Tree of Life
LiveSimply social/fundraising event for our new garden project
A big thank you to all for helping to make Sunday 23 June’s LiveSimply social/fundraising event such a success and what a celebration! To everyone who donated bottles/games/cakes/jams & plants and to those who looked after the tombola, cakes (weren’t they beautiful and delicious!) and plant stalls. There are a few plants left, they are in the kitchen at the back of the hall, please take one and give it a home. This was our first Fund Raiser for the new garden project and we received over £500 in donations which was brilliant. We are planning similar celebration events later in July and an autumn harvest Sunday when we will have fruits and veg to bring in and share.
Do join our LiveSimply team, you can leave your details on the form in the church entrance. We are finalising the new garden details; you can help with this, for example choosing new plants or building the paved area. Also if you were away you can support the project by donating LiveSimply via the DONA machine.
Laudate Deum
On 4th October 2023 Pope Francis issued Laudate Deum, “Praise God”. In this Apostolic Exhortation he asks us to help bring about large processes of transformation rising from deep within society to tackle the climate crisis. Laudate Deum can be read here.
Laudato Si’
On 24th May 2015 Pope Francis signed his landmark encyclical Laudato Si’: On the Care of Our Common Home, it can be read here. A whole year of prayer and special intentions has begun. This is a great encouragement for us, in our Parish Family, to continue the work and projects we have begun.
We have created this page to provide suggestions, summaries of what we are doing now and also a place where we can share details and ideas. Please let us have your suggestions for us to show how we are responding to Laudato Si’ and make this a great and rewarding journey for us all.
TREE OF LIFE: RECYCLING BLISTER PACKS
Blister packs in small personal size amounts can now be taken to Boots pharmacies.
Fruit Trees
Our parish children helped to plant the two fruit trees (an apple and a Victoria plum). It was a great event, we look forward to picking the fruit in the next few years.
The Live Simply and the Gardening Team
During the children’s liturgy we discussed Pope Francis’ letter where he talked about God’s love for the world which is our home and how we are, as Christians, need to look after it. We also talked about the work we have done in church to try and follow the Pope’s messages by creating our Tree of Life project where we have tried to respond to Francis’ messages by Living more simply, caring for others around us and looking after the environment
To live out the messages of living simply, live sustainably and live in solidarity with others in the world we created the “Live Simply Advent Calendar”. We thought this Advent instead of asking for more things which use up resources we would try and do other more sustainable things. The children came up with some great ideas like, use last year’s Christmas cards to make decorations , walk or carshare rather than drive, switch off lights when you are not in a room and make a Christmas present for someone rather than buying one. We have displayed this in church with all the ideas so please take a look and see what changes you could make.
We also gave our children’s liturgy advent wreath a makeover, replacing all the plastic on it with foliage collected from road side areas.
The Call of Creation
On the Feast of St Francis of Assisi, the Bishops’ Conference launched a new edition of its environment document “The Call of Creation”. It talks to us on the need for the care of creation and protection of our common home. Do let us know how our parish family can act on its message. The forward and link to the document can be found at https://www.cbcew.org.uk/bishops-launch-new-edition-of-environment-document-the- call-of-creation/
Writing in the foreword, Bishop John Arnold, Lead Bishop for the Environment, and Bishop Richard Moth, Chair of the Social Justice department, say:
“We are a people of hope who believe in redemption. We must study the signs of the times and take the action that is needed to repair our relationship with God’s creation. As is made clear in The Call of Creation, the exercise of the virtue of solidarity and the promotion of the common good, which are so needed at this time, are the responsibility of each and every individual and institution in society.”
SUNDAY 17th JULY: CELEBRATION SUNDAY
Sunday was a great Parish Family event in the Church Gardens. We celebrated our children receiving sacraments, Fr Michael’s golden jubilee, welcoming all our new parishioners and winning a CAFOD LiveSimply award. The biggest gathering to date, well over a 100 people came together AND lots of cakes, including our Tree of Life cake!
The Justice & Peace September 2022 newsletter can be found here, it includes the full story! about how our parish gained its LiveSimply award.
A HUGE Thank You to EVERYONE for helping to make this happen and to ALL those who came along to make it such a success.
