Rose O’Connor sent us this update:
The Interdiocesan Laudato Si’ group, incorporating the Dioceses of Cashel & Emly, Kerry, Killaloe, Limerick and Ossory as well as the FCJ Spirituality Centre, met on the 25th of August. Ideas, templates, and resources were circulated to allow a cross-fertilisation of ideas and opportunities for the Season of Creation.
Salesian Sisters Cosmology and the Limerick Diocese pastoral outreach team delivered an Outdoor Prayer Workshop on Zoom on the Wednesday 21st of September. A template, kindly shared by the Diocese of Kerry, a local pilgrimage resource pack developed in Limerick and other resources were walked through and made available to parishes and schools to facilitate their planning of an outdoor prayer experience. Several outdoor prayer events were held throughout the Diocese, the collage shows a photo of an outdoor prayer organised by Mary O’Reilly Glynn and Con Buckley of the Limerick Laudato Si’ team.
Three people involved in Limerick Diocesan Laudato Si’ ministry took part in two days of the Biodiversity Conference in Limerick on the 21st and 22nd of September. The content of the days was very informative and provided a great sense of the scope and variety of work in progress. Group work involved making proposals and setting goals for the future. Greater connection and networking between groups was a felt need from presenters and participants”.
Salesian Sisters Cosmology and the Diocese of Limerick offered a prayer moment on ‘Listen to the Voice of Creation’ on Facebook Live on Monday 26th September. The prayer, hosted by Bishop Brendan Leahy, involved a mixture of scripture, poetry, music, song, and images. A recording of the prayer can be viewed here: https://www.facebook.com/dioceseoflimerick/videos/454912539945655/. You do not need to have a Facebook account to view the recording; it is open to non-Facebook users.
Salesian Sisters Cosmology and the Diocese of Limerick working with the Little Company of Mary are offering a Reflective workshop with Dr Niamh Brennan on ‘Listen to the Voice of Creation’ on Saturday 8th October, 10am to 1:30pm in the Don Bosco Centre, Milford, Limerick. An element of outdoor prayer will be included (weather permitting!). If anyone would like to attend, you can register here: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/VoiceOfCreation
Con Buckley, a member of the Limerick Laudato Si’ team, organised a Blessing of Pets on the Feast of St Francis of Assisi with the support of Fr Pat Seaver, and Linda, Alice, Laura, and volunteers from St Munchin’s Community Centre. A joyful and hospitable morning was enjoyed by all the human and canine guests, a beautiful parrot also joined the occasion! Each pet received a blessing from Fr Pat, a treat from the Community Centre and a takeaway St Francis prayer card. The humans were treated to teas/coffees and an array of delicious confectionery!
The Parish of Mungret, Crecora & Raheen (MCR), Limerick
The culmination of this year’s Season of Creation was marked by a liturgy of “Celebration, Thanksgiving and Prayer for Planet Earth” in St. Nessan’s Church, Raheen on Oct.4th, the feast of St Francis of Assisi.
It consisted of prayer, scripture, music and song, speciallyselected for the occasion. It was arranged and led by Ann Mulcahy and Nessa Breen who are the MCR representatives on the Lay Pastoral Ministry Programme. The liturgy was enhanced by the beautiful music and song of Sarah-Ellen and Rory Murphy, while technical support from Pat Hanley facilitated some dramatic video footage.
It was a wonderful evening of community worship. We were really blessed as we thanked and praised God for His beautiful world, repented of humankind’s abuse of the planet and prayed for widespread ‘ecological conversion’ and for the earth’s welfare.
We felt we were indeed “on holy ground” as evoked by this year’s Season of Creation symbol, the Burning Bush.
The Liturgy can be accessed on the Parish website www.mcrparish.com Live Stream Recordings “Liturgy of Thanksgiving and Prayer for Planet Earth” 4-10-2022
