This year, the Vatican Nativity scene will honour the 800th anniversary of the beloved tradition of the Christmas crib. The scene in St. Peter’s Square depicts not only Mary and Joseph standing beside the manger but also St. Francis of Assisi, who organized the first Nativity scene in a cave in the Italian village of Greccio on Christmas Eve in 1223. Addressing the crowd at the opening of the display, Pope Francis said that meditating in front of any Nativity scene should “awaken in us the nostalgia for silence and prayer, in our often-so-hectic daily life.”
A short meditation from Pope Benedict XVI: The Tradition of the Christmas Crib: Following a beautiful and firmly-rooted tradition, many families set up their crib immediately after the feast of the Immaculate Conception, as if to relive with Mary those days full of trepidation that preceded the birth of Jesus. Putting up the crib at home can be a simple but effective way of presenting faith, to pass it on to one’s children. The crib helps us contemplate the mystery of God’s love that was revealed in the poverty and simplicity of the Bethlehem Grotto. Saint Francis of Assisi was so taken by the mystery of the Incarnation that he wanted to present it anew at Greccio in the living nativity scene, thus beginning an old, popular tradition that still retains its value for evangelization today. Indeed, the crib can help us understand the secret of the true Christmas because it speaks of the humility and merciful goodness of Christ, who “though he was rich he made himself poor” for us (2 Cor 8: 9). His poverty enriches those who embrace it and Christmas brings joy and peace to those who, like the shepherds in Bethlehem, accept the Angel’s words: “Let this be a sign to you: in a manger you will find an infant wrapped in swaddling clothes” (Lk 2: 12). This is still the sign for us too, men and women of the third millennium. There is no other Christmas. Pope Benedict XVI Report from Dr Lorna Gold Dec 14th, 2023.
FaithInvest CEO Dr Lorna Gold attended COP28 and delivered the Opening Address at the Faith Pavilion on December 4 - Finance Day. Here, she assesses the controversies and contradictions, the highs and the lows of this year's climate conference, and looks back at how faith communities made their presence felt. I had thought twice about going to COP28 in Dubai in the United Arab Emirates this year. I have attended many COPs over the years but there was something about this COP in a petrostate, headed up by an oil company, that really jarred. I could not see much point in being present at what felt like a charade. Reflecting further, however, I realised that perhaps the quagmire of COP is precisely where people of faith need to be. This year, moreover, the national context in UAE meant that very few climate activists were welcome at COP. Every aspect of civil society is highly regulated. Faith groups, however, were granted a special status and welcomed in. There was even a pre-COP meeting on faith and climate. This enabled the creation of a special 'Faith Pavilion' in the Blue Zone of the COP where negotiations take place. Under the circumstances of a highly controversial COP, the role of faiths as the most significant block in civil society able to be present, emerged as more important than ever. In my role as Board President of the Laudato Si' Movement, I had a chance to meet Pope Francis about his letters on the climate, Laudato Sí' and Laudate Deum, on November 6. When we met he confirmed he was planning to go to COP28. We discussed the importance of faiths being present and aligning our statements and actions to the needs of the poorest and most vulnerable countries. Seeing the Pope's determination not to give up on the only multilateral process we currently have to tackle climate change - the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) - I decided I too would go. The contradictions of COP My experience of COP was full of contradictions right from the start. On arrival at the sprawling COP campus, where UAE had previously hosted the World Expo in 2020, the scale of the operation was evident. The COP site was packed with buildings hosting all manner of pavilions showcasing different efforts to tackle the climate crisis. There were serious displays, but also a lot of fancy light installations, and remarkable futuristic architecture. I tweeted that if 'fancy light displays could save the world we would be sorted'. There were broad walkways where people could stroll in the warm sunshine. You could even buy vegan ice-lollies from cute ice-cream stalls that looked like something straight out of the Barbie movie. The whole place felt slightly surreal - like a kind of cross between a holiday camp and the Truman show. A kind of Disneyland for climate geeks. No mention of the 'f' words After a day of COP pavilion tourism - checking out some of the climate actions of random countries such as Saudi Arabia, China and UAE - I started to feel a bit sick to my stomach. There was even a pavilion for OPEC - the association of oil exporting nations! All of this showcasing, as