This was our first social event in a long time. Shall we do it again? And what else shall we do to continue our Friendships and Faith in Action.
PLEASE let us know. The Welcomers, the Parish Pastoral Council or Fr Michael would really appreciate your suggestions. Sue.
More details can be found here.
CONGRATULATIONS to 2 Parish Family Members for their work in Burley-in-Wharfedale which links with the Tree of Life activities.
Alexander Hughes for winning the award for litter pickier of the year 2021!
Loraine Hughes for receiving a certificate at the LS29 Environmental Awards.
Live Simply
Sunday 22 May Trish & Paul, two of CAFOD’s LiveSimply assessors, visited our parish to discuss what we have already done and what new projects we will be doing. We also had a Children’s Liturgy centred on our Tree of Life project. Great news: we have gained a LiveSimply award, please see the message below from Sue, chair of our Parish Pastoral Council.
A message from Sue
Many thanks and sincere congratulations to one and all and, all those I have missed off the list through lack of contact details. We left church at 1.40pm following very positive and complimentary feedback. We were pleased to receive a little useful advice too and look forward to the written feedback.
I think I am at liberty to say that the next visit from Paul and Trish will be to present the plaque as we have been successful in gaining the award. We want everyone to be there to share in the celebration.
Special thanks of the Parish Family go to Fr Michael for his enthusiasm, encouragement and presence, to Frances, Keith, Mary and Loraine (and their long-suffering husbands and wives – your rewards will be great) who have given so much time, energy, creativity and tenacity to this journey.
To the 3 groups/ strands and thus 3 teams of people who have worked throughout the 3 years and everyone who has taken an active part -adults, youth and children.
I leave you with a thought…and we would welcome ALL ideas…… How do we continue and increase our efforts in response to “The cry of the Poor” and “The cry of the Earth” in meaningful and impactful ways?
Today is a Parish Family celebration but now we need to relax, regroup and proceed with vitality and creativity looking to increase our activities associated with our Spirituality and Petitioning as with seek to “Love one another” more throughout the world.
Sincerely
Sue R
In October 2019 we launched our Tree of Life project as our parish family response to Pope Francis’ Encyclical Laudato Si. This has given us an opportunity to “work with generosity and tenderness in protecting this world which God has entrusted to us”. Our parish family has made an application to CAFOD’s LiveSimply award programme. The award is given to parishes and schools to recognise programmes they have put in place to show how they have been living:
• simply
• in solidarity with people in poverty, and
• sustainably with creation
Over the last 2 years we have progressed your suggestions in our parish family and in our homes, and by supporting charities in our diocese and overseas. Do add your new ideas to our Tree of Life in the church foyer.
Continuing the Action!
Memory jog …When we originally wrote on the brown “leaves and hung then on the Tree many of us said were wanted to and were going to Recycle more/
We have extended what we are doing at home by creating a mini-recycling area. Initially we will concentrate on used batteries and blister packs [from medicines] & contact lenses and old pens.
Thank you Judith for the collection bags.
We have a handout prepared within the Burley-in-Wharfedale Community to help us recycle virtually everything, please see the display for full details!
Thank you,
Keith, Frances, Sue
Easter Gardens
LiveSimply – Sunday 22 May
In October 2019 we launched our Tree of Life project as our parish family response to Pope Francis’ Encyclical Laudato Si. This has given us an opportunity to “work with generosity and tenderness in protecting this world which God has entrusted to us”.
Our parish family has made an application to CAFOD’s LiveSimply award programme. The award is given to parishes and schools to recognise programmes they have put in place to show how they have been living:
• simply
• in solidarity with people in poverty, and
• sustainably with creation
Over the last 2 years we have progressed your suggestions in our parish family and in our homes, and by supporting charities in our diocese and overseas. In the next few weeks we will have displays in the foyer with details of our projects. This will include an opportunity for you to add new ideas to our Tree of Life, one of these will be an indoor area for recycling items such as blister packs.
On Sunday 22 May between 10am – 1pm two of CAFOD’s LiveSimply assessors will visit our parish. They will meet us to discuss what we have already done, what new projects we will be doing and be with us for the 11am Mass. Do join us!
