Clifton Diocese: Care for Creation is 'part of discipleship'

'Your work reminds us that care for creation isn't some kind of special interest group. It's part of discipleship'.

This was part of an inspiring homily by Bishop Bosco MacDonald of Clifton at a Mass at St Bonaventure's Church in Bristol last Saturday as part of the Clifton Diocese Laudato Si' Encounter.

After introductions and a welcome cup of coffee, Martin Davis continued the day's programme distributing and commenting briefly on the Laudato Si' Movement's Mission, Identity and Values. 'We are all Crew', he stressed: 'not passengers!'

Individuals from the 13 parishes represented were invited to give a brief summary of what was happening in their area to put the spirit of Laudato Si' into practice. The journeys that individual parishes had made to this point varied according to circumstances in their communities. Some built on the work of achieving the CAFOD LiveSimply award, others were encouraged by the efforts of one or more parishioners who had taken Pope Francis' encyclical to heart, and some trained as Laudato Si' Animators. A number of parishes had a long history of supporting food banks, campaigning with CAFOD or promoting Fair Trade as a parish and some with a stall.

Recent activities aimed at encouraging parishioners to respond to Laudato Si' included a Creation Mass, Stations of Creation, regular input into parish bulletins/newsletters, screening videos such as 'The Letter', hosting speakers on relevant subjects, and arranging clothes swaps, cake and produce sales. There were also practical projects such as installations of solar panels and bike racks, making a wildlife garden, and planting trees. Some worked with secular groups litter picking and beach cleaning.

After a delicious, shared lunch we broke into smaller groups for conversations in the Spirit to consider what we think of Laudato Si' now ? What are our future plans? And were there areas that we agreed or disagreed on.

Thoughts shared by participants were that they felt positive, uplifted and encouraged by Laudato Si' but frustrated that its message has not been acted on. Its importance in connecting the earth and the poor and its value as an opening for ecumenical work were noted.

Several groups recorded difficulties in encouraging people to link care for creation with their faith and to realise that everything is connected. To involve others we need to be more daring and confident in our message and prepared to share it within ordinary conversations. The opportunity to share ideas and support each other was much appreciated, and people felt that it was encouraging to realise just how much is going on. Some suggested that it would be useful to have a local website to include what everyone is doing and an archive of resources and contacts.

We resolved to keep in touch, building up the Diocesan Laudato Si' network so as to engage more actively in prophetic action.

The meeting closed with blessings for creation and each other.

See video recording of the Laudato Si' Encounter Mass: www.churchservices.tv/stbonaventure/archive/recordings/nAsMjWN674z9rLu