Resources

The EcoCongregation website has lots of information and resources for greening your church life. They are arranged as modules which are free to download.

For worship and teaching ideas: modules 2,3,4 and 6

For practical ideas: modules 1,7,8 and 9

For reaching out ideas: modules 10,11,12

Operation Noah – a Christian organisation which provides focus and leadership in response to the growing threat of catastrophic climate change endangering all of God’s creation – has some excellent resources for communities.

These six meeting plans will help an adult group learn about what your faith says about climate change and how they can take in community. Each 10-page plan includes excerpts from Catholic Social Teaching, prayers, reflections and information on the science of climate change.

The Common Good – meeting 1

Option for the poor – meeting 2

Caring for God’s creation – meeting 3

Human dignity – meeting 4

Rights and responsibilities – meeting 5

Sustainable development – meeting 6

World Gifts is a way for your parish or community to raise funds to give a gift to someone who really needs it. It could be an emergency kit for a family struck by disaster, a school starter pack, reading lessons, or a pair of piglets.

Individuals can buy gifts – to mark birthdays, Christmas or other special occasions. or together your whole community can fundraise to buy gifts together. There are lots of gifts to choose from – and you can buy as few or as many as you would like. In return, you will receive a beautifully illustrated thank you card – and the knowledge you’re putting solidarity into action.

Visit the World Gifts website.

Connect2 is a way to create solidarity across the world. – by linking your parish or community with a community in a developing country.

When your parish joins, you’ll hear directly from people in developing countries. You’ll receive photos and stories from your chosen community. Over the next few years, you can look forward to regular updates from different local people, as they share their struggles, hopes and dreams with you. You can send them news of your community life, through photos, cards and messages of solidarity.

It’s a personal journey between your parish and the community you support; a chance to be a part of that community’s life in the longer term.

Find out more about Connect2

The livesimply Group Reflection explores what is meant by livesimply and the Biblical messages and Catholic Social Teaching that underpin it. It includes readings, prayers, questions for reflection and could be used over a series of group meetings.

Download livesimply Group Reflection (pdf)

Six weekly reflections are reflections, readings, prayers and actions taking different themes from Populorum Progressio, the document that inspired livesimply.

What do we mean by Progress? How much are we influenced by advertising? In our desire for a tranquil life, do we neglect the pursuit of peace?

Written by Annabel Shilson-Thomas for livesimply member CAFOD.

Download Six weekly reflections (pdf)

Summer loaves and fishes picnic – a 10-page pack to help you organise a livesimply summer picnic with your parish and wider community.

You’ll find practical tips, a short liturgy for the event, suggestions for Mass on or near the day, and ideas for children. Reflections on the value of eating and celebrating together.

Download Summer loaves and fishes picnic (pdf)

Words of Wisdom for Lent are reflections on the themes of living simply, sustainably with creation, and solidarity with people in poverty by Jim O’Keefe, Fr Jim O’Keefe, a Hexham and Newcastle priest and former president of Ushaw College who chairs the livesimply network.

Download Words of Wisdom for Lent (pdf).

Three livesimply prayers are three prayers written by CAFOD staff and volunteers on the themes of living simply, sustainably with creation, and in solidarity with people in poverty.

Download Three livesimply prayers.

Words of inspiration is a selection of verses from Scripture, quotes from the saints, prayers and poems, to aid
reflection on our relationship with God’s creation. Part of livesimply member CAFOD’s Call of Creation toolkit.

Download Words of inspiration (pdf).