Margo Delaney sent us this update:
For the Season of Lent, we are focusing on relationships. Pope Francis’ letter, Laudato Si’, to “all people” tells us that:
“ a sense of deep communion with the rest of nature cannot be real if our hearts lack tenderness, compassion and concern for our fellow human beings”
To develop that theme, we repurposed our Acts of Love for Lent Tree as our Living Word Tree. Sunday, January 22nd was designated as Living Word Sunday. On that day, parishioners were asked to place a word, phrase, or sentence that for them is a source of wisdom, hope or courage in living their lives on the Living Word Tree. These “living words” will be shared on our Eco aware web page during the Lenten Season.
Bonnybrook Eco Aware Notice Board
The winning sculpture entry in the recent church art competition has been repurposed for our church notice board
Created by Chloe to show a smiling, joyful earth to the right and a sad, smoke threatened, polluted earth to the left. The many colourful hands, cut from the model of the family’s children’s hands, show children pleading: SAVE OUR WORLD.
UPDATING ECO AWARE PAGE TO INCLUDE SIGNIFICANT DATES/ SEASONS/EVENTS IN CONTINUING TO CULTIVE ECOAWARENESS
Season of Lent: February 22nd – April 5th: invite parishioners to participate in any of the following:
SPIRITUAL
- Start reading or reread Pope Francis’ encyclical letter, Laudato Si’. If you haven’t a copy to hand, please let us know and we can organise one for you. Or you may wish to order one from Veritas Bookshop, phone number .
- Pray daily for people and countries affected by climate change and loss of biodiversity
- Spend time with creation, thinking God for this amazing gift.
PRACTICAL
- Avoid food waste
- Meatless Monday: Have one day a week that is meatless
- Cut down on your carbon footprint by buying local and in-season produce as far as possible
- Clothes: buy only what you need and donate any item of clothing you haven’t worn for a year to a charity shop
- Don’t be shy to purchase “preloved clothes” in the interests of sustainability
COMMUNITY
- Set up/ join a reading group on Laudato Si’
- Organise a group to view THE LETTER, a film that explains the inspiration for LS
- Plant sunflower seeds.
GLOBAL
- As mentioned above, pray daily for all those who are losing their livelihoods and even their lives due to climate change and loss of biodiversity.
Important dates for your calendar: Join with others who are creating awareness of creation
- MARCH 25TH – EARTH HOUR , 8.30 – 9.30 ; all lights extinguished all over Europe
- APRIL 22ND: EARTH DAY
- MAY 21ST: LAUDATO SI’ WEEK
- SEPTEMBER 1ST – OCTOBER 4TH: SEASON OF CREATION