Livesimply Award plaque presented to New Barnet Parish

CAFOD's Tony Sheen handing over the award plaque

"Congratulations to all of you for your commitment to live simply, sustainably and in solidarity with the poor" said Tony Sheen of CAFOD Westminster as he presented a Livesimply Award plaque to the Catholic Church of Mary Immaculate and St Peter's in New Barnet, Westminster Diocese. The parish in North London is run by the Spiritans. He told more than 100 parishioners, holding a special celebration for Pentecost Sunday in the parish hall, that the plaques are made from recycled church pews. Their parish plaque will now be put on public display.

The parish has been active in CAFOD campaigns, collecting goods for refugees in Calais, and a 'friendship' project which reaches out to local vulnerable and housebound people. The church's commitment to the environment by reducing energy use has been evident in the refurbishment of their parish hall where LED lighting has been installed, along with water efficient toilets, insulation and double glazing. The parish has held Livesimply focus weekends, and initiatives feature regularly in the parish weekly newsletter.

The parish has created a special garden to attract bees, which pollinate 80 percent of our food crops, and a peace garden with olive trees, which represent peace. Fairtrade olive oil from Palestine is sold in the parish. Pax Christi peace liturgies are held in the peace garden in the warmer months. Lenten reflection often focuses on Creation Care, CAFOD bidding prayers are used regularly, there has been regular study of the Laudato Si' encyclical, and there is an annual Creation Mass plus livesimply themes brought into children's liturgies.

Ellen Teague of Columban JPIC, one of the assessors of the parish's achievements back in March, affirmed the pledges of around 80 parishioners to live more simply, the commitment to fair trade and support for a local food bank and homeless project. "You are now a beacon parish to others in Westminster" she said. New Barnet has become the 36th parish in the country and the fifth in Westminster Diocese to receive the Livesimply award.

The parish lead contacts have been Stephen Hill and Sheila Gallagher, and parish priest Fr James Fasakin is very supportive. However, they stressed that a larger team was involved and each member was introduced and cheered at Sunday's celebration.

The Spiritan parish always has a major international celebration on Pentecost Sunday. At the Mass preceeding the celebration, Fr Fabian Adindu, who is based in Chester, called on the parishioners of New Barnet "to be crazy enough to set the world on fire and to join the Spiritan mission of promoting peace and hope". Bidding prayers were said in some of the languages spoken in the parish - Spanish, Brazilian Portuguese, Polish, Yoruba, French and Italian, as well as English. In the hall, delicious food from many countries and cooked by parishioners, ensured a shared feast was enjoyed by everyone.

For more information about the livesimply award see: http://cafod.org.uk/Campaign/How-to-campaign/Livesimply-award

Visit the New Barnet parish website here: http://stpetersnewbarnet.org.uk/