Season of Creation – Implementing Laudato Si’ on Care for our Common Home in the Diocese of Kilmore

DIOCESE OF KILMORE – LAUDATO SI’

‘Together as one, we can make a difference’

LAUDATO SI’ ON CARE FOR OUR COMMON HOME

“A world of exacerbated consumption is at the same time a world which mistreats life in all its forms”. (LS 230)

 

Season of Creation – Implementing Laudato Si’ on Care for our Common Home in the Diocese of Kilmore

The Kilmore Laudato Si’ Group met recently in preparation for the upcoming Season of Creation (1st September – 4th October 2021) and they agreed to produce a list of practical suggestions upon how a parish could implement the key principles of Laudato Si’.  The suggestions are listed below.

The first suggestion is to form a Parish ‘Green Team’.  Your local P.P. or Pastoral Area Vicar Forane can provide the initial contact point for the parish or pastoral area group, so that a viable ‘Green Team’ can be formed.  In implementing some of practical suggestions outlined, consideration can be given to planting a tree or trees, develop a biodiversity area and reduce the use of herbicides on parish grounds.

Also, on September 5th 2021, having celebrated the Season of Creation at the 11.00am Mass, a tree will be planted on the grounds of the Cathedral of St. Patrick & St. Felim, Cavan.

“We see increasing sensitivity to the environment and the need to protect nature, along with a growing concern, both genuine and distressing, for what is happening to our planet. (Pope Francis, LS 19)

Kind regards.

+ Martin

 

Here are some suggestions for how you and your parish can implement LAUDATO SI’

  • Go ‘Green in your home!’ – Form a parish ‘Green Team’ and implement eco-tips : make direct contact with your P.P / Pastoral Area Vicar Forane or via admin@kilmorediocese.ie
  • The truth about disposable plastic water bottles: It takes 3 litres of water to produce a 1 litre bottle of water. Tap water is safe to drink.  If in doubt contact your Local Council. Keep a jug of water in the fridge instead of waiting for the tap to run cold.
  • Are we a throw away culture? It takes around 2,700 litres of water to make a single cotton t-shirt and it takes almost 500,000 litres of water to extract just 1 kg of gold
  • Do you need the latest mobile phone? There is up to 30 times more gold in a tonne of old mobile phones than in a tonne of gold ore
  • Wash laundry at 30°C when possible : It cuts C02 emissions, saves energy and helps the environment
  • Reduce overall meat intake and have a weekly meat-free day : around 16,000 litres of water is consumed to produce just 1 kg of beef
  • Boil only the amount of water you need in the kettle: It saves on energy, time and electricity costs
  • Reduce driving speeds: It results in less fuel consumption and reduces emissions of other pollutants from diesel vehicles (NOx and PM)
  • Don’t leave electrical appliances on stand-by: 1 kwh of electricity from a plug socket takes almost 3 kwh of energy to produce
  • Use double sided paper: it takes more energy to make 1kg of paper than it takes to make 1kg of steel
  • Check out your font size: switching from the font ‘Arial’ to ‘Century Gothic’ saves 30% ink on printing
  • Enjoy more time in nature: it connects us to all of Creation and has numerous benefits for our wellbeing

Formulated by the Kilmore Diocesan Laudato SI’ Group

… Amid the busyness of our day, “be faithful in small things because it is in them that your strength lies” (St. Mother Teresa)

For more information on our LAUDATO SI’ MISSION, please check out the  Season of Creation resources at www.kilmorediocese.ie or www.kilmoredpc.ie