December

Advent Calendars of Kindness. One came from Sr. Eileen Keating UK (Cobh)

Maryknoll Office for Global Concerns Advent Resources

October

On Wednesday evening 23rd October you'd be hard pressed to get a seat 20 minutes prior to the start of this event in the Oak Room in the Mansion House Dublin and no chance by the time it started. An interested crowd of all ages (9 years and up) gathered to hear how different faiths unite in a green faith rising as they explore the theme "Awakening to our children's future"

Dr. Lorna Gold,

Dr. Gold had been invited as the keynote speaker to address the audience and as always she proved engaging, provocative, insightful and moving but more than anything she spoke of our faith journeys as a one faith journey and she reminded us from the outset, that really, we are all in this together.

Lorna explained how she grew up in the shadow of oil refineries in Scotland and how she had been shaped by this. She explained that flares from the chemical plants were polluting the very air that she was breathing but on the other hand, many people got work from this industry (including her relatives) so how could it be such a bad thing. Her work with Trócaire opened her eyes to the humanitarian responses necessary to counter the urgency of our climate emergency. Tribesmen would gather to discuss the lack of rain. They knew for certain that there had been a change, they had a natural ancestral understanding that we didn't and wouldn't listen to. The injustice of our ignorance of the indigenous knowledge has contributed significantly to the emergence of our apparent crisis. Ireland's CO2 emissions equate to the combined emissions of the poorest 400 million people who have had no hand act or part in the creation of this crisis. When we stop to think about this statistic how does it make us feel? Are we concerned or are we too far removed from our worldly responsibilities and retreat to the selfish world that takes account only of how much one can accumulate.

Many have forecast the impact of the changing climate. We are now witness to unprecedented heatwaves, melting ice-sheets, a biodiversity emergency, desertification and to the burning of the tropics and all of this is happening much earlier than originally anticipated. We are lobbying on a climate emergency to the deaf ears of politicians whose only real concern is the warmth of their political seats. In order to keep within the agreed 1.5 degree limit we need to radically change our direction and fast. "What of the prospects for our children. We are the first generation to fully understand the impact our actions are having on our climate and we are the last generation to be able to make a difference."

Some say that we have 12 years (by 2030) to make a change when really we have only two years. Why? Well, it will take 2 years to make the changes to the policies that are needed to inform a new and positive direction that will alter the current trajectory. There is a long list of what we need to do. We are overshooting all our limits at the expense of a healthier future for all and so the question for us (at this event) is what can people of faith do?

We must address the deepest of questions: Where is God in all of this? Is there a Faith Vacuum? Will God save us? The certainties of religion are being challenged by scientists. We can point people in the direction of finding how to find solace and peace. We can help them to understand the need and the value of being present with those suffering. We can help people to come together compassionately to explore the climate and biodiversity issues that threaten us, or more importantly our children.

We are touched by the Jewish lament that offers that "activism can be just being together, it can offer a solace in prayer and a spirituality in song". We also need to change our ways. We need to construct a new lifestyle based on frugality but first we must see and feel the necessity to change. "This is the essence of an eco-conversion and faith communities can bring so much to this conversation".

We can inspire carbon neutral parishes, we can lead by example in practical measures. But Faith Communities can do more. Fossil fuel industries are purposefully deaf to the science. We can urge divestment of Fossil Fuel investments at every instance and indeed Trocaire lead on this.

We are also called to talk about this. Faith Communities are built to be a natural home for such talk. People listen to what those of faith have to say. Converations can also be held in Book clubs Public Participation Networks, and in the Tidy Towns gatherings. We must raise our voices together. Where are the adults? There is an unleashed potential in inter-generational strikes, a profound witness that can bring us closer together. Faiths for Climate Action is a coming together of different faiths around the changing climate. We must accept and know that our witness together can be great. The Great Green Wall is one such inspiration where the planting a barrier to the Sahara Desert, is flying ahead and has a real Interfaith component. And in conclusion Lorna quotes "Drew Dellinger: A Hieroglyphic Stairway" (see video below).

What did you do when the planet was plundered?

Surely you did something?

Rabbi Zalman.

A Jewish Response

When you type the following into Google, "How do I convert?"..... google will finish it off with... "to pdf" But our real question is how can I become an eco- convert?

We are reminded of Greta Thunbergs words "This is all wrong, I shouldn't be here, how dare you?", and the words are aimed at all, of all faiths.

We need to ask the question "where is God in all of this?" When God created man he took him around the garden and told him to care for it as once destroyed there is no-one to repair it. What we are witnessing is the willful destruction of useful things and the Jewish faith disallows this and teaches this lesson.

In the Book of Numbers it is explained that each city must have 500m green belt that surrounds it and then beyond that is the farmland. The raising of birds must be done away from grain. The Book of Numbers offers to all who read it a template for how we can care for our common home and more than this it asserts that we have a responsibility to care for our ailing environment.

Rabbi Zalman offered the following story by way of explanation. "A Rabbi listens to two men arguing over the ownership of a piece of land was called upon to intervene. The Rabbi listened to the arguments of both men and then puts his ear to the ground and listens to the land. When he stands up the men arguing looked to him for his wisdom and were puzzled hear him say that neither of them own the land. "In fact", said the Rabbi, "the land owns both of you."

Sr. Nellie McLaughlin Mercy Sister

A Catholic Response

Children were walking on the beach when they spotted starfish stranded on the shore and bending down to pick them up they threw them back into the sea. But the more they walked the more starfish they found. Undeterred they continued to "save the starfish" they came across. But everywhere they went there seemed to be stranded starfish. When their parents caught up with them they asked the children what they were doing. "We're saving the starfish", they said. The parents told their children that they were wasting their time and that their actions would make no difference to the starfish in the end. And the children replied, as they threw them back in, "but it does make a difference", they explained, "to these starfish."

