'No Faith in Fossil Fuels' Vigil at Westminster has ended

Columban team at the vigil

A Columban team was privileged to participate in the Lent ten-day, 240-hour vigil at Westminster under the title, 'No Faith In Fossil Fuels.' We covered six hours from 5pm on Wednesday 21 February until absolute stalwarts arrived to undertake the all-night stint. The vigil was based right outside Carriage Gates at the entrance to parliament.

Launched on Ash Wednesday, the vigil urged "bold climate action" by the Government, including banning new UK-based fossil fuel projects, reparation payments for damage caused by climate change in the Global South, and investment in green policies. The lead organiser was Christian Climate Action (CCA) and other agencies involved included CAFOD, Christian Aid, Green Christian, Operation Noah and A Rocha. The vigil ended on Saturday 24 February.

So, on Wednesday, James Trewby, Fr Kevin McDonagh and myself were joined by Fr Joe Ryan, and Sarah Barber. Then by Rev'd Giles Goddard of St John's Waterloo, which is at the forefront of campaigning on climate justice, and Shanon Shah, both ecumenical partners and both active with Faith for the Climate. It was quite a mild evening for February and there were plenty of people stopping for the chat - the vast majority pleased to see a focus on climate change and the call for more urgent action. Some came out of the gates of parliament. We had our banners, candles, snacks, two very comfortable camping chairs and several very friendly police officers watching over us.

Other campaigners around parliament were with 'Gaza Ceasefire' and many of us have supported their call for peace and highlighting how massive military expenditure and military emissions contribute to the humanitarian and climate crises we are seeing around the world.

Our group was quiet and prayerful. We took it in turns to read the 'Father, forgive us' from the liturgy to launch Operation Noah at Coventry Cathedral in 2004. It ended: 'Restore, reconcile and equip us to live in harmony with all creation, and to be signs to each other and to the world of your kingdom come on Earth.' Then we sang a few creation-centred chants.

We read out the prayers of children who have participated in Columban environmental workshops and prayers from Columban colleagues internationally:

From Japan: "that political leaders will understand the seriousness of the situation and respond accordingly, that Catholic leaders will understand the seriousness of the situation and respond accordingly, that national and local government and industry will stop all nuclear power plants as soon as practical and build no new ones."

From Pakistan: "We pray that that peoples of different faith traditions in Pakistan, inspired by their respective faiths, will work together for the protection of our Common Home to ensure future generations, and all of Creation will have a safe and healthy planet to inhabit."

From Australia: "In the midst of painful and overwhelming realities about the harms brought to bear on all of life, we pray that we be renewed in God's mercy and direct our love and concern to becoming restorers of life in local communities of practice."

Our vigil group prayed Compline (Night Prayer), led by Rev'd Giles Goddard, and it seemed especially beautiful to be celebrating it out in the world, amidst the chatter of people nearby, the traffic and the tolling of Big Ben: 'Creator God, may every breath we take be for your glory, may every footstep show you as our way.'

Over the 10 days. Salesians from Battersea, Our Lady and St Catherine's Parish, St Mary's Church in Walthamstow, Green Christian of St Albans, Churches Together in England and Wales, Just Money Movement, Horsham Eco Churches were amongst those signed up on the rota. As part of the vigil, the Catholic CCA members have been leading a daily Novena to Our Lady Help of Christians for Climate Justice. The Rosary has been said at noon every day and Columban Sr Kate Midgley has led many of these.

Saturday 24 February saw an Outdoor Closing Service at 2pm, in front of Downing Street, which drew the 10-day vigil to a close.