A parish commits to live simply (22 Jul 2008)

The Pastoral Council at St Edward's, Macclesfield, has developed a livesimply commitment for the parish.

The idea came out a livesimply education programme that the parish ran last year, with the help of Bridget Fenwick of CAFOD, who is herself a parishioner.  The final text is the result of careful reflection by the whole pastoral council.

It was presented to the parish after the Saturday and Sunday Masses one weekend in May, and is being supported by articles in St Edward's News and short messages in the weekly newsletter.  livesimply themes were included in the bidding prayers that weekend, and continue to be included from time to time.

Entering the fabric of church culture

St Edwards' neighbouring parish, St Alban's, Macclesfield, is considering adopting a livesimply commitment. Could your church do the same?

Parishioner Ian Stewart says, "It would be wonderful if livesimply could enter the fabric of church culture. This may take some years. It is not just another 'project' with a start and end date. There is no end date to living simply."

Read the commitment below, or download it as a Word document at the bottom of the page.

A livesimply commitment for St Edward's parish

We, the people of St Edward's parish,
accept that everyone on this planet is equal in the eyes of God
and that as members of God's family on earth we are called to help our brothers and sisters living in poverty
both here and in the less developed nations of the world.

We will give this help by:

• trying to live more simply, enjoying what we have and not wasting
  money on things we do not need;
• trying to live more sustainably, not using more than our fair share of
  the shrinking resources of our world, which are there for all;
• living in solidarity with those who live in poverty,
  supporting them with our prayers, our action and our almsgiving.

In making this commitment
we ask for God's blessing on our parish community,
as we work and pray together for the coming of the Kingdom.

Download the commitment:

St Edwards livesimply commitment