There was a great turnout at the diocesan gathering in the Pastoral Centre, Cavan, on Wednesday evening last, 10 June 2026. The Liturgical and Social Gathering celebrated the Care of Creation initiatives taking place across the Diocese of Kilmore.
Hosted by the Kilmore Care of Creation Group together with Bishop Martin Hayes, the evening included a shared conversation on parish projects, reflection, prayer and the upcoming Season of Creation Celebrations in September.
Parishes from across County Cavan and County Leitrim who are currently participating in the biodiversity, “Return to Nature” projects gave an overview of the biodiversity works that they are carrying out and their plans for future work with recognition given to the members of the Kilmore Care of Creation Group, the Holy Rosary Sisters in Cavan, Parish Pastoral Councils, Cavan County Local Development, Local Authority Biodiversity Officers and Heritage Council in Cavan and Leitrim, and other local stakeholders and environmental organisations.
Among the projects celebrated on the night were the “Return to Nature” initiatives in the Leitrim parishes of Ballinamore, Drumkeeran, Carrigallen & Drumreilly Upper, and Glenfarne, together with projects underway or planned in the Cavan parishes of Killeshandra, Drumgoon, Laragh, Lavey and Mullagh. We also acknowledged the extensive work already completed in the parishes of Killann (Bailieborough), Urney & Annagelliff (Cathedral) and Mullagh.
The Return to Nature Projects are a fulfilment of the Irish Catholic Bishops’ pledge to return 30% of church grounds to nature by 2030 and is inspired by Pope Francis’ Encyclical Laudato Si – On Care for our Common Home and his Apostolic Exhortation Laudate Deum. Both documents can be downloaded for free from the Vatican website. This movement is part of a wider initiative to meet the seven goals of Laudato Si’:
- Response to the Cry of the Earth
- Response to the Cry of the Poor
- Ecological Economics
- Ecological Education
- Adoption of Sustainable Lifestyles
- Ecological Spirituality
- Community Resilience and Empowerment
We were fortunate that the well-known Éanna Ní Lamhna happened to be in the Centre for another event that evening and she called into the gathering to give a short impromptu speech to the group present. Éanna is well-known in Ireland, in particular as a biologist, environmental and wildlife consultant, radio and television presenter, author and educator. She has been, for many years, a member of the panel of experts on RTÉ’s wildlife programme Mooney Goes Wild. She has also served as president of the national environmental charity, An Taisce, and the Tree Council of Ireland.
The evening concluded with an outdoor liturgy at the Labyrinth in the grounds of the Pastoral Centre.
