LAUDATO SI AND THE ST MARY’S (SABDEN) PROJECT
St Francis of Assisi shows us just how inseparable the bond is between concern for nature, justice for the poor, commitment to society, and interior peace. This one sentence from Laudato Si’ sums up the interconnectedness of everything Catholic, and everything our Parish is trying to do under the banners of Hope in the Future and the CAFOD Live Simply Award.
As a key part of our CAFOD Live Simply Award we are planning a major environmental project building on the enormous amount of work already undertaken, over many years, by a few stalwart souls at St Mary’s church, Sabden. Our plan is to make the place not only somewhere to glorify God but an exemplar also of how we can live simply, sustainably with creation, and in solidarity with the poor. This is the essence of everything Pope Francis is saying to us.
Few parishioners away from Sabden will be aware of just how much effort has gone into Sabden already. Removing the AstroTurf and covering the hardcore below it necessitated shovelling 40 tons of topsoil and 10 tons of bark but in addition paths were laid, beds of wild flowers planted, weeds killed, hedges trimmed hedges and a rockery built. Most recently we have seen a stone circle at the front of the church with pots and plants. The first priority now is to remake the bed in front of the church before two weddings in September. However, there is much more to be done and then regular maintenance.
An element in our Live Simply Award Plan is: Encourage parishioners to become involved with the work behind St Mary’s and at the cemetery, with a particular emphasis on the practical and educational aspects of preserving the environment. On August 13 we met to discuss how we might take this forward and full details of that meeting can be found on the Parish website under Groups/Laudato Si at http://www.olotv.org.uk/parish-groups/laudato-si
Please consider playing a part in what we hope will become a community and social venture for young and old. We aim to encourage participation not only via the Parish but also the schools. We hope that a lot of people doing a little, rather than a few doing a lot, will not only make the task less onerous but also a pleasant way to spend a Saturday. The first date is Saturday, 8th September.