Caring for Creation - Gold Award - Eco-Aware Parish
On 4 December 2022, Bonnybrook Parish received the highest award for an eco-aware parish. This was granted by Eco Congregation Ireland and was presented to Sr. Margo and her team by Archbishop Dermot Farrell.
Eco Congregation Ireland (ECI) is a project of the Irish Inter-Church Meeting that encourages churches to adopt an eco-friendly approach to all aspects of church life.


Our path to becoming an eco-aware parish began when Pope Francis’s letter, Laudato Si’, became an issue for discussion at one of our Parish Pastoral Council meetings. It was agreed that care for creation become a specific ministry in the parish. Subsequently, a group of interested people gathered together and so the journey began.
Over the past four years small but significant steps were taken, and at each stage, a report of these activities sent to ECI. As a result, we received our first certificate, Awareness Certificate and then the Endeavour Certificate in March 2020.
Despite lockdown, work continued and on receiving our last application for the final audit, ECI informed us that we are now an eco-aware parish. The visit of the ECI assessors could not take place due to COVID 19 restrictions. However, as soon as circumstances allow, we look forward to welcoming the assessors to our Sunday liturgy. We know that their encouragement will confirm us in our desire to live as an eco-aware community, recalling Pope Francis’s statement:
“Love, overflowing with small gestures of mutual care, is also civic and political, and makes itself felt in every action that seeks to build a better world” (LS 231)



UN Biodiversity Conference - COP15
From December 7-19, the United Nation’s Convention on Biological Diversity will gather in Montreal, Canada to finalise its plan to protect biodiversity and nature for the next decade. This gathering is known as COP15. If COP15 does not produce an ambitious global agreement, many of the worst consequences of biodiversity loss could be irreversible.


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3rd March 2023
World Wildlife DayWorld Wildlife Day 2023 acknowledges the significant contribution the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) has made to sustainability, wildlife and biodiversity conservation and how this contribution has been enhanced by the bridge-building and partnership work done within the CITES framework.
For more information click HERE.
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14th March 2023
International Day of Action for RiversThe International Day of Action for Rivers is a day dedicated to solidarity – when diverse communities around the world come together with one voice to say that rivers matter.
For more information click HERE.
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16th March 2023
Panda DayEvery year on March 16, we celebrate the fluffiest, bamboo-munching bears that are a source of national pride for China.
For more information click HERE.
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18th March 2023
Global Recycling DayEvery year, the Earth yields billions of tons of natural resources and at some point, in the not too distant future, it will run out. That’s why we must think again about what we throw away – seeing not waste, but opportunity.
For more information click HERE.
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20th March 2023
World Sparrow DayWorld Sparrow Day is an initiative started by the Nature Forever Society of India (founded by Mohammed Dilawar) along with the Eco-Sys Action Foundation of France and many other organizations around the world. Though the holiday carries the name Sparrow, it was mainly created for awareness of Sparrows but also includes the beauty and biodiversity of other common birds that may share the same space as us.
For more information click HERE.
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21st March 2023
International Day of ForestsWhen we drink a glass of water, write in a notebook, take medicine for a fever or build a house, we do not always make the connection with forests. And yet, these and many other aspects of our lives are linked to forests in one way or another.
For more information click HERE
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22nd March 2023
World Water DayThis World Water Day is about accelerating change to solve the water and sanitation crisis. And because water affects us all, we need everyone to take action.
For more information click HERE.
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25th March 2023
Earth Hour 20:30 - 21:30Since our beginnings in 2007, Earth Hour has been known for the “lights off” moment – a symbolic event to show our collective support for the planet. But this year, we're stepping things up, breathing new life into our movement and mission to create the Biggest Hour for Earth.
For more information click HERE.
