Philomena Neary RSC sent ECI their latest news: There was a large site belonging to the parish, backing on the priests’ houses, which had been neglected over the years, this area was cleared, and an eco-garden was developed. The parish was given an Eco-Congregation Ireland award in 2015. Over the years, a section of this garden has been providing, blackberries, raspberries, potatoes and vegetables. The garden has been given a time of rest (jubilee year) and now has given us some wildflowers which encourage natural habitat for bees, butterflies and common insects.
In spite of Covid-19 restrictions we were able to highlight our desire in promoting Laudato Si and care of the earth awareness through the daily prayer of the faithful and our sacred space within the parish church. To end the Season of Creation this year, Fr. John Joe Spring gifted us with a rowan tree, and it was planted in our Eco Garden. As we walked or drove around our parish, it was wonderful to see how many private houses had taken to growing wildflowers in their gardens and indeed the green areas around our neighbourhoods and that Dublin City Council had sectioned off some green spaces for wildflowers. Congratulations to the local communities for all their work in creating wildflower gardens and for protecting them!