CARING FOR OUR EARTH
At the end of the Season of Creation four-week period in October we asked our parish families to let us know what actions they would be taking. We had a great response, and your top 10 suggestions are listed below.
1. No littering
2. Switch off lights
3. Reuse/recycle more
4= Use a jumper instead of turning up the heating
Change old lighting to LED bulbs
6 Grow fruit, herbs & vegetables in the garden
7 Take shorter showers
8 Eat less meat & dairy
9= Reduce plastic
Avoid using the tumble dryer
We want to help take these forward, both at an individual level, but also as a parish family. We would like to share your ideas and what you have already done, so suggest we form a few groups to make this happen. These would be based on
– Tidy up, reduce plastic, recycle more
– Reduce energy and water use
– Grow and eat more sustainable food
Could you let us know which one you would like to join by signing one of the sheets in the church foyer. In the meantime please contact us at ssfishermore@gmail.com if you have any questions.
Thank you, Frances, Loraine, Sue, Keith
Pope Francis’ message for COP26
In a message recorded for the BBC’s Thought for the Day programme, Pope Francis has called on world leaders meeting next week at the UN Climate conference in Glasgow (COP26) to provide “effective responses” to the environment emergency and offer “concrete hope” to future generations. You can hear Pope Francis’ message and more information here: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-59075041 or read the message here.
Sunday 10 October was a great success at both Masses school children had a special meeting during the first part of the Mass with Mary P. and guest John N. During the Homily given by the Tree of Life team group, many members of the Parish family completed a little survey the results of which we will report back to you. We have left the Questionnaires out to encourage Parishioners who had not had the opportunity on Sunday to take part independently. After the Masses the children showed their Parents and Parishioners what they have been doing! Quite amazing.
The Tree of Life working with nature group needs lots more volunteers to give a little time no more than one Saturday a month during the growing months. Or you could become an independent member watering plants and removing any weeds which risk appearing in the beautiful new flower bed, planter and herb bed! THANK YOU to all of the T of L team and everyone for avoiding parking in front of the insect friendly front flower bed.
If you have insect friendly or any plants or herb plants to donate PLEASE contact Frances on frances.atkins@nhs.net or pop a note through the Presbytery door, funds are not good so free plants are a bonus.
Free solar panels and insulation for low income homeowners from Leeds City Council:
For a limited time only, households in the Leeds City Council area earning less than £30,000 can receive free solar panels and insulation from the council via Better Homes Yorkshire. Once installed, homeowners will fully own the work. To qualify, your home must have a low EPC (D, E, F or G) but you don’t need to know your EPC to apply. Call 0800 597 1500 or visit the Better Homes Yorkshire Website to learn more.
Environmental Policy
You can read the Diocese of Leeds’ Environmental Policy here.
The Diocese of Leeds Justice & Peace May 2021 newsletter can be found here, it includes:
-
- Bishop Marcus’ Pastoral letter for Pentecost on the challenge of Climate Change
- How we can respond to the Climate Crisis
What we are doing
Please see the progress we made in 2020 in our parish project in the Tree of life – Work with nature News item.
2021 programme
Hedgehog Hotel
Jack and his grandad John have teamed up to build an amazing hedgehog hotel for their holiday project.
Jack cut the tunnel and legs to size, he then drilled, glued and screwed the box and tunnel together leaving grandad to cover the box and fit the lid. The hotel is now in the Parish garden waiting for its first visitors. Please click here to find out more and see how it was designed and built.
Season of Creation
The Season of Creation runs from: September 1st, World Day of Prayer for the Care of Creation until Oct. 4th, the Feast of St. Francis of Assisi.
- It provides us a good opportunity to reflect on and pray about what we are going to do to care for creation, both at a personal level and also in our Parish Family.
- It also helps us to support the UN Climate Change Conference (COP26) which will be held in Glasgow on 31 October – 12 November.
In March 2020 our Parish family began our Tree of Life programme, YOU wrote down 383 suggestions of how to care for creation including reducing energy use, transport costs & waste, improving our church grounds and buying less clothing.
