Loreto Grammar School Sustainability Pledge

During a special day off timetable to celebrate, reflect and learn from the values of our founder, Mary Ward, a small group of staff and students explored Pope Francis’ encyclical “Laudato Si’” (praise be to you), the response of the Loreto Sisters and our own response, as Loreto women of Mary Ward, to sustainability and climate change.

We were inspired in this by both the Mary Ward Family Living Laudato Si’ seven year action plan (2021-2028) on “care for our common home” and a visit in April 2023 by the Mayor of Greater Manchester, Andy Burnham and religious leaders from our region, led by Bishop John Arnold of Salford, to meet the Pope and pledge a commitment to tackle climate change.

This is our pledge to the Loreto Sisters who lead our Mary Ward family and the Greater Manchester Climate Change Partnership:-

At Loreto Grammar School, we pledge to consider our actions and carry out more sustainable options that will benefit our community. We will actively take ownership for the environment and help our community become more ecofriendly so we can make sure our environment is not suffering, we will not litter but will look after our home for future generations. We will try our best to help the economy by using and spreading the word about fair trade products, turn off lights when we leave the room and not overuse energy. We will recycle things that we don't need any more, use recycled plastic wherever we can, donate more to charities and help vulnerable people.

We look forward to 2023-24 with renewed hope and commitment.

 

 “May the cry of the poor and that of the earth move us to greater creativity on how each one of us can respond. We have no other planet” Pauline Macharia IBVM, Rome

 

In Autumn 2023, we were asked by Sister Kathryn Keigher IBVM, Justice Peace and Integrity of Creation (JPIC) coordinator for England, to make a ten minute presentation on what Loreto Grammar School is doing to take care of the planet. This is the video that was made and which was shared with the worldwide JPIC network and will be used to emphasize the Mary Ward Family commitment with the Laudato Si movement. The video has been published on the Mary WardJPIC YouTube channel

Loreto Grammar School Care for Creation - Mary Ward JPIC YouTube

We are grateful to the staff and students for all their sustainability initiatives behind the creation of the video and to Sister Adina Balan CJ for her work supporting the national Mary Ward JPIC office in Rome.