well as what was happening in the negotiations, seemed to be taking 'greenwashing' to a whole new level. It felt like gaslighting. Amidst the frenetic activity and constant talking, it struck me that nobody seemed to be mentioning the main causes of rising emissions: the 'f' words - fossil fuels. Moreover, it became clear that the very same countries who were touting all sorts of efforts to go green, were actually planning to increase their oil and gas exploration in the coming years, including UAE. They had no intentions of addressing the principal root cause of the crisis. The fossil fuel genie comes out of the bottle The absence of any mention of phasing out fossil fuels in a key petrostate started to really disturb me and I was hoping that someone - perhaps a faith leader or a head of state - would pierce the silence. The absence of Pope Francis was really felt - he could not be there due to illness. I was relieved, therefore, when his message in the Global Stocktake, read by the Vatican Secretary of State, called for the 'elimination of fossil fuels'. Someone at a high level had used the 'f' words nobody wanted to say. Following his speech it felt like the fossil fuel genie was out of the bottle. There was no way it was going back in. Momentum on fossil fuels started to gather pace. A testy exchange between former Irish President Mary Robinson and the COP President where he denies the science was released by the Guardian newspaper and caused a storm. A significant moment at COP reflecting momentum on fossil fuel elimination was a crucial event on the proposal for a 'Fossil Fuel Non-Proliferation Treaty'. This campaign calls for a new treaty that would fall under the UNFCCC and address the means for an orderly phase out of fossil fuels, something that the Paris Agreement failed to do. Through not mentioning fossil fuels, the Paris Agreement allowed massive loopholes to develop, which have allowed countries to continue to expand fossil fuel production and exploration - claiming it will be 'abated' in the future by carbon trading or carbon capture or other technologies yet to be proven. At COP28 Colombia became the 10th country - and the first oil producer - to declare its support for this bold initiative to end fossil fuels. The atmosphere in the room where they announced was electric. Faith leaders from the Pacific spoke at the event and declared the commitment of faiths to this important new process. The Faith Pavilion In the midst of the frenetic COP negotiations, the Faith Pavilion was a valuable space on many levels. The space was a welcome oasis where people of faith and secular civil society could discuss important initiatives that align to an integral, faithbased approach and reflect together on the shared values and vision we hold in caring for God's earth. There were many great debates and discussions (65 sessions, 325 speakers) on issues from grassroots approaches to climate education, efforts to support agriculture, energy transition in the developing world, and the role of youth. I spoke on Finance Day on the need to reform the financial system and for faiths to step up and align their own $4 trillion+ in investments to climate solutions. At the start of COP there had been concerns that the UAE Presidency might use its patronage of the Pavilion as a kind of 'faith-wash' - a shield to cover up its lack of ambition to real change. But that did not materialise in the end, helped greatly by the fact the Pope could not attend. Without a global faith celebrity, the pavilion did not make a lot of headlines. Instead, the space was used by many hundreds of faith groups as a wonderful, vibrant meeting point and place to deepen practical collaboration - a very valuable addition to COP which we hope will continue to thrive into the future. The final verdict on COP28 The final text of COP, which was agreed in a dramatic and controversial fashion, signals the need to 'transition out of fossil fuels'. The effort of faiths and civil society made a difference for sure. The mere mention of the 'f' words has been seen as a success in many quarters. However the next steps in the global negotiations look very shaky indeed. In the final plenary, the role of the chair in 'gavelling' the outcome before any comments were heard (and the small island states - most urgently affected - were not even in the room) has left much bad blood. Getting fossil fuels in a text is significant but it should have happened 20 years ago. What is there now remains full of loopholes and weak language open to interpretation. However, this COP more than any other has forced countries to come clean on their ambitions for the phase out of fossil fuels. Those who have refused to move have been exposed and had nowhere to hide. By the end of the COP28, however, more than 100 countries had agreed to phase out fossil fuels. This division is stark and deeply disturbing. It reveals the power of the fossil fuel industry to overturn the will of the majority. Regardless of what side a country is on, however, it makes the rationale for a new treaty on the means to