Immaculate Heart of Mary - Remembering Copenhagen by Mark Toohey & Lawrence Hallinan
There could not be a more significant moment of joy, hope, grief and anxiety at this time than the expectations that the world held for the United Nations Climate Change Conference. Local Catholics shared these expectations and some from the Tighes Hill Church decided to provide a focus for these expectations in the form of a prayer vigil on each day of the Copenhagen Conference. The prayer vigils were a faith response to the anxiety that arises from Climate Change and the hope that world leaders might be open to God's call that they respond as science and justice indicate they must.
On each of the 12 days of the Copenhagen Conference a half hour prayer vigil was held at 5.30pm in the Catholic Church at Tighes Hill (Newcastle). The first day focused on the need for a conversion in the way people relate to the environment. On the following 11 days the vigil focused on each of the principles for an ethical response to environmental issues as identified by Australian Columban priest Rev Dr Charles Rue (see table below).
Mon. 7th Dec. 2009 The Christian Ecological Conversion
Environmental Ethical Principles:
Tues. 8th Dec. 2009 the right of all people to a safe environment,
Wed. 9th Dec. 2009 the common good,
Thurs. 10th Dec. 2009 dismantle the social structures of sin
Fri. 11th Dec. 2009 authentic development
Sat. 12th Dec. 2009 the precautionary principle
Sun. 13th Dec. 2009 preferential option for the poor
Mon. 14th Dec. 2009 the rights of future generations,
Tues. 15th Dec. 2009 fair distribution of climate change abatement costs,
Wed. 16th Dec. 2009 sharing modern technology with developing countries
Thurs. 17th Dec 2009 welcoming environmental refugees
Fri. 18th Dec 2009 preserving bio-diversity.
The vigils were organized by two lay people from the Tighes Hill Church in collaboration with one of the local clergy, Fr (Peter) Nguyen Ngoc Thoai. Unfortunately ill health prevented Fr Peter from leading the night he had planned. Bishop Michael Malone led one of the vigils with lay people sharing the leadership on other nights.
The prayer vigils kept much the same format each day with an explanation/reflection of the particular ethical principle and an appropriate scripture reading. The use of the principles and their accompanying reflections enabled participants to gain a greater insight into the implications of climate change and costs/benefits of an ethical response.
A local map shop loaned us a large globe of the world which we placed in front of the altar as a focal point during the vigils. Each day a new candle was lit and placed on the altar. By the end of the 12 day vigil there were 12 candles on the altar. The candle used on the final night was the Pascal candle. The format was deliberately slow with periods of silent reflection. During each vigil a candle would be passed among participants for each to hold and make their silent prayer.
As well as exploring and explaining climate change, the vigils also focused on the Copenhagen Conference as holding a possibility for the establishment of a new world order - one characterised by justice and solidarity among the nations of the world.
The vigils were advertised via the usual church bulletins and email lists. The organisers also capitalised on the websites and email lists of environmental, civic and political networks. This wide advertising meant that between 12 and 24 people attended each day with approximately 60 different people attending over the 12 days. Many of these people were not Catholics or church goers. One of the most regular participants was a Buddhist who wanted to join in prayerful reflection with others concerned for a just response at Copenhagen.
The non-church goers who participated in these prayer vigils saw the Catholic Church taking seriously one of the most significant challenges facing our world. They found a place in the Church for their concerns and a liturgical format that enabled them to join with others in taking these concerns to God. The vigils did not see a perfect result at Copenhagen but inadvertently they did provide one of the best evangelising events by the local Church.
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