Live it!

Since livesimply was launched on National Youth Sunday in November 2006, there has been a growing commitment to, and involvement with, the livesimply Challenge in schools, parishes, youth groups and by individuals. It has become an important means for all of them to engage themselves and others in Catholic social teaching and reflection. We hope that the livesimply Challenge will continue to be an important means of ensuring that the Church in England and Wales, and the world at large, hear the good news of the Gospel and the power of God’s love to transform lives.

The idea of the livesimply Promise has proved especially popular, with over 1,200 people from Bishops to young people signing up for Promises on the website to live simply by leaving the car at home, conserving water, taking part in anti-poverty campaigns and giving more time in prayer to God. There is still time to make a promise by going to www.livesimply.org.uk/promise.

To celebrate so much effort, to showcase what has been achieved and to commit to doing even more in the future, there will be a major celebratory event on 14-15 March 2008 in Manchester. Live it!, will be a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to put the social teaching of the Church on the map in England and Wales. It will include: debate on environmental issues and climate change; experiences of solidarity and living simply shared face to face and via video; beautiful liturgy and worship led by local liturgists and musicians; entertainment with the music of local bands and choirs, and a specially written drama. There will also be prominent speakers such as Mary Colwell, who as well as being a producer of natural history programmes for the BBC, is a leading campaigner on ecology and living more sustainably. She is closely involved with the newly launched Catholic ecological initiative Sounds of Many Waters. She will be joined by Plymouth Diocesan Adult Education Advisor and charismatic speaker David Wells who will help us reflect on what it means to try and live in solidarity. We are also lucky to have speaking to us the Anglican Archbishop of York Most Revd Dr John Sentamu, well known for his strong views on social justice and living simply.

It will also be supported by livesimply patrons Archbishop Vincent Nichols and Bishop Crispian Hollis who will be there to support us in thinking how we can live out the Gospel.
Bishop Crispian said at the beginning of the Challenge: "Poverty, exploitation, and degradation of the environment are inextricably linked. The livesimply Challenge provides us not just with the issues to reflect upon, it also offers tools, ways to move forward, and positive actions that can help us to manage what we've got and use it responsibly.” The event will be an opportunity to deepen this message.

Alongside all of this there will be exhibitions, stalls, photo displays and fair trade goods. Many of the more than 50 members of the Network from Pax Christi to CAFOD, and the Catholic Agency to Support Evangelisation, to the Jesuits and Sion Community will be there to share their ideas and enthusiasm around livesimply.

The event, which will take place at the Co-operative Society’s New Century House on Corporation Street, starts on Friday evening with a short opening liturgy followed by a debate on living sustainably and climate change. This follows on from the day for 6th Formers who will have been looking at how they can be leaders in their communities for living simply and sustainably. Over 200 students have already registered an interest to attend the 6th Form Day. The Saturday then begins with street entertainers and opening worship followed by the speakers and a wide spectrum of activities from drama to playing the didgeridoo. The day will end with Evening Prayer and an evening of entertainment and fun.

Network Coordinator Mark Woods says “We are looking for passionate individuals who love a challenge and are ready to put faith into action to join us at Live it! It promises to be a fantastic day and one that will be a turning point in many of our lives.”

Tickets, if bought before 31 December, are £20 to include Friday evening and all day Saturday. For more information on the programme and to book a place visit www.livesimply.org.uk/event08 or contact Mark Woods on 01293 541 334.