairs Internship run by the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of England and Wales, has been featured on www.laityinvolved.org, a new website launched by the Holy See’s Dicastery for Laity, Family and Life. The website hosts initiatives and ‘best practices’ which contribute to the formation of the lay faithful.
The Dicastery said:
‘The mission of the site is to be a reference point for pastoral agents, lay movements, and all those who are interested in finding ways to engage with the lay faithful in their countries and their communities.
‘The Dicastery's idea to create such an essential site was born after an international meeting on the formation of the lay faithful held last year. Representatives of different Bishops' Conferences presented to the Dicastery some of their best activities in the field of evangelisation and the promotion of the lay faithful in their respective countries. Even before the international meeting, the Dicastery made a survey among all the Episcopal Conferences to learn about the activity of each of them with the laity.’
In April 2019, the Faith in Politics interns and the coordinators of the scheme met with members of the Dicastery for Laity, Family and Life to talk about the scheme and to learn about the work of the Dicastery.
Bishop John Arnold, Bishop for the Faith in Politics scheme, said:
‘I am delighted that Faith in Politics has been chosen to feature as an example of worldwide best practice of formation of the laity. The scheme has prepared over one hundred Catholic graduates for a career in public life and makes real difference to the mission of the Church, to civic life in our country, and to those with whom the interns work.’
Faith in Politics is a Catholic Parliamentary and Public Affairs internship scheme which uniquely offers a foundation of Catholic faith and spiritual formation for those who believe that they may have a vocation to public service in politics or public affairs. Importantly their journey begins and ends with a retreat, and spiritual guidance is an integral part of the year.
Applications for Faith in Politics 2020-21 are now open and more information can be found on www.faithinpolitics.org.uk. Applications close on 28th February 2020.
