'Earthcare' at Edinburgh Jesuit Centre

The Lauriston Jesuit Centre in Edinburgh last night hosted 'Earthcare - The Celebration and Challenge of the Natural World', as the build-up to the launch of Sound of Many Waters.  Special guests were Bishop Chris Toohey of Wilcannia-Forbes, Australia who is Chair of Catholic Earthcare Australia, and BBC Natural History producer and campaigner, Mary Colwell. Sound of Many Waters is a year-long exploration of the need to care for the environment, initiated by the Diocese of Clifton, and drawing on Catholic teachings, insights and networks.

Father Chris Boles SJ, the Director of the Lauriston Jesuit Centre said Bishop Toohey and Mary's presentation went down well. 'It was a great event.  Mary and Bishop Chris presented their important message in a very engaging, conversational way.  The audio-visual element really helped bring home the wonder of creation and some of the crises facing our planet.  The event was well attended as was their presentation in Glasgow the previous night.'

Since arriving in Scotland Bishop Toohey has met the Director of SCIAF (Scottish Catholic International Aid Fund), Paul Chitnis and all the Bishops of Scotland.  He also spent an evening with all the seminarians training for the priesthood for Scottish dioceses.

Paul Chitnis said: 'I am very impressed with Bishop Toohey's leadership in Australia.  I found his approach to the issues of climate change to be visionary but also realistic, and therefore very empowering for ordinary people.  I welcomed very much him pointing out that the casualties of climate change are always the world's poorest people.  His call for conversion is urgent.'

Bishop Toohey now heads for London for a presentation at the House of Commons, followed by meetings with faith leaders including Dr Jonathan Sacks, the Chief Rabbi.  He will celebrate the 9.30am Mass at Farm Street Jesuit Church on Sunday, 23 September, before the launch of Sound of Many Waters in Clifton Cathedral, Bristol at 6pm on Saturday, September 29.


 Sound of Many Waters