Parishes encouraged to mark climate change summit

Wednesday November 18th 2015

Eco Congregation Ireland is encouraging parishes to mark the UN Summit on Climate Change to be held in Paris on the first Sunday of Advent, November 29.

This initiative is supported by the Executive of the Irish Council of Churches (ICC).

Eco Congregations have provided a range of liturgical and other material which can be accessed on www.ecocongregationireland.com or email info@ecocongregationireland.com

The ICC hopes parishes and congregations will consider drawing from this material or, at the very least, using the special prayer (below) written for the occasion by Sr Catherine Brennan.

Creator God, we confess that the way we are using fossil fuels and other destructive forms of energy today is destroying the forests, changing the climate, the seas, the soils, the biodiversity and the balance of life on our fragile planet, dispossessing the poor and future generations. Help the world’s leaders meeting in Paris and all of us here to choose life for all that is at risk – for neighbours near and far and for all who come after us. Give us the wisdom to learn what we do not know but long to understand, so that we may honour and nurture all that makes us one with you.

We ask this through Christ Our Lord. Amen

An ecumenical prayer service for climate justice organised by Christian Aid and Trócaire in partnership with St Anne’s Cathedral will take place in the Cathedral at 1.15pm on November 29. It will be followed by a rally in Writer’s Square. Further details will be posted shortly.