Course links to be added
Launch
The parish launched Live Simply on the 22 May - our exciting news was featured in the Arundel and Brighton CAFOD Blog
The livesimply award is an opportunity for Catholic communities – parishes, schools, religious orders and chaplaincies – to respond to Pope Francis’ invitation in Laudato Si’ to “work with generosity and tenderness in protecting this world which God has entrusted to us”.
What is the livesimply award? It is awarded to communities who can show how they have been living:
• simply
• in solidarity with people in poverty
• sustainably with creation.
St Clements Parish Church became the third Parish in the Diocese of Arundel and Brighton to receive the live simply award on the 6 April 2019.
The parish started to work towards achieving the award in 2017. They were inspired by reflecting on Pope Francis’ encyclical Laudato Si. They contemplated how they could best respond to the Pope’s prophetic words.
They decided that they wanted to do something practical and the Live Simply Steering Group was born.
Working towards the award has brought the whole parish together. Both young and old have taken part and all of the Parish has been able to share in the achievement of receiving the award.
The process has raised awareness of green issues and highlighted the benefit of living simply so that others can simply live.
The Parish has planted a vegetable garden, established a walking club, implemented a recycling scheme and developed a tree planting scheme for newly baptized children.
The parish continues to develop new ways of developing as a live simply parish.
Jonathan would encourage other parishes to get involved . He explained that it has been a very rewarding faith, affirming process.
Download original action plan along with full evidence index of how we got the award along with up to date details of all recent events.
Tree Dedication Scheme
Live Simply dedicate a tree scheme: to mark sacramental occasions such as Baptism, Communion, Confirmation, Reception into the Church and Marriage.
Options:
1. Woodland Trust (suggested donation £20 which includes a certificate, map and wood information sheet)
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can specify planting location and the nearest wood is Marden Park, Woldingham
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register location, add a personal message (6 lines of text, up to 35 characters) which will generate a certificate
2. EForests (from £6.99 which includes a certificate and information on the location)
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register in order to identify where to plant a tree
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many locations including the South East
3. World Land Trust (£5 (no certificate) or £25 for 5 (with certificate)
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WLT specialise in conservation of threatened habitats worldwide
Prices are current as of April 2019
We now have a decorative tree in the Church to mark this, which will have wooden leaves with the Christian name and date of sacrament written on them "see picture at top of page".
A Prayer For Our Earth
By Pope Francis
All-powerful God, you are present in the whole universe and in the smallest of your creatures. You embrace with your tenderness all that exists.
Pour out upon us the power of your love,
that we may protect life and beauty.
Fill us with peace, that we may live
as brothers and sisters, harming no one.
O God of the poor,
help us to rescue the abandoned and forgotten of this Earth,
so precious in your eyes.
Bring healing to our lives,
that we may protect the world and not prey on it, that we may sow beauty, not pollution and destruction.
Touch the hearts of those who look only for gain at the expense of the poor and the Earth.
Teach us to discover the worth of each thing, to be filled with awe and contemplation, to recognize that we are profoundly united with every creature as we journey towards your infinite light.
We thank you for being with us each day.
Encourage us, we pray, in our struggle
for justice, love and peace.