By Sean Ryan - 18 April, 2016
The Diocese of Kerry is promoting the protection of the environment and the loss of biodiversity in the natural world as part of its ‘Earth Week’ events.
The week, which is organised by the Justice, Peace and Integrity Creation Committee (JPIC) in Kerry, commenced yesterday (Sunday 17 April) and runs until Sunday 24 April 24.
This year the chosen theme is ‘Loss of Biodiversity’.
The theme is taken from Pope Francis’ Encyclical titled ‘Laudato Si’ and addresses everybody’s responsibility to take care of our ‘common home’.
In a statement issued this week, Kerry Diocese said that “with an emphasis on environmental protection, all parishes and parishioners are invited to respond to this call by making their grounds and private gardens more biodiversity rich by protecting and encouraging a variety of plants, tress and habitats for wildlife including bees.”
Some parishes have really taken the message on board as they undertake audits of their grounds to see what they can do to promote biodiversity and they have subsequently received help from the Biodiversity Officer of Kerry County Council and local biodiversity tutors who have offered some specific advice on planting herbs, leaving a small area of lawn uncut, protecting a native hedgerow or starting a compost heap”.
As part of Earth Week celebrations in the diocese, eco theologian Fr Sean McDonagh SSC will give a lecture in St Brendan’s Parish Centre in Tralee in Co Kerry.
Fr McDonagh will also launch his new book on the evening, titled ‘On Care for Our Common Home’ which is published by Orbis Books.
This takes the encyclical’s full text and adds Fr McDonagh’s reflections on its various themes including climate change, biodiversity, water scarcity and threats to the oceans, and the food crisis.
In addition, Fr McDonagh provides an overview of the development of Catholic theology on creation over the past half-century, and offers ideas on how to transform Pope Francis’ vision in Laudato Si’ into meaningful action and a central piece of Catholic theology.
Fr McDonagh’s lecture takes place on Thursday 21 April at 7.30pm.
A full list of events for ‘Earth Week’ in the Diocese of Kerry is available on the Diocesan website http://www.dioceseofkerry.ie/