transition away from fossil fuels more essential than ever. The next stage in the journey will involve civil society and ambitious governments moving fast to develop a treaty proposal with those countries and to win over the others. Going forward and the role of faiths As momentum behind a binding fossil fuel treaty builds in the coming months, the resistance from OPEC and other major blocks will only grow stronger. Faith organisations will have a critical role to play in building broad-based support and sustained momentum for action. The Vatican is a full party at COP now and could play a key role. With courageous leadership, and convening power, faiths may well play a critical role. Faith groups are already at the forefront of climate action, working at all levels to reduce emissions and influencing the grass-tops and the grassroots. Now, with the focus on eliminating fossil fuels, their role in this important work may prove central. Dr Lorna Gold has been the Director of Trocaire, in Ireland, the President of the Laudato Si Movement, (previously, the Global Catholic Climate Movement), and is the C.E.O. of FaithInvest. 14/12/2023 0 Comments Requiem Mass for Sr ImeldaIn your charity, please pray for the repose of the soul of Sister Imelda "E Butler" who passed away peacefully at Saint Bernard's Convent, Newcastle under Lyme on Sunday 3rd December 2023. Sister was a Paediatric Nurse for many years, some of the carers who attended to her in the past few years remembered her attending to them when they had attended hospital in their childhood. Sr. Imelda loved everyone who came into contact with her and had her gentle welcoming smile for all. She will be greatly missed by her community, family and friends. Private reception of her into Saint Bernard's Convent Chapel for family and Religious community only will take place on Sunday 17th December 2023 at 5pm. Requiem Mass will be held at Holy Trinity, Newcastle on Monday 18th December 2023 at 10.45am, followed by interment at Newcastle Cemetery. Eternal rest grant unto her, O Lord, and let perpetual light shine upon her. May she rest in peace. Amen. News from the Catholic Bishops' Conference
As the COP28 climate summit gets under way, the Lead Bishop for Environmental Issues, Bishop John Arnold, has reiterated his call for the nations of the world to act: “Whilst the extreme heat of last summer may be a distant memory for many of us, huge numbers of people around the world have had their lives devastated by climate disasters in the last year or so. Given that the impacts of climate change will only worsen, there is no option but for COP28 to succeed. “I have recently written to the Prime Minister asking his government to take a real leadership role at the COP28 climate summit. Pope Francis, and our own bishops of England and Wales, have asked political leaders to take decisive action at this summit and create energy transition targets that are efficient, obligatory and readily monitored. They must also consider how such targets can be enforced so that any agreements made at the summit are meaningful. “Care for God’s creation is intrinsically bound up with care for all our brothers and sisters and, given that climate change will affect poor countries the most, caring for creation can be thought of as an intrinsic part of the ‘preferential option for the poor’. “Referencing his hopes for COP28, in his recent Angelus address on 26 November, Pope Francis mentioned the tragedies of war and the dangers of climate change. Both, he said, are contrary to God’s plan who created everything for life. The world is becoming more dangerous and fractious, and conflicts are increasing. It is vital, at this time, that the governments of the world overcome their divisions and work to promote real healing as well as effective co-operation to reduce carbon emissions. “I also ask Catholics in England and Wales to pray for the success of COP28 – that real progress will be made. And I urge people to use the resources provided by our agency CAFOD so that politicians and the general public are made more aware of the urgency of this issue.” COP28 is the 28th United Nations Climate Change conference, held from Thursday 30 November until Tuesday 12 December 2023, at the Expo City, Dubai. Laudato Si - Pope Francis’ encyclical on the Care for our Common Home – environment and human ecology Laudate Deum - Pope Francis’ Exhortation on the global climate crisis The Birmingham Diocesan Trust (BDT) is seeking to appoint an experienced safeguarding professional from the fields of social work, police, LADO, probation, or an alternatively qualified professional with significant multiagency safeguarding experience, to its Safeguarding Team.
As a Safeguarding Advisor you will, along with the Head of Safeguarding and other colleagues, be responsible for providing effective safeguarding advice and training across the Archdiocese of Birmingham. Closing date: Tuesday 12 December. Jobs & Volunteering Opportunities | Birmingham Diocesan Trust (birminghamdiocese.org.uk) |
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