Introducing our Parish Environment Guide

Friday 12th September 2025

God calls upon us all to serve as stewards of creation, caring for the world entrusted to us.

In the Book of Genesis, it is stated, “The Lord God took the man and put him in the Garden of Eden to work it and take care of it” (Genesis 2:15).

This is a task that is undoubtedly daunting, particularly when we consider the scale of the environmental crises we face in our world today. But Laudato Si’ – the environmental encyclical from the late Pope Francis – reminds us that there is always hope, even in the smallest of actions, and so we’ve put together a short guide to give you one or two ideas on how to begin the process.

This guide, inspired by the teachings of the late Pope Francis in Laudato Si’, seeks to equip us with the necessary tools and knowledge to fulfil this divine mandate, not just as an add on but to fully integrate it into parish life.

As Catholics, we recognise that “it is good for humanity and the world at large when we believers better recognise the ecological commitments which stem from our convictions” (LS, #64). Our faith drives our response to the ecological crisis, and our mission is to enable all to hear and respond to the cries of the earth and of its inhabitants.

It is a call our new pope, Pope Leo XIV, has echoed, following the teachings of his predecessor, Pope Francis, saying: “May Laudato Si’ continue to inspire us, and may integral ecology be increasingly accepted as the right path to follow. In this way, seeds of hope will multiply.”

Within this guide, we hope you will discover accessible methods for embodying the stewardship to which God calls us, through living simply and with care in order to live out more regenerative practices and fostering nature in your green spaces—regardless of its size. Every effort contributes significantly.

We know there are parishes already on the journey to care for creation and there are many that have already done wonderful things to support the environment. However, if you are looking for ways to further improve or are simply looking for a place to start, hopefully you will find the information in the following guide.

For any further information or support, please email laudatosi@dioceseofsalford.org.uk

Parish Environment Guide

Parish Environment Guide – At a Glance