Statement of Bishop Martin Hayes, Bishop of Kilmore and Episcopal Coordinator for Laudato Si’, ahead of the Season of Creation 2023

Recently, Met Éireann released statistics to say that the past month of June was the warmest June in 83 years.  This Met Éireann data highlights that we are being impacted by global warming which is having a particular effect on Europe.  
 
We may feel overwhelmed by these scientific facts and that we can do nothing to reverse this global trend of rising temperatures.
 
However, as individual Christians and as parish communities we can take actions to address the impact of the current climate crisis.  The Laudato Si’ Working Group and Animators have prepared two sets of resources; firstly, to return 30% of our parish grounds to nature and secondly, those for the 2023 Season of Creation (1 Sept – 4 Oct) in accord with the theme of ‘let justice and peace flow’.
 
In his message for the 2023 Season of Creation, Pope Francis highlights our interconnectedness with God, with each other, with ourselves and with all of creation.  These resources offer the opportunity for parishes to pray, discuss and take practical actions to address global warming at a local level.   Our little actions together can have a global impact for the future of our Common Home.
 
+ Martin Hayes

Resources

• Met Érieann data for June 2023 
• Message of Pope Francis for World Day of Prayer for Care of Creation 2023
• Season of Creation 2023 Resources
• In 2015, Pope Francis published Laudato Si’ – On Care for Our Common Home, the first papal encyclical on care for creation. It became a best seller in Ireland and in many countries. Laudato Si’ is a blueprint which encourages “every person living on this planet” (LS, 3) to listen to the signs of the times, to the cry of the earth and the cry of the poor, to listen to the science and to the call of our faith.