Rev David White sent us this report:
Rathgar-Terenure Fellowship is a group of religious communities in the Dublin 6 area. Recovering from the deprivations of Covid we decided to hold a Community Midsummer event in Zion Church with the theme, “What is Happening to our Common Home?
Laura Madrigal-Estabas, Laudato Si’ Officer at Trócaire, spoke about ecological spirituality and the need for ecological conversion. She reminded us of Francis’ words: “The entire material universe speaks of God’s love, his boundless affection for us. Soil, mountains everything is, as it were, a caress of God.” (Laudato Si’ 84).
Many of us were struck by the quotation from Laudato Si’ which draws on Benedict XVI: “The external deserts in the world are growing because the internal deserts have become so vast. For this reason, the ecological crisis is also a summons to a profound interior conversion.” (Laudato Si’, 17). The ecological conversion which she spoke about has three dimensions: Personal Conversion, Communal Conversion and Ongoing Conversion. Laura then led us in a meditation of the four elements – Earth, Water, Air and Fire – which brought us deeper into dialogue with our common home.
So where do we begin? Well Justin had some suggestions…
Justin Kilcullen, former CEO of Trócaire, has been a key person in developing SAGE Shankill Action for a Green Earth, which is an ecumenical initiative of the Roman Catholic and Church of Ireland parishes in Shankill. Their objective is to promote awareness of climate change in the wider community and to promote action to conserve energy. As well as lots of practical projects, they have also lobbied politicians. It was great to get so many ideas about what is possible.
“Let us sing as we go. May our struggles and our concern for this planet never take away the joy of our hope.” “Truly, much can be done!” (Laudato Si’, 244 , 180)
Zion Parish National School Sixth Class Final Assembly Service
“Beginnings” was the theme of the Sixth-Class final assembly at Zion Parish National School. Inspired by the ECI Climate Justice Candle we began by reflecting on the beginning of the universe 13.8 billion years ago. Beginnings are important but also so is how we
continue on the journey. This led us to consider the real-life choices we make every day which have a real impact on the earth, our common home. After the service, we all proceeded to the School garden. Each child had brought a bag of soil from their
home garden which was added to the School garden and then they made their handprint on the soil so as to leave a little part of themselves behind as they move on to secondary school.
(In the photograph are Ms. Jane Malone, Sixth Class Teacher and Ms. Andrea Black, Principal.)
This is the Prayer which we are using every Sunday at our main liturgy:
All-powerful God,
as we pray in the presence of the
Eco-Congregation Ireland Climate Justice Candle,
we remember that
you are present in the whole universe
and in the smallest of your creatures.
You embrace with your tenderness all that exists.
Pour out upon us the power of your love,
that we may protect life and beauty.
Fill us with peace, that we may live
as brothers and sisters, harming no one.
O God of the poor,
help us to rescue the abandoned and forgotten of
this earth,
so precious in your eyes.
Bring healing to our lives,
that we may protect the world and not prey on it,
that we may sow beauty, not pollution and
destruction.
Touch the hearts
of those who look only for gain
at the expense of the poor and the earth.
Teach us to discover the worth of each thing,
to be filled with awe and contemplation,
to recognize that we are profoundly united
with every creature
as we journey towards your infinite light.
We thank you for being with us each day.
Encourage us, we pray, in our struggle to
develop practical ways to embody
justice, love and peace.
Lord in your mercy. Hear our prayer.
Source: www.laudatosiactionplatform.org (Adapted)
(Newly Planted Woodland Area at Zion Rectory)