Living Simply at St Robert's
First initiatives
The first meeting of those in St Robert's interested in looking at how we can live more simply and look more closely at sustainability, so responding to the Bishops' document 'Call of Creation' accessible above, was held on 9th November 2026. Chaired by PPC member, Sue Collins, it enabled us to consider a wide range of material and possibilities for the future. Please find a precise of that meeting below and do return to this page in the future to find out further update about the 'Live Simply at St Robert's' initiative.
Live Simply with St Robert’s - 9th November 2026
In a Pastoral Letter about the English and Welsh Bishops' document 'Call of Creation' Bishop Marcus has said:
Our Holy Father, Pope Leo XIV has taken up the call made by his predecessor over the last decade, reminding us that our care for creation is not an optional part of our mission. We are urged to pray, act now, and not wait for others or until it is too late. In order to flourish and grow as human beings, we must listen to the ‘cry of the poor’ and the ‘cry of the earth’.
I now urge every parish to begin the Live Simply initiative.
In response,14 parishioners came together on Monday 9th November, with Fr Simon, to start exploring ideas and the way forward for St Robert’s.
We looked at where this call comes from, and the words of Pope Francis, Pope Leo, the Catholic Bishops of England and Wales, and our own Bishop Marcus.
There were some key questions:
1. ‘What is the Live Simply Initiative?’
It is a scheme for communities who can show how they have been living:
- simply
- sustainably with creation
- in solidarity with people living in poverty.
The award from Cafod celebrates faith-inspired actions. The intention is that it helps the community live, not just more simply, but also more fully.
2. What sort of actions might it involve?
The group came up with many ideas. Some of these ideas would develop what is already happening at St Robert’s, and it was recognised that current actions could be audited. Some ideas might be new or only achievable in the long term.
In all of this it was recognised that the group does not want anyone in the parish to feel overwhelmed or guilty. During a cost-of-living crisis whatever we do needs to feel achievable for every family across the parish.
In no particular order:
- Increasing donations in the Parish Food Boxes
- Ensuring we recycle when appropriate., eg via the SVP clothes recycling bank
(Can we find out how much of what is donated is actually useful?)
- A Parish Swap Table eg for items like kids’ clothes, books, toys, or kitchenware. "Bring what you can, take what you need"
- Responsible purchasing (this can take many forms):
- pre-loved clothes (charity shops, Vinted) -even second-hand high street or "fast fashion"- is far greener and cheaper than buying new.
- seasonal British veg or British meat
- if we are fortunate enough to have plenty, can we pledge to not buy new clothes for a year and make do with those we have?
- A box for Surplus Garden Produce (some is already swapped – make this easier and more evident)
- Community Pot lunches – maybe using surplus produce
- Start with yourself
- Solar panels
- Can the car park be greener or more wildlife friendly with more plants?
- Involve the children’s liturgy group
- Beds for the homeless (in rotation with other groups)
- Sustainable gifts, e.g., from Cafod
- Involving local MPs
- Do some parishioners have unused garden space, or space they can no longer cultivate, where others could grow vegetables or help ensure wildlife friendly habitat.
- Audit what is already happening
- Ethical banking
- Building new habits: thinking about how we can build each action as a habit, whether that is for example no meat on Fridays, recycling
- A single pledge from each parishioner (can be a prayer every Friday; a tin each week in the food donation box; giving a lift to another parishioner to church to reduce car usage)
- A nature walk/ creation walk
Actions already undertaken:
- Use of Hive thermostat to ensure that the heating of the church, Parish Centre and Presbytery is efficient.
- Blessing of animals
- Past and future building work and maintenance of the church ensures there are fewer leaks and reduces longer term work required.
3. What will do next?
We will invite a speaker from Cafod to talk at each Mass in the new year and encourage us as a parish.
Follow that up with another meeting to consider what specific actions we might choose to use to sign-up to the Live Simply Award.
Everyone within the parish is very welcome to put forward more ideas
Pope Francis - Laudato Si
"This sister now cries out to us because of the harm we have inflicted on her... We have come to see ourselves as her lords and masters, entitled to plunder her at will." (Laudato Si', 2)
"What kind of world do we want to leave to those who come after us, to children who are now growing up?"(Laudato Si', 160)
“[A] true ecological approach always becomes a social approach; it must integrate questions of justice in debates on the environment, so as to hear both the cry of the earth and the cry of the poor.” (Laudato Si', 49)
