From Caminos to COP26 walking through Glasgow to bells ringing in churches to educational events and vigils, the churches and people of all faiths will be out in force in Glasgow to lobby world leaders to seriously address the climate crisis. The major United Nations summit Conference of Parties (COP) on climate change will be held in Glasgow from 31 October to 12 November.
Pope Francis was initially expected to attend the summit but will not now be going. It emerged this evening also that the Queen, who has had a short stay in hospital, will also not now be attending but will send a short video message instead.
In Glasgow, many Catholic groups are coming together for “24 Hours for the Climate”, a global live streamed vigil in a Glasgow parish 5-6 November for Catholics and people of faith to pray and advocate for the success of COP26.
There will be a focus on hearing from communities suffering from climate change, praying, and writing messages that will be delivered to COP26 negotiators. Among the organisers are the Missionary Society of St Columban, Justice and Peace Scotland, Cafod, Sciaf, Pax Christi International, Jesuit Missions, Don Bosco Green Alliance and Religious of the Assumption.
Live events in the parish will include Mass at 9am on Saturday morning. The vigil will conclude with a setting off for the climate march in Glasgow for the international Day of Action on Climate on Saturday 6 November. Cafod is organising a similar march in London the same day, but events will be held in many UK cities and globally.
An invitation-only COP Mass organised by the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Scotland will be celebrated on Sunday 7 November at St Aloysius Jesuit Parish. Ecumenical events include Green Christian and Eco-Congregation Scotland running daily talks and prayers, the Glasgow Quaker meeting house offering a programme of activities and hospitality, and an ecumenical service at Glasgow Cathedral.
A “Prayer for the COP26 Climate Talks” has been sent to every parish in England and Wales for use during the summit, produced by the Bishops’ Conference of England and Wales and CAFOD.
The Young Christian Climate Network (YCCN) Relay to COP, covering a 1,200-mile route from Cornwall since June, was welcomed to Edinburgh at the Canongate Kirk, after being greeted at the border by the Church of Scotland and Christian Aid Scotland.
A week’s programme in churches around Edinburgh before moving onto Glasgow was to include an afternoon programme at St John’s Church on 21 October with workshops on the Relay to COP, alongside campaigning for adequate climate finance, and a half day at St Mary’s Cathedral on 22 October titled Sources of Hope. The YCCN has said: “It's just so humbling to see so many churches and individuals get passionately involved in what was once just an idea over Zoom.”
The Camino to COP, which left London in early September, also crossed into Scotland this week, singing Loch Lomond and Wild Mountain Thyme. Despite rain, they enjoyed spotting deer and rabbit and all said they were “looking forward to this next stage of the Camino and the final 100ish miles”.
The group is due to be joined by other climate pilgrims, who have walked or cycled across the UK and world for COP26, for a major march through Glasgow’s city centre on 30 October, in advance of the summit’s opening. And on that evening many churches across the UK are arranging to Ring out for Climate and for COP26 by ringing their church bells between 6pm and 6.30pm to help raise awareness of the need for climate action.
Sciaf welcomed walkers from Sweden and Poland on 19 October, travelling under the banner, Pilgrim's Walk for Future. And until the end of the month, there will be vigils, educational events and webinars across Britain to help prepare for the summit. This includes The Tablet’s own day-long festival of webinars on 23 October, ‘On the Road to COP26’.
Sowing Seeds of the Future is a website of the National Office for Vocations with links to resources ahead of COP26 including lesson plans, assemblies and a suggested garden project with young people. Cafod is urging schools and youth to campaign on the climate through their Eyes of the world initiative. It has arranged to bring nearly 40 young people to Glasgow to experience Campaigning on the climate first hand. The Healthy Planet, Healthy People Petition to world leaders meeting at COP has been promoted by many Catholic groups internationally.
Loading ...