The last 18 months have been difficult to get these suggestions actioned, but we have made a good start including:
- outside the church entrance areas we dug up tired old plants and planted new bulbs and bee friendly flowers & shrubs
- the children planted and looked after sunflower seedlings and built bird & bat boxes
- Jack and his grandad have built a hedgehog hotel
- we installed a triple compost bin and water butts in the church garden
- two of our families have had solar panels installed on their house roofs, one family has replaced their gas boiler with a heat pump
- we have replaced a number of lights with LEDs in the church, presbytery and hall
- we have begun to replace rotten window frames and installed more effective double glazing
In this Season of Creation we would like to continue the good work we have begun and do more, in our homes and in the Parish family. We have 4 weeks to make a difference which we can sustain!
In week 1. That is now! Let’s turn to the garden and adopt one of these good actions:
- Return unwanted plastic plant pots to Courtyard planters who will use them; make sure they are in sized sets not a bag of odd ones.
- Start saving cardboard to use as weed matting. Just add to beds in autumn and cover in compost; in Spring the worms will have taken this valuable goodness back into your soil. I grew on lots of my seedlings in this way this year and there were no weeds to cull.
- Don’t put the toilet roll and kitchen roll centres in the trash, put them in the compost to aerate and to speed up the composting process.
For our sustainable actions in week 2, 3 and 4 please give us your ideas, send to Frances frances.atkins@nhs.net or Keith keithfpitcher@gmail.com
Do let us know what you have done, what you would like to do and if you need any help. Thank you,
Frances, Keith and Sue
Prayer for Week 1 Please join as a Parish Family with this daily prayer
We pray for the world, our common home: that through God’s grace we may hear its cry for the damage done and be moved to protect it for future generations to enjoy.
Lord, in your mercy…Hear our prayer.
Our Tree of Life actions continue
IN WEEK 2 OF 4 our focus moves from the garden to “Saving carbon/energy at home” and also within the church buildings. Fr Michael has asked that we look at this here, we will be having a parish meeting to discuss all our ideas.
Bird & bat boxes
CHILDREN please could you ask your parents if you could bring back to church any Bird boxes you made and have not put up in your own garden. Put your initials on them somewhere so you can watch when a bird nests in your box in the back garden of the church.
Loraine has done a fantastic job in planning, preparing and putting up the bird and bat boxes we have already on the trees in the church grounds. Hopefully we will have a few more to put up when we can arrange for some of the children who made them, to put theirs up too. Here’s Loraine’s message:
“Easter is the time to celebrate Hope, Renewal and New Life
So, we Hope that you take the time to see the Renewal of our church garden and keep a watch out for New Life in the bird houses and bat boxes in the trees.
“At the first signs of Spring, some of the bird houses and bat boxes that our children put together at the end of last year have been put up. The poster shows the bird’s-eye-view of locations.
We will be adding more boxes during the year and will update you with a new plan.
“The different houses are needed for different species:
Open fronted nest box – Robins, Wrens and Pied Wagtails
Bird House, 24mm doorway – small tit species such as Blue Tit, Coal Tit and Marsh Tit
Bird House, 28mm doorway – bigger species such as Great Tit, Crested Tits, Tree Sparrows and Pied Flycatchers
Bat House – Pipistrelle
Spring bulbs
The bulbs we planted last year have been great, the bedding plants are now being established and will add lots of colour and be pollinators for insects.
Compost
We’ve bought and built a triple composter! This will be for grass cuttings, flowers and raw fruit & veg kitchen waste. We will use the compost for flower beds and other areas in the church gardens.
CAFOD’s Livesimply award
We plan to apply to CAFOD’s Livesimply award, this is an opportunity to respond to Pope Francis’ invitation to “work with generosity and tenderness in protecting this world which God has entrusted to us”. This is awarded to communities who can show how they have been living:
• simply
• in solidarity with people in poverty, and
• sustainably with creation
We are working with the diocese’s Justice & Peace climate change group to promote and share ideas, see https://www.leedsjp.org.uk/campaigns/climate-change/ for lots of information.
News
Pope Francis’ on Thought for the Day for climate change
Dear BBC listeners, Good Morning. “Climate change and the Covid-19 pandemic have exposed our deep vulnerability and raised numerous doubts and concerns about our economic systems and the way we organise our societies. “We have lost our sense of security and are experiencing a sense of powerlessness and loss of control over our lives. “We […]