Eco Eye
Sr Catherine Brennan SSL
Now in its tenth year, Earth Hour 2017 takes place this Saturday, March 25 from 8.30-9.30pm. Earth Hour is the single largest symbolic mass participation event in the world.
Born of the hope that people could be mobilised to take action on climate change, Earth Hour now inspires a global community of millions of people in 7,001 cities and towns across 178 countries to switch off the lights for an hour. The event recognises our global responsibility for the climate change, which is already devastating lives and threatening the future of the planet.
Our actions today can change our tomorrows. We love and care about our beautiful, fragile planet – “our common home” (Laudato Sí) and its people, especially the poor in the global south who suffer most from the effects of climate change.
Earth Hour is an opportunity for parishes and other faith groups to celebrate, pray and explore environmental concerns and how our faith calls us to address them. Did you know that your church’s Earth Hour activities can count towards your parish’s application for an Eco-Congregation Ireland (ECI) Award?
Eco-Congregation Ireland encourages churches of all denominations to take an eco approach to worship, lifestyle, property and finance management, community outreach and contact with the developing world. The Catholic Church, Presbyterian and Methodist Churches are involved as well as the Religious Society of Friends (Quakers).
Vision
Our vision is to see churches of all denominations throughout Ireland celebrate the gift of God’s creation, recognise the inter-dependence of all creation and care for it in their life and mission and through members’ personal lifestyles.
We ask Christians everywhere to reflect on the beauty of God’s world and to consider what practical steps can be taken to prevent further damage to the environment. Also, to pray for our wounded planet, for people in the developing world already affected by climate change and for future generations.
As a global campaign, Earth Hour neatly intersects with ECI’s four award criteria – spiritual, practical, local community and global solidarity. Our current understanding of parish includes the whole bioregion with all that exists, lives and grows. )
Many parishes are already taking part around the world in different and creative ways:
- Arranging for any lights on or in your church to be turned off for an hour.
- Organising a candlelit holy hour with a climate change theme.
- Planning a torchlight wildlife or stargazing walk to make the most of the hour of darkness.
- Using the special prayer on the ECI website at Mass on Saturday evening and/or Sunday. (www.ecocongregationireland.com)
If you live in Dublin you are welcome to join the Church of the Ascension, Balally, Dundrum, Dublin 16 for their candlelit hour of prayer and reflection from 8.30-9.30pm on Saturday, March 25.
Sr Catherine Brennan SSL is the Catholic representative for Eco-Congregation Ireland.