Geraldine Murphy sent us this update:
In the last few years, we have endeavoured to raise awareness of climate change and biodiversity loss in the parish. We often include creation in our Prayers of the Faithful and Fr. John Sinnott, PP includes creation regularly in his homilies and in our parish newsletter.
We have 4 members in our Parish Eco Group. With the help of horticulturist and parishioner, Máire Uí Scolaí, we have very recently established a gardening group of 10 volunteers.
A short history:
In February, 2020, thanks to Sr. Catherine Brennan, we registered with Eco-Congregation Ireland.
Sr. Catherine kindly spoke at our weekend Masses encouraging us all to take small steps in caring for God’s creation.
On her advice, in October 2020, we invited Justin Kilcullen of SAGE (Shankill action for a Green Earth) to speak on the subject of biodiversity. We gave pollinator friendly bulbs, mainly grape hyacinth, to parishioners to encourage bees and insects in our gardens the following Spring. We met with Justin and Kathy and Patrick Davey of SAGE who spoke to us of their work to reduce the carbon footprint of their church and to increase biodiversity in their locality.
In January 2021, we hosted the Climate Action Candle in our parish. Sr. Margo Delaney of Bonnybrook Parish spoke at our Masses the same weekend. We were very encouraged once again by her talk and work in Bonnybrook Parish.
In December, 2021, we placed a Climate Action Tree beside the altar and invited parishioners to write a promise and hang it on the tree. Examples: to pick up one piece of litter in our area every day; to walk more and use the car less.
On Valentines Day 2022, we sent a Green Heart postcard to our local Dun Laoire/Rathdown Co. Councillors thanking them for their work encouraging pollination and biodiversity in our local parks and green areas.
One weekend in March, 2022, we sold Fairtrade items, such as tea, coffee, chocolate, bananas, etc., after all Masses, having first purchased these items in local supermarkets.
Between March and June 2022, we included quotations from Laudato Si in our parish newsletter.
On 12th October, we plan to meet with the volunteers to brainstorm on how best to organise ourselves and the work in our church gardens.