Do we really believe the science? The planet is pleading, but will we hear and act before its too late?" What will prompt us to take stock and take action?

'The earth, our home is beginning to look like an immense pile of filth '(Laudato Si #21) What did you do once you knew? This is a provocative image and when we think about it we can relate viscerally to it, knowing it to be true. All is not lost. There is hope.

"All it takes is one good person to restore hope". Maya Angelou.

Sister Nellie, invites us to consider the following "hope and fear cannot occupy the same space. We must Invite one of them to stay".

We need to understand that active hope is hope that doesn't sit back to wait for others to take the initiative. Active hope demands engagement, development and participation. So how can we begin to solve the problems that overwhelm us in conversations that concern our common climate emergency? Consider Einstein's hypothesis as a good starting point. "We must think differently, we can't fix the problems with the same mindset as we created them".

By the same token we are encouraged into an eco-conversion by Pope Francis when he asks us to consider how we can get to root causes of the destructive elements that are destroying our climate.

Sr. Nellie offered the following anecdote that gives a clear indication of where we are at relative to the ongoing climate emergency.

12 people enter a huge room with 12 water taps running. There is water everywhere as the taps have been running for a while. Beside each tap is mop and bucket. As soon as the doors opened 9 people ran to mops and began clearing up. 3 stopped to turn off taps. What does this tell us?

What if our living systems began to fail, water, sunlight, soil, air etc? How quickly would be become serious about such an emergency? Our Climate is failing and what are we doing? "We must live our vocation to preserve the Lord's handiwork".

We must acknowledge how connected we all are. We must accept our interdependence on each other. Only then can we feel an empathy that will call for us to take responsible steps to that will put the most marginalised at the centre.

We must move to a "Theology of Creation" and move away from the current "Theology of Redemption" as this will set us on a truer path that insists we look outward rather than inwards.

Dr Ali Selim

A Muslim Response

To the question of where is God in all of this? And does the 6th Mass extinction provoke a saving response from God? \And what of those who deny the existence of God? The very existence of the universe bears witness to the existence of God. One eighth of Koran is concerned with how we are called to care of the environment. In this way Laudato Si is a special text that echoes these important messages of the Koran.

"Mischief has begun on our lands, because of the evil of people". There is a disturbance of the natural balance and it is being caused by man. Why is man doing this?"

In this age of intelligence and enlightenment, we fail to see that the parameters of our very existence are being challenged. Man is burning, destroying and polluting despite the fact that we are trustees of our planet. We are stewards and with this stewardship comes a responsibility that we cannot and must not abdicate. We are Allah's deputies on this planet. Man has responsibilities to the planet. Islam calls for an all inclusive mercy insisting on mercy for all living creatures and not just for people. There 80 million hectares of cultivated land being turned to desert annually through over-farming and this continues despite the fact that we know this to be destructive. How is this being responsible?

Muslims observe ecological ethics and exalt in those who respect the environment.

Will you do the right thing or not? Many Muslims atone for their sins by doing good works and many of these good works involve a cleaning, a preservation, a learning or a teaching on environmental issues. This they feel is doing the right thing to benefit all.

We are all witness to an existential question that requires prompt action from all for all.

See the Green Christian Prayer Guide for September here

See the Green Christian Prayer Guide for October Here

International Day of Peace 21 September

Each year the International Day of Peace is observed around the world on 21 September. The General Assembly has declared this as a day devoted to strengthening the ideals of peace, both within and among all nations and peoples.

The United Nations Member States adopted the 17 Sustainable Development Goals in 2015 because they understood that it would not be possible to build a peaceful world if steps were not taken to achieve economic and social development for all people everywhere, and ensure that their rights were protected. The Sustainable Goals cover a broad range of issues, including poverty, hunger, health, education, climate change, gender equality, water, sanitation, energy, environment and social justice.

2019 Theme: “Climate Action for Peace”

The theme draws attention to the importance of combatting climate change as a way to protect and promote peace throughout the world.

Climate change causes clear threats to international peace and security. Natural disasters displace three times as many people as conflicts, forcing millions to leave their homes and seek safety elsewhere. The salinization of water and crops is endangering food security, and the impact on public health is escalating. The growing tensions over resources and mass movements of people are affecting every country on every continent. More here

Indoctrination Classes for Disobedient Catholic Clergy June 11th 2019

Forty-five priests from the Diocese of Zhangjiakou were forced to undergo “ideological conversion classes” to make them join the Patriotic Church.

Yang Xiangwen

On May 21, the Zhangjiakou city government in the northern province of Hebei summoned 45 Catholic priests for an indoctrination meeting, organized to force them to join the government-controlled Chinese Patriotic Catholic Association (CPCA).

According to a priest who requested anonymity, they were gathered in a hotel, government- assigned personnel kept guard outside it, and no one was allowed to enter or leave at will. Large numbers of staff were present to conduct group indoctrination activities and one-on-one talks with each priest. More here

June 2019 Prayer Points

May 28, 2019/in Monthly Prayer Points /by Pray and Fast

The past month has seen worrying reports about unprecedented declines in nature, greater-than-expected melting of polar ice, and decreased investment in renewables. It’s also seen more churches and other groups divest from fossil fuels, several countries considering or committing to ambitious net zero targets, and a turn away from coal in New York State. Much to lament … give thanks for … pray for …

Download the June Prayer Points