Columbans are joining more than a hundred organisations at a mass lobby of parliament on Wednesday 9th July to call for leadership from the UK government to tackle the climate and biodiversity crises. CAFOD is involved, and the organisations are part of The Climate Coalition.
All of us will be encouraging supporters to tell MPs they care about people, climate and nature, and want them to act. MPs will be meeting constituents at two mass lobby venues in the Westminster area. They will be asked about delivering vital funding to communities hit hardest by climate change, tackling the global debt crisis, securing a greener and fairer future for UK citizens, and restoring Nature. The family-friendly event includes a prayer vigil outside Parliament. Please do join us!
A coach from Wolverhampton is amongst the initiatives organised by Church groups. Bishop John Arnold, lead bishop for the environment for England and Wales will be there for the day and then celebrating the 5.30pm Mass in Westminster Cathedral. And Bishop Peter Brignall of Wrexham Diocese is one of the latest signatories on the ‘Cancel Debt, Choose Hope’ petition. 2025 is a Jubilee year, which is when the Bible calls for debt cancellation to restore justice and human dignity.
In a collaborative programme between the Columban Justice, Peace and Ecology Team – led by James Trewby – and the London FCJ Centre for Spirituality and Ecojustice, five schools in Birmingham Archdiocese and one in Liverpool Archdiocese are sending sixth form delegates to the 9th July lobby. They are Bishop Ullathorne and Cardinal Newman in Coventry, Archbishop Illsley and St Thomas Aquinas in Birmingham, St Peters in Solihull and Bellerive in Liverpool. They will visit Westminster’s Queen Elizabeth Hall, where there will be stalls from organisations in the Climate Coalition and a chance to meet other participants from around the UK. And they will take part in CAFOD-led activities at Westminster Cathedral Hall.
The lobby programme offers powerful talks, opportunities to meet inspiring communities and campaigners, and a unique chance to be part of something historic.
At this time when so much energy is being put into war, it is a time to heal relationships. We lament that today’s armed conflicts are having a devastating human and environmental toll from Ukraine and Gaza to Sudan and the Sahel. And military operations are extremely carbon-intensive, increasing greenhouse gases at a time when global efforts to reduce them are critical. In addition, mass displacement of people due to war places additional pressure on ecosystems and natural resources in host regions and grow tensions internationally, including here in UK.
We must not permit wars to divert political attention and financial resources away from climate action and environmental protection. True security comes through justice, not weapons. In many countries, clean energy projects and conservation efforts are delayed or defunded as governments shift priorities toward military spending and crisis management.
The world is looking for Prophets of Peace. Columban rewilding of our grounds at Solihull are part of this, alongside welcoming school groups to the site to learn about ecology and value the natural world. Other initiatives coming up are the National Justice and Peace Network Conference at the end of July, which is focusing on nonviolence. Columbans are involved in running a workshop there on nourishing environmental justice and peace.
Then, the Season of Creation 2025 will take place from 1st September to 4th October. The theme for this year is ‘Peace with Creation,’ which emphasizes the need for humanity to restore its relationship with the environment. Various activities, including themed services and prayer sessions, will be organized during this period to encourage participation and reflection on creation care. This is a good time to start preparing.
There are so many opportunities to show love for our neighbours and for God’s creation. Immediately, the 9th July lobby will tell our MPs: this is a moment for leadership that protects what matters most — our health, our nature, our communities, our climate, and our future.
