Restore and Protect

Photo: Canva.com

On the first Tuesday of every month the Columbans hold a zoom meeting of our priests, students, lay missionaries and coworkers from around the Columban world to explore together issues central to the work of mission in our time.

Our meeting on September 1, focused on the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) and preparation for the upcoming Conference of Partners meeting (COP 17) in Armenia. The Columbans will have 4 members attending the event, bringing to the gathering a strong faith perspective on environmental issues.

We were briefed by Amy Echevarria, our central Justice and Peace Coordinator, on the CBD. The opening statement of this Convention recognises “that biological diversity is a global asset of tremendous value to present and future generations. At the same time, the threat to species and ecosystems has never been so great as it is today”.

Amy also told us of the aims and hopes for COP 17.  It is

• a covenant to protect and care for the earth
• a road map showing the way forward.
• a checkpoint as it will provide an opportunity to assess how well the promises made by the parties have been implemented

There was also a presentation on “Making the Invisible Visible’ which documented ways that Columbans in various regions and mission units are responding to the cry of the earth and the cry of the poor. The idea behind the title is that we don’t see a good deal of what is happening to the earth because we have not been trained or encouraged to look. Part of caring for the earth is to enable people to see what is often hidden.

The message that the cry of the poor and the cry of the earth are aspects one and the same call was stressed throughout the presentations as it is in Pope Francis’ letter on Care for our Common Home. Environment degradation impacts the poor in disproportionate ways hence concern for Justice and Peace as well as an awareness of the impact of political policies and decisions are essential components.

Biodiversity is about the loss of species but is wider than that as it also includes the various ecosystems, including oceans, that sustain and support the flourishing of life.

Several Columban projects in various Regions and Mission Units have been initiated under the heading “Restore and Protect”.  Columbans work with indigenous peoples, tapping into their wisdom and experience of caring for the natural world.

Fr Pat O'Shea lives and works in Aotearoa/New Zealand