Annual Season of Creation

1st September  - 4th October 2021

Every year during the Season of Creation, Christians on six continents unite to pray, take action, and advocate for our common home. But every year also features a new theme and a new logo for Christians to unite around as they care for God’s creation. This year’s theme is “A home for all? Renewing the Oikos of God,” and the logo reflects that theme as it’s Abraham’s tent, which symbolizes “a home for all.”
Find out more at Season of Creation

See side column to access resources

COP26 Glasgow: Cardinal Parolin to attend on behalf of Holy See

Cardinal Parolin will take part in the session of the Conference of the Parties to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change.   

Taizé has been invited by Glasgow Churches COP26 Coordinating Committee to prepare and lead prayers and a vigil for students and young people in Glasgow during the COP26 gathering. Two Taizé brothers will be in the city from 7 – 12 November for this.

Here are the times and places for these prayers. Young adults aged 16-35 are especially welcome, but these times of worship are of course open to all.

For all prayers, please wear a face-mask, keep 1m distancing and respect the current health advice (be ready to show your health pass and give your address).

Monday 8 November

• 12 noon Midday prayer
  Turnbull Hall Catholic Chaplaincy, 13-15 Southpark Terrace, Glasgow G12 8LG

• 7pm Evening prayer
  Immaculate Conception Parish, 2049 Maryhill Rd, Glasgow G20 0AA

Tuesday 9 November

• 12 noon Midday prayer
  University Chapel, University of Glasgow, Chapel Corridor (South), West Quadrangle, Glasgow G12 8QQ

• 7pm Evening prayer
  St Mungo’s Cathedral, Castle St, Glasgow G4 0QZ

Wednesday 10 November

• 12 noon Midday prayer
  Wellington Church, 77 Southpark Ave, Glasgow G12 8LE

• 7pm Evening prayer
  Sherbrooke Mosspark Church, 240 Nithsdale Rd, Bellahouston, Glasgow G41 5AD

Thursday 11 November

• 12 noon Midday prayer
  University Chapel, University of Glasgow, Chapel Corridor (South), West Quadrangle, Glasgow G12 8QQ

• 7pm Vigil prayer
  St Aloysius Church, 25 Rose St, Glasgow G3 6RE

Friday 12 November

• 12 noon Midday prayer
  Turnbull Hall Catholic Chaplaincy, 13-15 Southpark Terrace, Glasgow G12 8LG

Pope Francis has repeatedly emphasised the moral dimension of the climate emergency and the obligation of all to help protect the planet.

Earlier this year in a message for Earth Day he said: “We have the instruments. This is the moment to act. We are at the edge. We need to ensure that the environment is cleaner, purer and that it is conserved.
We must care for nature so that nature may care for us."

Climate Petition: "Join the Chorus"
Scotland’s official Catholic Aid Agency is launching an appeal
to parishioners to sign a petition to the Prime Minister ahead
of the COP26 climate change conference to be held in Glasgow in November, at which Pope Francis is expected to participate.
SCIAF point out that with climate change already having a devastating impact on the world's poorest communities, time is running out.
Parishioners are asked to write to the PM urging him to do three things:
*Pay to protect the poorest communities - Make sure financial support is given to those impacted by climate change so they can adapt and recover.
*Act now to stop runaway climate change - Make sure world leaders commit to keeping rises in global temperatures below the disastrous 1.5°C threshold.

*Listen to those on the frontline of the climate crisis - Make sure that people worst affected by the crisis are at the heart of the climate talks."      
You can sign the petition at  https://www.sciaf.org.uk/timeforaction
 

A compendium of COP resources is available from SCIAF and includes:
(i) where to go for info: websites and hashtags
and
(ii) what parishioners can do immediately and during COP.

 

Glasgow Multi-Faith Declaration for COP26   

Interfaith Scotland, along with many faith communities and organisations in Scotland have produced the historic Glasgow Multi-Faith Declaration for Cop 26.  God-willing the power of Interfaith engagement will make a difference during the critical climate negotiations of COP26.   Link to the full Declaration at      
Glasgow Multi-Faith Declaration for COP26 – Interfaith Scotland         
Here is a link to the recording: 
The Glasgow Multi-Faith Declaration for Cop26 - YouTube  
Also, here are links to our Facebook post and tweet about the Declaration.

Vatican launches prayer campaign for Laudato Si’ goals
By Carol Glatz    Oct 1, 2021    Catholic News Service

Pope Francis' 2015 encyclical "Laudato Si', on Care for Our Common Home" is lauded for its scope on the moral and ethical response to protecting the earth's environment for future generations. (Credit: Tyler Orsburn/CNS.)

ROME — Groups and individuals who have accepted Pope Francis’s invitation to step up their commitment to caring for creation are encouraged to prepare for their journey with a new prayer campaign.
"Special prayers have been developed for each day of the week for different communities, like parishes, dioceses, religious orders, families, hospitals, schools, businesses and others, that have joined the

Laudato Si’ Action Platform.

The 40-day prayer campaign begins Oct. 4 — the feast of St. Francis, and concludes Nov. 14 — the World Day of Prayer for the Poor. The Vatican Dicastery for Promoting Integral Human Development announced the campaign Oct. 1.

The Laudato Si’ Action Platform is “a seven-year journey that will see our communities committed in different ways to becoming totally sustainable, in the spirit of integral ecology,” the pope said in a video message launching the platform 25 May 2021.
“We need a new ecological approach that can transform our way of dwelling in the world, our lifestyles, our relationship with the resources of the earth and, in general, our way of looking at humanity and of living life,” he said.
The platform was set up to help people with that process of conversion that leads to concrete action in a coordinated, global effort. It is meant for people, particularly communities, that want to increase their commitment to bringing the encyclical “Laudato Si'” to life by promising a set of actions over a period of seven years.

The prayers are based on the Laudato Si’ goals, which are: responding to the cry of the Earth and environmental degradation; responding to the cry of the poor and vulnerable; creating an ecological-sustainable economy; adopting simple lifestyles; supporting ecological education; promoting ecological spirituality; and building community awareness, participation and action.
“The prayer campaign supports the seven sectors joining the Laudato Si’ Action Platform with a dedicated day of prayer for each, connecting each sector with a Laudato Si’ goal,” the dicastery said in a media release.
Integral ecology requires every member of the wider church to contribute their skills and work together on common goals, which is why the platform specifically invites certain sectors: families; parishes and dioceses; schools and universities; hospitals and health care centers; workers, businesses and farms; organizations, groups and movements; and religious orders. People were invited to register May 25-Oct. 4 to assess what they are doing now and to see how they can further contribute to the seven Laudato Si’ goals.

The next phase in the Laudato Si’ Action Platform is set to kick off Nov. 14, when the dicastery plans to publish Laudato Si’ planning guides and related materials. Catholics will then be invited “to make a firm commitment to creating their own Laudato Si’ plans,” the dicastery said.
Current resources include a new website in nine languages at laudatosi.va and an action platform at laudatosiplattform.org as part of a “road map” of action for the next decade. The prayers can be found at https://laudatosiactionplatform.org/resources."
Click here to access the resources:Laudato Si' Action Platform