prayer courtesy of William Blake, adapted
And did those feet in ancient time Urge us to wealth or grateful thanks And was the Holy Lamb of God Seen to invest in England's Banks? And did the countenance divine Smile on our frightened refugees And was all God's created life Seen in our dark and dirty streets? Bring me my bow of burning hope Bring me my arrows of desire Bring me my shield! O clouds unfold! Bring me to change a world on fire! I shall not cease from mental fight Nor shall my pen sleep in my hand Till we have built a healthier world In what were green and pleasant lands |
Our Common Home
Pope Francis doesn't hold back:
'The earth, our home, is beginning to look more and more like an immense pile of filth.'
This is God's creation, given to be our home.
What are we doing to look after it?
A Prayer for our Earth By Pope Francis*
All-powerful God, you are present in the whole universe and in the smallest of your creatures.
You embrace with your tenderness all that exists.
Pour out upon us the power of your love, that we may protect life and beauty.
Fill us with peace, that we may live as brothers and sisters, harming no one.
O God of the poor,help us to rescue the abandoned and forgotten of this earth, so precious in your eyes.
Bring healing to our lives, that we may protect the world and not prey on it, that we may sow beauty, not pollution and destruction.
Touch the hearts of those who look only for gain at the expense of the poor and the earth.
Teach us to discover the worth of each thing, to be filled with awe and contemplation, to recognize that we are profoundly united with every creature as we journey towards your infinite light.
We thank you for being with us each day.
Encourage us, we pray, in our struggle for justice, love and peace.
* Pope Francis published this prayer in his Laudato Si’ encyclical, and is meant for sharing with all who believe in a God who is the all-powerful Creator.
'The earth, our home, is beginning to look more and more like an immense pile of filth.'
This is God's creation, given to be our home.
What are we doing to look after it?
A Prayer for our Earth By Pope Francis*
All-powerful God, you are present in the whole universe and in the smallest of your creatures.
You embrace with your tenderness all that exists.
Pour out upon us the power of your love, that we may protect life and beauty.
Fill us with peace, that we may live as brothers and sisters, harming no one.
O God of the poor,help us to rescue the abandoned and forgotten of this earth, so precious in your eyes.
Bring healing to our lives, that we may protect the world and not prey on it, that we may sow beauty, not pollution and destruction.
Touch the hearts of those who look only for gain at the expense of the poor and the earth.
Teach us to discover the worth of each thing, to be filled with awe and contemplation, to recognize that we are profoundly united with every creature as we journey towards your infinite light.
We thank you for being with us each day.
Encourage us, we pray, in our struggle for justice, love and peace.
* Pope Francis published this prayer in his Laudato Si’ encyclical, and is meant for sharing with all who believe in a God who is the all-powerful Creator.
Laudato Si’ Week is being celebrated during 22nd – 29th May. It reminds us of our duty towards and celebration of creation. To learn more and to get involved, check out the links.
The Laudato Si’ Encyclical, which was published in 2015, is a letter to the world from Pope Francis. in it he calls for dialogue and action concerning the care of what he calls “our common home”, and he urges all of us to take our duty to the natural environment, to animals and to poor people seriously.
http://visnews-en.blogspot.com/2015/06/overview-of-encyclical-laudato-si.html
The Laudato Si’ Movement (LSM) was formed as a result of the Encyclical. Under the umbrella of the Encyclical, it aims to activate the world's 1.2 billion Catholics to tackle the climate and environmental crises. To educate about and enable participation in this undertaking, LSM initiated an online Course.
https://laudatosimovement.org/
The Laudato Si’ Animators Course was first opened in July 2020 to a world-wide audience of potential activists. The Course teaches how the Laudato Si’ (LS) Encyclical fits into Catholic Social Teaching, describes the causes and consequences of climate change and encourages a personal ecological conversion. Participants are encouraged to be environmentally active in their parishes and in the wider community.
