Prayer and Fast for Climate at west London school

James Trewby and Julia Corcoran with Gumley House girls

The Columban and Salesian's Justice and Peace education team visited Gumley House Convent School in Isleworth on 1 October for a day based around the theme of 'fast and pray for the climate' that takes place on the first of every month. The team worked with year 8 and year 9 in a variety of formats including workshops on fasting, climate change and the beauty of nature, an assembly on the fast and pray for the climate and a liturgy. The Columbans were represented by James Trewby and Julia Corcoran of the Columban JPIC team.

During the liturgy the students had the opportunity to visit three stations. One of the stations gave them the opportunity to reflect on what the Bible says about creation by lectio divina, another gave the students a chance to reflect on their impact in the world and allowed them the opportunity to commit to something that would make a positive change in the world. For example one student committed to using public transport more while another committed to smiling more. The third station allowed the students to take some time to write a prayer to either thank God for the world, to pray for the future of the world or to pray for the UN climate conference in Paris.

At the three stages the students were able to reflect on creation and how important it is for the existence of the world. At the start of the liturgy in the middle of the room there was brown paper in the shape of three trees. As the students wrote their prayers they were invited to add the prayers to the tree to make up the leaves of the trees. The student's commitments were written on paper and added to the bottom of the trees to create grass linking the three trees together. The liturgy therefore created a reflection of nature.

Here is a selection of the students' prayers:

Dear God, Thank you for creating our bright green grass and our hypnotizing sky. Thank you for creating the beautiful oceans and loving animals. Thank you for creating the stars at night that guide my path. Thank you for creating me. Amen

Dear Lord, Help the new generation to be guided with Your love and make it a better place. Help us to no longer fight for silly reasons and help our world to be united in peace. Amen

Lord, make the people at the conference in Paris realise what's best for the world and choose to help each other for the future of our planet. Amen

Dear God, Our world is full of destruction and sometimes worry but with Your power give us the strength to respect and see the gifts of the world that we have to contribute into the future. Amen

Dear Lord, Please help everyone at the conference in Paris by giving them the consideration to deliver their speeches very well. Please help make their voices heard. Amen.

For more information on the pray and fast for climate visit www.prayandfastfortheclimate.org.uk/