by Kathy Shaw, SPARK Manager
As we come to the end of the year, it’s good to reflect not only on the ongoing issues throughout the world, but also to celebrate some of the successes, large and small.
Here are just a few examples of what’s been happening this year.
Our first ever Diocese Eco Fair was organised by Rowan, Director of Communications and was a resounding success!
Within this beautiful building and peaceful grounds, we were able to reflect on the end of our Jubilee Year. As Pilgrims of Hope, we were reminded that we are stronger together and the effective networks and partnerships represented in this event will be the building blocks to a brighter new year. We are looking forward to Eco Fair 2026!
3431 mile fundraising ride for Medical Aid for Palestinians
Pudsey cyclist Tim Devereux rode 3431 miles in 2025, the distance from Leeds to Gaza, to raise funds for Medical Aid for Palestinians, raising over £6000.
Several of our SPARK members graduated in the summer, and are continuing to work towards justice and peace in pastures new
On 15th June there was a 10th birthday party of Pope Francis’ encyclical Laudato Si, to remember how justice for the poor and justice for the planet are related.
Laudato Si is named after the Canticle of St Francis of Assisi which begins ‘Praise to You (Laudato Si’), Lord, in all your creatures’.
Habemus Papam!
Cardinal Robert Prevost was elected pope and is now known as Pope Leo XIV
Pope Leo XIV holds dual citizenship in both the US and Peru where he served as a bishop. He spent much of his career as a missionary in South America where he is fondly remembered as a figure who worked with marginalised communities and helped build bridges in the local Church.
Just over 50 people gathered at Wheeler Hall on the Bank Holiday weekend Saturday to find out more about the LiveSimply award scheme. It was a hectic day with 3 different workshops in the morning. In the afternoon people chose to attend another three workshops (out of 6 offered).
LiveSimply asks parishes to draw up a plan of action for
· Living more simply
· Living more sustainably
· Living more in solidarity with those experiencing poverty
Exploring Social Justice with Notre Dame 6th Form College
The Social Justice group are interested in organising a marketplace event and future leadership activities, with a focus on their particular interest of poverty in the UK.
Working closely with key staff and Notre Dame Chaplaincy, we are listening to what these group members want to achieve and finding ways to support their passion for social justice.
Watch this space for a Social Justice event soon!
Oscar Romero Lecture with Fr Luis Orlando Pérez Jiménez
The title of the lecture “Excavating Hope” reflects the desperate and dangerous work undertaken by 240 networks of mainly women across Mexico who are seeking answers and hoping to find the bodies of their loved ones. They connect locally and regionally to share information and support, building a community in the face of great challenges.
The Global Ocean Treaty has now been ratified by over 60 governments worldwide, this creates legal frameworks for High Seas Sanctuaries, protected areas where threatened ecosystems can recover and thrive. If this treaty meets the expectations of conservationists, it will protect a third of our oceans (approximately an area bigger than Canada).
FareShare was originally created as part of the homeless charity Crisis in 1994 but since 2004 they have been running as an independent charity. In 2023 FareShare and Tesco won a charity partnership award working together to reduce poverty in the UK. They ensure surplus food in the Tesco supply chain goes to feed people in need. In 2023 and 2024 they redistributed 56,000 tonnes of food to nearly one million people in need.
Eva Wishart and Emily Smith spent 3 years breeding harvest mice in 27 tanks in their bedrooms and garage, in order to reintroduce our smallest rodent to Devon. They discovered the species is threatened in England due to current farming practices and habitat loss. They set up a Crowdfunder which was picked up by TV nature presenter Chris Packham, he shared it to his millions of social media followers. This helped them release more than 220 harvest mice into the wild.