Our Lady, Queen of Apostles Parish, Stafford

LAUDATO SI’ COMES ALIVE IN STAFFORD!

On the 24th of September 2022, Our Lady, Queen of Apostles Parish, Stafford was recognised with three prestigious environmental awards for their commitment to climate and environmental action. 

Five Leaf Eco-Awards Founder and Director Jessica Morthorpe awarded the parish the Five Leaf Eco-Awards Basic Certificate, Eco-Worship Award and Climate Activism Award. These awards acknowledge the many actions the church has taken, including the establishment of their contemplation garden, the actions of their Parish Care for Creation Group, their reduce, reuse and recycle programs, environment themed discussion groups and liturgies, letter writing for climate action, their work to support other parishes in taking action and their Care for Creation website.

In her presentation speech, Ms Morthorpe thanked the parish for its faithfulness to God’s love for creation and for bringing Laudato Si’ to life in their actions.

Fr. Denis Scanlan, Priest of the parish, said: “The Care for Creation Group is a wonderful catalyst for our fellow parishioners. With their expertise and energy, I and so many of our wonderful parishioners have been challenged and informed as to how we can more effectively undertake actions for the good of our planet. From the beginning, God’s plan is for all God’s children – human and otherwise, to live in an interdependent relationship. Thanks to our Care for Creation Group, we are better able to do this at Our Lady, Queen of Apostles.”

Louise Scott, a member of the parish’s Care for Creation Group, applied for the awards on their behalf. She said, “It was with great joy that we recognised we had completed the criteria for these awards. Our parish community is committed to operating our systems in a manner which is environmentally and ethically accountable.”

Ms Morthorpe says she is encouraged to see so many churches taking action for the environment, with a record number of Five Leaf Eco-Award applications being received this year.

You can read all about Our Lady, Queen of Apostles Parish, Stafford’s environmental actions on their Care for Creation website here: https://queenofapostlescareforcreationgroup.weebly.com/