‘God has written a precious book, whose letters are the multitude of created things present in the universe’ Laudato Si’ 85
The Laudato Si Working Group of the Bishops’ Conference invites everyone to join them in Mallow, Springfort Hall Hotel, Co Cork on Saturday, 25 January 2025, from 10.00am to 4.00pm for a conference entitled: Seeds of Hope; Returning Biodiversity to our Parishes. Participants have an opportunity to equip themselves and their parish community to walk more gently on the earth, with dynamic speakers, practical workshops and a “marketplace” of support.
Key speakers at the conference include, Bishop Martin Hayes of Kilmore and the Irish Catholic Bishops’ Conference Laudato Si’ coordinator; Nellie McLaughlin RSM, an environmental activist, author and founding member of Green Sod Land Trust Ireland; and, Kate Chandler, Communities and Engagement Pollinator Officer for the National Biodiversity Data Centre. The speakers have been actively involved in supporting communities around Ireland engage with the call in Laudato Si’ to care for creation.
Afternoon workshops include ‘Cultivating an Eco-Spirituality’ with Sister Betty Baker, ‘Returning to Nature in Killaloe Diocese’ with the biodiversity officer Barry O’Loughlin and ‘Mapping your church grounds’ with Niamh Ní Dhúill from Oideachas an Dúlra. A practical focus in many of the workshops aims to equip participants with tools to make a difference in their parish setting, whatever the setting and context. Whether it’s a first step into ecological activity in church or community, or a seasoned activist, this is an opportunity to be inspired and connect with others with similar interests ion the community. The presence of varied groups active in the sector can encourage participants in the building up of their parish as a hub of support for biodiversity and cultivator of earth-friendly practices that can then inspire others with seeds of hope.
Laudato Si’ is the 2015 encyclical by Pope Francis on care for our common home. In 2015, Pope Francis published Laudato Si’ – On Care for Our Common Home, the first papal encyclical on care for creation. It became a best seller in Ireland and in many countries. Laudato Si’ is a blueprint which encourages “every person living on this planet” (LS, 3) to listen to the signs of the times, to the cry of the earth and the cry of the poor, to listen to the science and to the call of our faith
To register for this conference, please email: [email protected]. There is a suggested donation of €10 on the day.
ENDS
