Rev. David White from Carlow Union of Parishes provided ECI with this report:
In February 2017, the Cashel, Ferns and Ossory Environmental Committee held a Conference in Kilkenny College called ‘Inside and Out – A Half-day Conference on how to save energy expenses and new ways to improve your Church Environs.’ One of the presenters, Dr. Úna Fitzpatrick, spoke about how vital it is to work to promote the wellbeing of pollinators. This presentation inspired our Sunday Club and their leaders to consider implementing the All–Ireland Junior Pollinator Plan 2015-2020.
The children and their leaders embarked on a project to be a Welcoming Parish to All God’s Creation. They decided to start with the urban church; to ensure that the most challenging surroundings from an environmental point of view became their initial focus and to then build on their successes and to replicate the same in the other two churches which are in rural settings. The project was a great success and they entered the competition for a Diocesan Eco-Award. They were awarded a prize at the Diocesan Synod in October under the category ‘Motivation of the Young.’
The following is from their very comprehensive application:
Overview:
When we think about loving our neighbour do we just think about our human neighbours? What about birds, insects, animals and plants? Through this project we will express our gratitude to God for all his creatures as we promote the wellbeing of birds and pollinators in the grounds of our churches.
Planning and Aims:
We decided to begin with education of adults and children at the same time. Over time the Rector was able to inform and involve the congregation. Copies of the National Pollinator Plan were distributed to homes in the parish. Discussion after church was encouraged and facilitated in all three churches and at the mid-week service in the Community House. The Sunday Clubs in St. Mary’s and Urglin worked together, in St. Mary’s. The children read and learned about the Junior Pollinator Plan. They created displays in the Community House. Over the period of a number of weeks the children from the three churches came together in St. Mary’s and created a plan to carry out many tasks in the grounds of St. Mary’s Church. Their work culminated in a Messy Church Day where they wore wellies to church and completed their tasks. They learned a lot about planning and communication and thoroughly enjoyed their endeavours.
The work undertaken so far in 2017 is the start of our Welcoming Church Project. The project continues over the next months and years as outlined below. We now begin again in September 2017, reflecting on what went well, what we had planned to do next and whether those plans now need to be refined or changed.
