Care for Creation
“What kind of world do we want to leave to those who come after us, to children who are now growing up?”
Pope Francis
Laudato Si'
CAFOD’s LiveSimply Award is an opportunity for our parish to respond to Pope Francis’ invitation in Laudato Si' to “work with generosity and tenderness in protecting this world which God has entrusted to us.” This is our aim, that journeying together to become a LiveSimply parish will help us all go deeper and take action to care for our common home and its people.
ACTIONS TO LIVE SIMPLY
Our Main action:
COMMUNICATION AND CONNECTIVITY
Raise the profile and awareness of Live-Simply and Laudato Si’ (within our parish and reaching out to the local community) through:
• A Quarterly LiveSimply Newsletter
• Live Simply displays in both church locations
• A dedicated page on the parish website
• A Laudato Si’ reading group
• Events and occasions where parish/community members can share information, knowledge and understanding, practical ideas and tips as well as make connections to collaborate as a LiveSimply community, eg. Community recycling, sharing plant cuttings etc
ACTIONS TO LIVE SUSTAINABILITY WITH CREATION
Our Main action:
GREEN SPACES
Create some open, outdoor green space at both churches with planting to enhance biodiversity drawing focus away from the hustle-and-bustle of our suburban surroundings and creating spaces for parish and community members to reflect, pray, appreciate and rest in God’s creation.
ACTIONS TO LIVE IN SOLIDARITY
Our Main action:
EDUCATION, REFLECTION AND PRAYER
Facilitate LiveSimply / Laudato Si’ services of reflection and study groups to raise awareness amongst the local community of issues affecting some of the poorest people and communities across the world, praying for those living in these poor communities and motivating those in our community to take action to live in solidarity with the poor.
LiveSimply Prayer
Compassionate and loving God, you created the world for us all to share, a world of beauty and plenty.
Create in us a desire to live simply, so that our lives may reflect your generosity.
Creator God, You gave us responsibility for the earth, a world of riches and delight.
Create in us a desire to live sustainably, so that those who follow after us may enjoy the fruits of your creation.
God of peace and justice, You give us the capacity to change, to bring about a world that mirrors your wisdom.
Create in us a desire to act in solidarity, so that the pillars of injustice crumble and those now crushed are set free.
Amen.
For more information please take a look at our latest LiveSimply Newsletter: