'Pioneering parishes' is an online event at 7pm on Wednesday 4 September 2024 hosted by CAFOD, the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of England and Wales and St Mary’s University.
Drawing inspiration from this year’s Season of Creation theme, "To Hope and Act with Creation," and the collaborative "Guardians of Creation" project, the event will showcase how innovative parishes can serve as inspirational models for others.
Featuring parish speakers and experts, the event will highlight their experiences and success stories, with the goal of inspiring other parishes to take meaningful action for the environment and promote greener practices within their communities - whether in everyday life, heritage conservation, or green spaces.
The event is designed for anyone interested in learning how parishes can reduce their environmental footprint.
Speakers
Dr Roland Daw is currently a Senior Lecturer in Strategy and Entrepreneurship at St Mary’s University, where he works on several research projects investigating sustainability transition in the Catholic Church.
Kirsty Wright is head of Property at the Diocese of Plymouth where she focuses on heritage, sustainable building maintenance, including for historic churches.
We will also hear from parishioner Bridget French from Our Lady of Lourdes in Harpenden, who helped her parish achieve the Live Simply award. Bridget will explain how they went about it, with tips and encouragement for others.
The event will be chaired by Neil Thorns, CAFOD's Director of Advocacy.