LiveSimply Group representatives from four Leeds parishes met at Immaculate Heart Church Hall (in the parish of St John Mary Vianney) to review progress since their last meeting in January this year. As part of our occasional ‘Four Seasons of Creation’ series, parishioners Vincent Borg and Bob Kilcoyne have kindly sent a report of the event:
Representatives from St Benedict’s Garforth, Our Lady of Kirkstall, Leeds, SS John Fisher and Thomas More, Burley-in-Wharfedale and St John Vianney in Moortown shared information about developments in their parishes in aiming to achieve (or sustain their achievement of) CAFOD’s LiveSimply Award.
LiveSimply requires an action plan to engage parishes – and schools – in living simply, sustainably with creation, and in solidarity with those who live in poverty. More emphasis is now being placed on highlighting the causes of poverty and solidarity with future generations.
The parishes’ representatives reflected on recent actions. For example: St Benedict’s introduced a Stations of the Cross, highlighting nature in the forest. As one of the first parishes to receive the award (in Oct 2016), it has needed to review and renew its commitment. Our Lady of Kirkstall Parish engaged with the local MP and organised parishioner involvement in raising election issues with him. Following detailed analysis of their electricity use, SS John Fisher and Thomas More parishioners have developed plans to install solar panels and the parish is now liaising with the Diocesan Property Office to finalise arrangements and practicalities.
In pursuing LiveSimply journeys, a lot of expertise has already been gained and shared with other parishes. St John Vianney has produced monthly parish action leaflets focussing on themes from Laudato Si’ and developing parish participation in the Season of Creation … and lots more, especially the development of gardens in parish and school grounds. Through the Diocesan Justice and Peace Commission’s Climate Action Group (CAG), this information is now being shared with the Diocese’s Laudato Si’ Sustainability Group.
The 2 November meeting was chaired by Tony O’Brien, LiveSimply co-ordinator for St John Vianney, and was attended by the Parish Priest, Fr Dennis Cassidy, whose keen support had been instrumental in progress in the parish. Several attendees had also taken part in a recent CAFOD zoom meeting organised by the Northern Dioceses Environmental Group, where three questions had been asked:
• What were the biggest challenges to parishes getting involved and how could these be overcome?
• How could parishes be encouraged to continue on a LiveSimply journey after receiving the Award?
• What resources would be most helpful for parishes to achieve the award?
Small parishes with limited resources and expertise would have challenges not experienced by larger parishes. Meetings such as this would help. However, a common response to the first question referred to a varying level of commitment among parish clergy as a barrier to parishes embarking on the LiveSimply journey.
It was very encouraging for Bishop Marcus in his September 2024 Pastoral Letter on the Season of Creation to have clarified that our responsibility as Catholics for God’s Creation is not an optional extra but a well-established part of our Faith, developed by successive Holy Fathers and most recently by Pope Francis in Laudato Si’. The Bishop encouraged all parishes and schools to participate in work towards living simply as a framework for positive action in our local communities. There was hope that this encouragement from Bishop Marcus would give confidence to parishioners and clergy alike to embark on and achieve the LiveSimply Award, and would also provide many opportunities for communion, participation and mission on our synodal journey together.
Representatives from the parishes are planning to meet again next year and to include other parishes from within the Diocese which have also started out on their a LiveSimply journey.
If YOUR parish or school has set out on a LiveSimply journey – or is contemplating this as a way of becoming more sustainable – PLEASE let us know by contacting environment@dioceseofleeds.org.uk, so that YOUR experiences, initiatives, and photographs can be communicated to engage and inspire others across the Diocese of Leeds!
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