Eco-Congregation Award 2016
Sister Caitlín Conneely shows the award, presented by Sister Catherine Brennan SSL, Chair of Eco-Congregation
The Western Province was presented with an Eco-Congregation Award on Saturday November 26th. Caitlín Conneely, Provincial of the Western Province was delighted to accept it on behalf of all the Sisters in the province. It was given by Catherine Brennan, a Louis Sister who is the Chair of Eco-Congregation, an ecumenical body who assess the work done in relation to the environment in Ireland and Britain.
Before presenting the award, Catherine spoke of the wonderful work being done by the Sisters in the province. This has been written in the form of a book, Walking Gently on Earth and Catherine expressed her hope that it would be a source of inspiration for others to engage more with our precious planet. The award itself is made from old church pews by people with disabilities. The title on this beautiful piece of wood is “Caring for God’s Creation.”
Eco-Congregation Ireland is a project of the Irish Inter-Church Meeting that encourages parishes to take an eco-friendly approach to worship, lifestyle, property, community outreach and contact with the developing world. It has operated an award system for almost ten years. The award is designed to affirm good practice in environmental stewardship and encourage churches/communities witness to the importance of caring for God’s creation. The Sisters of Mercy of the Western Province is the first body of religious ever to receive this award.
Speakers on the day: Catherine Brennan SSL, Professor Emeritus John Sweeney, Caitlín Conneely Western Provincial, John Weakliam CEO of Vita and Éanna Ní Lamhna, environmentalist and broadcaster
Professor Emeritus John Sweeney spoke of the intensity and suddenness of climate change and its consequence, the adverse effect on poor people, who have not caused it. This is something we flag in our congregation policy: “When we abuse the planet, we primarily victimise the poor, to whom we, as Sisters of Mercy, have a special mission.” Éanna Ní Lamhna began her talk with a laugh, saying after her introduction by Margaret Tiernan, that even she would be very interested in what she was going to say. However, there was a hush as she spoke of the silence of the corncrake because of the effects of climate change in extending the Sahara Desert, making the journey of this once heard bird almost impossible today. Both she and John Sweeney have spent time as chair of the environmental National Trust, An Taisce.
Éanna Ní Lamhna launching the book, with Margaret Tiernan, Chair of the Provincial Vita/Lifestyles Working Group
The sisters were nominated for the award by the Irish NGO Vita, with whom they work in partnership in Ethiopia where they helped create The Gama Gofa Green Zone model of development. John Weakliam, CEO of Vita and inspirational leader, promoting next generation community led development, also spoke at the launch. Vita implements quantifiable climate protection through the Vita Green Impact Fund. John praised the involvement of Mercy in Ethiopia and how those affected by extreme poverty there now enjoy the gifts of water, homemade stoves, solar lighting and being able to plant the Irish humble potato.
Among the invited guests were representatives of a range of community groups involved in environmental issues, transition students from the Ballyhaunis Community School, bishops of the Tuam Archdiocese, and Ardagh and Clonmacnoise, retired bishop of Galway, some priests and many Mercy sisters. The Spirit was with Walking Gently on Earth all through the process. Once again, her presence was palpable on Sunday last when our publisher, Liam MacNally happened to meet An Taoiseach (head of the Irish Government) at mass. Liam asked him to present a copy of the book to Pope Francis for his first official meeting with the Pontiff on Monday. The book is now in the Vatican.
Western Provincial, Caitlín Conneely, finished her talk by encouraging all present to continue to walk gently on Earth! This is the objective of the publication and our desire for our beautiful but fragile planet.
Text: Kathleen Glennon rsm, Mary Doherty rsm and Suzanne Ryder rsm
Photographs: Tiernan Dolan
Western Province
