Merseyside parish holds Creation Celebration to highlight climate issues

Creation Celebration organisers: Andrea, Karina, Siobhan & Karina's daughter

On Sunday 15 September, the community of Our Lady of Compassion in Formby, Merseyside, came together to hold a Creation Celebration - a special event where people celebrate the environment - and signed a petition urging the government to tackle climate change.

The parish was transformed when parishioners turned up for the Creation Celebration dressed in clothing that reflected the environment - this included an array of flowers, animals, birds, and rainbows on people's shirts, dresses and tops.

Organised by volunteers of the charity CAFOD, the special event was attended by many local parishioners, a local Brownie group and school children - and included special readings around the theme of the environment.

At the end of the Mass, bars of soap were given out to encourage people to swap from liquid soap in plastic bottles and nearly 200 members of the congregation signed a petition addressed to UK government asking for faster and more effective climate action.

Father Bernard thanked everyone involved for the "splendid Mass", which coincided with the Feast Day of Our Lady of Compassion.

He said: "I enjoyed the whole Mass and the wonderful display in front of the altar. Keep up the good work of CAFOD."

The Creation Celebration continued in the parish meeting room where there was a discussion about the importance of nature to local life and there was a celebratory meal including cakes, strawberries and dips.

One of CAFOD's local representatives in Formby, Siobhan Farnell, was able to take the signed petition to CAFOD's Head Office in London, where she presented it to the charity's Director Christine Allen - who is originally from Waterloo.

Siobhan said: "It was so great that volunteers and parishioners were able to put their faith into action by holding a Creation Celebration and drawing people's attention to the climate crisis and the fragile state of the environment.

"It shows that local people really do care about what is happening around the world and want to make a positive change."

This was one of many Creation Celebration events, inspired by CAFOD's 'Our Common Home' campaign and organised by CAFOD volunteers around the country. It is hoped the events will highlight the growing concern for the environment and start new conversations about climate change.

Find out more about CAFOD's campaigns at cafod.org.uk/campaign