https://laudatosianimators.org/?utm_source=laudato&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign&utm_content=What%20is%20the%20Laudato%20Si%27%20Animators%20program%3F%20Join%20now
Laudato Si’ Animators are people who completed the Course and then got together for mutual support, discussions, ideas and actions. We have a Network of around 90 Animators and green activists, covering the 22 Dioceses of England and Wales. Our aim? Simply to spread the message of the Encyclical throughout the Catholic Church, in an effort to educate about the environmental crisis and to inspire action which will help to combat the dire situation.
https://www.facebook.com/LSIUK
The Laudato Si’ Action Platform has been established by the Vatican's Dicastery for Promoting Integral Human Development, in response to the Encyclical. It is designed to run for 7 years, encompasses 7 Sectors and has 7 general goals. We will all fit into one or another of the Sectors. The 7 Goals are designed to guide our actions. Under each general goal heading, actions are suggested for us to consider which will reduce our environmental footprint.
https://laudatosiactionplatform.org/
The Laudato Si’ Encyclical, which was published in 2015, is a letter to the world from Pope Francis. in it he calls for dialogue and action concerning the care of what he calls “our common home”, and he urges all of us to take our duty to the natural environment, to animals and to poor people seriously.
http://visnews-en.blogspot.com/2015/06/overview-of-encyclical-laudato-si.html
The Laudato Si’ Movement (LSM) was formed as a result of the Encyclical. Under the umbrella of the Encyclical, it aims to activate the world's 1.2 billion Catholics to tackle the climate and environmental crises. To educate about and enable participation in this undertaking, LSM initiated an online Course.
https://laudatosimovement.org/
The Laudato Si’ Animators Course was first opened in July 2020 to a world-wide audience of potential activists. The Course teaches how the Laudato Si’ (LS) Encyclical fits into Catholic Social Teaching, describes the causes and consequences of climate change and encourages a personal ecological conversion. Participants are encouraged to be environmentally active in their parishes and in the wider community.
https://laudatosianimators.org/?utm_source=laudato&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign&utm_content=What%20is%20the%20Laudato%20Si%27%20Animators%20program%3F%20Join%20now
Laudato Si’ Animators are people who completed the Course and then got together for mutual support, discussions, ideas and actions. We have a Network of around 90 Animators and green activists, covering the 22 Dioceses of England and Wales. Our aim? Simply to spread the message of the Encyclical throughout the Catholic Church, in an effort to educate about the environmental crisis and to inspire action which will help to combat the dire situation.
https://www.facebook.com/LSIUK
The Laudato Si’ Action Platform has been established by the Vatican's Dicastery for Promoting Integral Human Development, in response to the Encyclical. It is designed to run for 7 years, encompasses 7 Sectors and has 7 general goals. We will all fit into one or another of the Sectors. The 7 Goals are designed to guide our actions. Under each general goal heading, actions are suggested for us to consider which will reduce our environmental footprint.
https://laudatosiactionplatform.org/
What does our faith say? Laudato Si and Catholic Social Teaching Bishop of Bombay Allwyn
A commitment to Ecological Conversion Amy Achieverra
A commitment to Ecological Conversion Amy Achieverra
The Great Big Green Week is back! From 24 September to 2 October, people across the UK will come together again to celebrate community action to tackle climate change and protect nature.
Get involved by hosting a local Green Week or event in your area. By stepping up for the planet with your friends, family and neighbours you can show our Government and local decision makers that we want them to deliver on their promises to protect the planet for now and future generations.
HOST AN EVENT OR LOCAL GREEN WEEK
From beach cleans and bike days to nature trails and repair workshops, there is a way for everyone to get involved and take positive local action in your community. We have a whole host of resources to help you every step of the way.
Do you have an event or activity planned already? Let us and others know about your event by uploading it to the new and improved events section of our website!
Get involved by hosting a local Green Week or event in your area. By stepping up for the planet with your friends, family and neighbours you can show our Government and local decision makers that we want them to deliver on their promises to protect the planet for now and future generations.
