In 2019 we started a small CAFOD group in the Parish with 5 members. The aim of the group was not fundraising. SFX in a normal year would fundraise for CAFOD through the Family Fast envelopes, soup lunches in Lent etc. 

 

We want to make people more aware of CAFOD’s work particularly with issues around climate change.  Encouraging parishioners to think of ways in which they could easily make small changes in their lives to reduce waste and their carbon footprints is a priority.  

 

Pope Francis produced his encyclical ‘Laudato Si’ five years ago but his message is even more important now.

CAFOD’s work has always been with the poorest of the poor around the world. These people struggle to provide the basics of life for their families, to provide an education and medical care for their children. These are things that we take for granted in this country. 

 

The result of climate change is to make their already difficult lives even worse, ultimately threatening their existence as weather patterns become unstable affecting food supplies and living conditions.

 

It becomes more and more important that we all take responsibility for our contribution to this situation and the effect on nature on a grand scale. When we read about the environmental catastrophe it becomes obvious that giving people a chance for survival is also connected with the healing of the planet, restoring forests and  nurturing wildlife to replace what has been lost.

 

“If we don’t do something about protecting the richness of the world’s flora and fauna – the plants and animals on which we depend – biodiversity will continue to buckle. This will further damage human health, economies and societies – with particularly detrimental effects on indigenous peoples and local communities.”    

Inger Andersen 

United Nations Under-Secretary-General and Executive Director of the UN Environment Programme

 

Our first event was a Creation Mass in July 2019.  Since then we have successfully organised a workshop to make environmentally friendly beeswax food wraps, a parish visit to EnviroSort (the Severn Waste recycling centre in Norton Worcestershire) and a parish Seed Swap. We have also put together a recipe booklet called “Simply Soups plus ..” which features a range of delicious meat free recipes for soups and snacks. We launched

the booklet on the first weekend of Lent. All profits from the sale of the booklet will go to CAFOD.

This booklet is still available. Please call Mary on 01432 278328.

 

The pandemic has affected the activities we would like to have held in 2020 but:

hopefully you have noticed our ‘CAFOD corner’ in the Parish newsletter each week with ideas for making changes to lessen our impact on the planet and improve the environment. Have you measured your carbon footprint? Do you think it matters where you take your holidays? Do you reduce, reuse, recycle? Do you discuss these issues with your family and friends? Making  small changes in your lifestyle will help everyone in the long run but most of all those in greatest need.

 

For more information or to donate please visit the CAFOD website:  www.cafod.org.uk

 

Lots more information on climate change and the environment is available from wildlife charities such as the Woodland Trust, RSPB, WWF, Trillion Trees etc.

                                                                                                                        

Mary Roberts    01432 278328                  Dorothy Kennedy  07733 174681                      October 2020