Care of Creation

The film ‘The Letter’ about Pope Francis’ encyclical Laudato Si’ due for release 4th October 2022

KEY CLIMATE DATES 2023
LINKS TO EVENTS & ORGANISATIONS

Message from Bishop John Arnold, 23rd July 2022:
It’s time to start sprinting towards climate action

“I know that we’re jogging along, showing an interest in climate change – but jogging is not enough. We’ve got to start sprinting at this stage to make sure that we are caring for our common home and our brothers and sisters.”

When we destroy forests, overfish or burn coal, we are increasing gross domestic product.

It’s time to change an accounting system that counts the destruction of the planet as if it was the production of richness.
— António Guterres (@antonioguterres) June 6, 2022

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What do We Want to Sustain? Thinking about Faith and The Climate. Dr Carmody Grey: Hook Lecture 2021

The Diocese of Westminster has committed to do its utmost to become carbon neutral by 2030 in its parishes and curial buildings. It has also expressed its commitment to working with schools to encourage them to follow the same path.

Watch the talk by Cardinal Vincent Nichols setting out the commitments of the Diocese of Westminster to work towards carbon neutrality by 2030.

Browse the Laudato Si’ Integral Ecology Collection – free to access online

Pope Francis – TED Talk October 2020 – Our Moral Imperative to Act on Climate Change

Sign the Health Planet, Healthy People Petition

*The Laudato Si’ Action Platform is live! Find out more…*

The Catholic Union hosted a webinar with The Rt Hon Lord Deben (John Selwyn Gummer) on the subject of “Climate Change – The Gospel Imperative” on Tuesday 23 March 2021. Lord Deben is a former Secretary of State for the Environment and is currently Chairman of the UK’s independent Committee on Climate Change. His talk included a look ahead to the COP 26 UN conference in Glasgow later this year and a powerful appeal to all Catholics to be involved.

Watch Greta Thunberg in conversation with the Dalai Lama and leading scientists to get climate activism in 2021 under way globally. The discussion focuses on feedback loops and threats from the mechanisms that are accelerating the climate crisis.

Season of Creation and Lent Resource

Produced by the
Archdiocese of Liverpool Justice & Peace Commission
with
CAFOD Liverpool.

There are 30 sessions covering Lent and the Season of Creation over a three year cycle, which can be used by groups in parishes or other settings.

The sessions follow the liturgical year, complementing the gospel readings with ideas for prayer and action.

The book can be downloaded electronically for free or purchased in print form.

Journey to 2030

Journey to 2030
Campaign from the Ecological Conversion Group focused on the next 10 years. They invite us to ‘Wake Up!’ to the urgency of climate breakdown.

Their main aim is to help church communities to be active in caring for our common home, using their varied resources and skills to make a difference.

They are encouraging the church to lead the way in tackling climate change and the ecological crisis.

Download the guide from the Journey to 2030 website.

UK Lent Course 2021

UK Laudato Si’ Animators
Six Thursdays in Lent
18 Feb – 25 March 2021
7:30pm – 8:30pm
On Zoom

Watch the videos from these reflective evenings on the environment during Lent 2021, featuring speakers, prayer and discussion, based around the “Global Healing” film resource.

These engaging documentaries challenge us to respond to Pope Francis’ call to Care for Our Common Home.

Hosted by the Global Catholic Climate Conference and UK Laudato Si’ Animators.

Global Healing & Global Caring are film-based events for parishes, groups and individuals. Free to download, they set out to inform, challenge and equip people to engage with the urgent call from Pope Francis to Care For Our Common Home.

PRODUCED by CaFE (Catholic Faith Exploration) on behalf of the Bishops’ Conference of England & Wales.

‘Tomorrow’ (2017) is a two-hour documentary that sets out to film creative community solutions for the future of humanity and the environment. For more details visit the website Tomorrow

Free paper copies of the Reimagine Our Common Home poster can be ordered from CAFOD here: https://shop.cafod.org.uk/collections/our-common-home/products/re-imagine-our-common-home-poster

Keep Britain Tidy

Show support for the Great British Spring Clean!

Organise a private clean-up with up with your family, flatmates or support bubble.
Pledge to do your own individual clean-up. Start with as little as 15 minutes!
Keep an eye out for government guidelines for volunteer groups nearer the time.

Keep Britain Tidy site

CAFOD Novena

Nine brief reflections asking St Francis of Assisi to pray for us and our world, based on his beautiful Canticle of the Sun.

The pandemic shows us that “we have not heard the cry of the poor and our seriously ill planet” warns Pope Francis (Urbi et Orbi, 2020)

Each has four phases: Canticle; Amazon voice; penitential prayer; plea for intercession.

Visit CAFOD site

Fossil Free Churches

Operation Noah is an ecumenical Christian charity working to inspire action to solve the climate crisis.

Bright Now is a campaign run by Operation Noah calling on the Churches to divest from fossil fuel companies and invest in clean alternatives.

They are calling on churches to take an ethical lead in national debates on fossil fuels.

Learn More

BOOKS

There is No Planet B

Mike Berners-Lee (2019)

‘There is No Planet B’ gives the big-picture perspective on the environmental issues and poses major questions about how we live and think.

The subtitle of the book is ‘A Handbook for the Make or Break Years’ which aptly describes its content and purpose.

As well as analysis, you will find practical and inspiring ideas for what can be done to help humanity thrive on this – our only – planet.

Theology and Ecology in Dialogue

Dermot A. Lane
(2020)

This book builds bridges between theology and ecology.

It challenges theology to re-imagine who we are, who the Spirit is, who Christ is, where creation is going, and what is the role of liturgy in society—all in the glare of the climate crisis.

In listening to ecology, Lane seeks to open a conversation between religion and science in the context of climate change.

Time to Act

Jeremy Williams
(2020)

Written by members and friends of Christian Climate Action, this book sets out the moral and religious case for joining the struggle against climate change.

It reflects on the Christian tradition of non-violent direct action, and offers deeply moving testimonies by those engaged in such protests today, along with powerful sermons, prayers, liturgies and other spiritual resources.

Why not read one of these with your Book Group?
Or start a Book Group!

Earth Day Icon by Karen Blampied

Farm Street Jesuit Church and Grosvenor Chapel, Mayfair, held a joint Ecumenical Service in Mount Street Gardens to mark Climate Sunday 2020

Climate Sunday was a project organised by the Environmental Issues Network of Churches Together in Britain and Ireland, supported by charities including CAFOD, Christian Aid, Tearfund, A Rocha UK, and Operation Noah in the years leading up to COP26.

The Climate Sunday website remains as a long-term resource for churches who want to create their own liturgies to aid prayer and action for the environment. You are invited to:

1. To hold a climate-focused service to explore the theological and scientific basis of creation care and action on climate, to pray, and to commit to action.

2. To make a commitment as a local church community to taking long term action to reduce your own greenhouse gas emissions.

Visit the Climate Sunday Website