HOST AN EVENT OR LOCAL GREEN WEEK
From beach cleans and bike days to nature trails and repair workshops, there is a way for everyone to get involved and take positive local action in your community. We have a whole host of resources to help you every step of the way.
Do you have an event or activity planned already? Let us and others know about your event by uploading it to the new and improved events section of our website!
"Understanding Laudato Si," with Fr. Daniel P. Horan, OFM even though these recording on YouTube are 5 years old they can be a useful way of helping us understand Laudato Si.
Episode 01: "Models of Creation" https://youtu.be/TzyYPJLhZjc
Episode 02: "Situating Laudato Si" https://youtu.be/xXJTzM2VbSc
Episode 03: "What is Happening to our Common Home?" https://youtu.be/ZmHQMaBbsXw
Episode 04: "Cry of the Earth, Cry of the Poor" https://youtu.be/8LloARnNUPE
Episode 05: "Back to the 'Beginning'" https://youtu.be/UVT9enSMMrU
Episode 06: "A Universal Communion" https://youtu.be/H50S8P3JSzk
Episode 07: "The 'Technocratic Paradigm'" https://youtu.be/k_jM16npWhM
Episode 08: "Human Responsibility" https://youtu.be/wFLaTShJNMM
Episode 09: "Integral Ecology'" https://youtu.be/uok8odEsOhE
Episode 10: "Inter generational Solidarity" https://youtu.be/VmZcCjorWnk
Episode 11: "Dialogue in Moving Forward" https://youtu.be/UuZSeDuLDYg
Episode 12: "Politics, Economy, and Science" https://youtu.be/ahzzh_a63o8
Episode 13: "Things Must Change" https://youtu.be/fj-a5qVj3nY
Episode 14: "Conclusion: In Union with all Creation" https://youtu.be/oAAgQr6hpbI
Another YouTube video that you may like to look at is:
Connecting Voices, Connecting Laudato Si’: Action 2021 https://youtu.be/cZPcQ3HRYao
Why Care for the Environment? (Laudato Si Explained) https://youtu.be/DNU8fn_ap_U
Praise be to you my Lord
Episode 01: "Models of Creation" https://youtu.be/TzyYPJLhZjc
Episode 02: "Situating Laudato Si" https://youtu.be/xXJTzM2VbSc
Episode 03: "What is Happening to our Common Home?" https://youtu.be/ZmHQMaBbsXw
Episode 04: "Cry of the Earth, Cry of the Poor" https://youtu.be/8LloARnNUPE
Episode 05: "Back to the 'Beginning'" https://youtu.be/UVT9enSMMrU
Episode 06: "A Universal Communion" https://youtu.be/H50S8P3JSzk
Episode 07: "The 'Technocratic Paradigm'" https://youtu.be/k_jM16npWhM
Episode 08: "Human Responsibility" https://youtu.be/wFLaTShJNMM
Episode 09: "Integral Ecology'" https://youtu.be/uok8odEsOhE
Episode 10: "Inter generational Solidarity" https://youtu.be/VmZcCjorWnk
Episode 11: "Dialogue in Moving Forward" https://youtu.be/UuZSeDuLDYg
Episode 12: "Politics, Economy, and Science" https://youtu.be/ahzzh_a63o8
Episode 13: "Things Must Change" https://youtu.be/fj-a5qVj3nY
Episode 14: "Conclusion: In Union with all Creation" https://youtu.be/oAAgQr6hpbI
Another YouTube video that you may like to look at is:
Connecting Voices, Connecting Laudato Si’: Action 2021 https://youtu.be/cZPcQ3HRYao
Why Care for the Environment? (Laudato Si Explained) https://youtu.be/DNU8fn_ap_U
Praise be to you my Lord
Addressing plastic waste:
letters received from retailers
letters received from retailers

Thank you to the Inner Wheel Club of Coventry for these letters
The Birmingham Diocesan Justice and Peace Commission is funded by the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Birmingham and the Catholic Agency for Overseas Development (CAFOD) and is a member of the Caritas - Archdiocese of Birmingham Network