John Connor

Reflection

“The research indicated that because caravan park residents were occupants of marginalised housing they were not seen as significant people in their communities, their concerns were often ignored and their access to legal rights thwarted. Their fear of being seen as “trouble makers” and therefore further removed from the community’s approbation, added another layer to this particular barrier. The study noted that in inland areas the demarcation between social groupings was more marked than metropolitan areas and a person’s worth and social position more closely related to whether or not they owned a home and were known in the town. Older single men often had a recognisable place in the social fabric but the majority of caravan park residents were “in comers” to country towns. The low sense of worth expressed by many residents and their lack of any confidence in their own ability to achieve worthwhile change, and therefore reluctance to pursue their rights as tenants, was directly connected to their absorption of these community values.“

Joy Connor- Living on the Margins: Tenancy Rights for Residents of Residential/caravan Parks in Inland NSW.

Let us remember in our prayers community and tenancy workers, who work for justice for those who live as long- term residents of caravan parks. Caravan park residents often live very much ‘on the edge’ in relation to acceptance by their communities.

As he (Rowan Williams) said in his Canterbury enthronement sermon, “Jesus’ followers grieve or protest about war, debt, poverty and prejudice because of the fear we feel when insult and violence blot out the divine image in human relations.’ And because of what this implies. For Catholic Christianity, pessimism about our brittle state is eclipsed by hope.”

Rupert Short – Rowan Williams – An Introduction. pp 108 & 125.

Readings

Luke 1: 46-56

Isaiah 58: 6-12

Prayer

O God,

you love justice and you establish peace on earth.

We bring before you the disunity of today’s world:

the absurd violence, and the many wars, which are

breaking the courage of the many people’s of the world;

militarism and the armaments race, which are threatening life on the planet;

human greed and injustice, which breed hatred and strife.

Send your Spirit and renew the face of the earth:

teach us to be compassionate toward the whole human family;

strengthen the will of all those who fight for justice

and for peace; lead all nations into the path of peace,

and give us that peace which the world cannot give. Amen.

In Spirit and in Truth –A Worship Book p.20