On the 6th July Gardiner Street Parish held an ecological workshop on “Our Hopes for a Sustainable Future” with Hannah Malcolm, a theologian currently writing a PhD thesis on Climate Grief. A small group from the community joined together, and after a tour of the garden, discussed ideas that could make the area around the Parish more sustainable.
Flower beds, at the front of the church in Gardiner Street, filled with plants for pollinators have been providing a green oasis in inner city Dublin for insects and Parishioners alike.
The polytunnel in Gardiner Street garden is a result of work of parishioners, the neighbouring primary school and the Jesuit community. Produce from the polytunnel is being used within the community and those working in the tunnel while surplus plants are shared with parishioners. The students love being able to learn about where food comes from and being able to work in nature. Working Notes 91, published by the Jesuit Centre for Faith and Justice (out in early September), gives an account of the students’ experience.
The Jesuit Centre for Faith and Justice is also publishing a book called “The Parish as Oasis: An Introduction to Practical Environmental Care”, with Messenger Publications. It is a practical and accessible introduction to how local churches can contribute to healing the environmental crisis and is available to preorder here.