The parish of St. Benedict’s in Garforth was one of the first 20 parishes in the country to receive a LiveSimply award in 2016. However, the award does not mark the end of working to live simply, live sustainably and live in solidarity with the world’s poor. One of their major actions was the creation […]
Laudato Si
09 Oct – Season of Creation Events at Mary, Mother of God parish, Bradford
“Let Justice and Peace Flow” was the chosen theme for the Season of Creation 2023; from the World Day of Prayer for the Care of Creation on September 1st to October 4th, the feast of St. Francis of Assisi. This year’s theme was drawn from the cry of the prophet Amos: “But let justice roll […]
11 Jun – Progress on the Journey to 2030
As indicated last month, the Commission hosted a meeting of the Northern Dioceses’ Environment Group on 08 June, at Wheeler Hall in Leeds. This is an open group of interested people from each of the Northern Dioceses, and they meet about 4 times a year Five out of the seven dioceses in the North were […]
04 May – Encounter, Conversion, Hope!
The urgency of the Climate Emergency can sometimes feel overwhelming. There are so many calls for action. The changes required to ameliorate the worst effects are huge – and require international political action. In these circumstances it is easy for people to lose hope.This was the backdrop that led the Spirituality of Justice group within […]
29 Jan – Laudato Si: What more can we do?
On the 17 January we held our first Zoom conversation of 2023. It was with the Rt. Rev. John Arnold, Bishop of Salford. Bishop John is the lead on Climate Change for the Bishops’ Conference and he is also a trustee of CAFOD. He was in conversation with Commission Chair, John Battle, about the importance […]
28 Nov – Climate Prayer Vigil at the Bishops’ Conference
On the 14th of November, several Catholic climate activists – held a five-hour prayer vigil outside Hinsley Hall during the Catholic Bishops Conference of England and Wales (CBCEW) Autumn Plenary Meeting.The meeting took place at Hinsley Hall, Leeds. The Animators held their vigil from 12noon until 5pm. The group consisted of activists from Dioceses across […]
A Catholic Response to the Environmental Crisis
“We must not think that these efforts are not going to change the world.” Laudato Si paragraph 212 UK Climate and Ecological Emergency (CEE) Bill This Bill was tabled by Caroline Lucas, Green Party leader, and is supported by MPs of all parties, and by organisations like Green Christian and Operation Noah. You can write […]
10 Feb – Global Healing
By David Jackson of St Teresa Benedicta of the Cross, Shipley“Living our vocation to be protectors of God’s handiwork is essential to a life of virtue; it is not an optional or secondary aspect of our Christian experience…Truly, much can be done!”(Laudato Si’, 217, 180)In 2015, Pope Francis published his ground-breaking letter on the environment […]
08 Dec – Living Laudato Si’: Your Planet and Your Parish.
Sr Margaret Atkins, Boarbank Hall. Around fifty people were involved in a recent Zoom weekend from Boarbank Hall on the theme Living Laudato Si’: Your Planet and Your Parish. It aimed to inspire, inform, connect and encourage anyone wanting to engage in practical and prayerful projects in response to the encyclical, especially through parish groups […]
18 Oct – The Age of Meditation & Praise?
By John Battle (Commission Chair) & Helen Hayden The American social justice activist Fr Daniel Berrigan once surprisingly recommended an instruction of the Buddha: “Don’t just do something, stand there!”. The impact of the Covid lock downs and enforced stoppages has apparently resulted in people watching more TV and films, reading more, clearing out cupboards […]
‘Laudato Si’ and the Leeds Diocese conference & AGM 07 Nov 15
After John Battle (Chair) had taken us swiftly through what the Commission had been up in the last 12 months we moved into a half-day of hearing about, discussing and committing to action about Climate Change.Ellen Teague, catholic journalist and part of the Columban JPIC team, went through some of the key concepts in the […]