Catholics & Ecology

 

Join us in a wonderful year-long exploration of our need to care for our environment.  The celebrations at Clifton Cathedral in Bristol draw on Catholic teachings, insights and networks – and are open to everyone.  Together we can help restore the world, and fill it with the sound of many waters, flowing together.

 

Sound of Many Waters is inspired by Mary Colwell a Clifton Cathedral parishioner, BBC Natural History producer and ecological campaigner.  It is supported by a range of organisations including WWF, Alliance of Religions and Conservation (ARC), the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of England and Wales and the Apostleship of the Sea.  We are pleased that Sound of Many Waters has backing on the national and international scene.  Messages of support have been received from the Bishops’ Conferences of Australia, USA and Scotland.

 

Right Reverend Declan Lang, Bishop of Clifton said:

 

“Join with us on the journey of Sound of Many Waters.  Here at Clifton Cathedral we are embarking on a series of events that demonstrate action, prayer, fun, and reflection, to help us explore our need to care for our environment.” 

 

 

Overview of events

 

First Sound of Many Waters

Saturday 29th September 2007

 

Not Just Hot Air

St Francis Day

Thursday 4th October

 

Night Vigil of Reconciliation & Reflection for Creation

Friday 15th February 2008

 

Dawn Chorus & Owl Prowl

Spring Has Sprung - Let’s Explore

Sunday 6th April 2008

 

Saints & Sustainability

United Nations World Environment Day

Thursday 5th June 2008

 

Celebratory Conclusion

Weekend of 4th & 5th October 2008

 

 

Each event

 

Saturday 29th September 2007

First Sound of Many Waters

Supporters and guests will be present to open our year of environmental action with special messages. Keynote speaker is Bishop Chris Toohey, of Wilcannia-Forbes in Australia, Chair of Catholic Earthcare Australia, and an inspirational environmental campaigner. He promises to give us a robust account of the ecological challenges we face and how faith can help us tackle them.

 

We invite people to celebrate the world in which we live, but also to recognise the challenges faced by our generation - and to respond through commitment and action. Come and share ideas and experiences, explore nature on our doorstep, have fun, participate in worship and prayer, and be inspired.

 

Thursday 4th October 2007

Not Just Hot Air

St Francis Day

St Brendan’s Catholic College in Bristol leads the way with a launch of the first ever UK Catholic school’s environmental audit project, opened by Miranda Krestovnikoff of BBC Two’s BAFTA award winning ‘Coast’. From 4th October you’ll be able to download details of this exciting project. Why don’t you go to www.soundofmanywaters.org and pass it on to your local school?

 

Friday 15th February 2008

Night Vigil of Reconciliation & Reflection for Creation

Father Chris Boles, Jesuit priest and Vicar Episcopal for Justice and Peace in the Archdiocese of St Andrews and Edinburgh, leads a unique event in and around Clifton’s stunning Cathedral. Monastic music and reflective readings will focus our thoughts and prayers on God’s creation. All are welcome to come and experience what Father Chris, his friends and many of us feel so passionately about - drop in for as long, or as little as you wish. During this multimedia event we’ll see TV footage from the BBC’s prestigious Bristol-based Natural History Unit projected onto the Cathedral walls as we are transported throughout our world’s most breathtaking natural landscapes.

 

Sunday 6th April 2008

Dawn Chorus & Owl Prowl

Spring Has Sprung - Let’s Explore

Pioneering ecological campaigner and BBC Natural History TV producer Mary Colwell leads us on a series of nature walks around her parish church, Clifton Cathedral. Throughout the day we’ll have the fantastic opportunity to hear from Mary’s friends and colleagues from the BBC Natural History Unit, as they present nature talks and walks exploring our local environment. Top naturalists from across the country will come together at the Cathedral to help us discover our local area’s rich ecology. Everyone’s welcome. Open to all ages.

 

Thursday 5th June 2008

Saints & Sustainability

United Nations World Environment Day

A lively evening at Clifton Cathedral exploring tales of Catholic saints who protected the environment. Radio and TV presenter Martin Palmer guides us through 2000 fascinating years of Christian engagement with our natural world, bringing to life amazing stories, legends and myths. Martin’s presentation leads up to Bishop Declan Lang launching the theological reflection produced by Gavin D’Costa, the University of Bristol’s Professor in Christian Theology and Mary Colwell. Come World Environment Day 2008 you can access this beautifully-produced and much-needed summary of current theological thinking on the environment from www.soundofmanywaters.org

 

 

Founding supporters

Sound of Many Waters began with the support of:

WWF

Alliance of Religions and Conservation (ARC)

Clifton Cathedral

Clear Design UK

St Brendan’s Sixth Form College, Bristol

Catholic Bishops’ Conference of England and Wales

The Apostleship of the Sea

Clifton Diocese

 

 

Sound of Many Waters - we’re listening

Visit our website www.soundofmanywaters.org

Speak with us, call 0117 973 8128

Write to us at Sound of Many Waters, Clifton Cathedral, Clifton Park, Bristol BS8 3BX