Hope in a time of environmental crisis

‘Living Humbly with Hope in a Time of Environmental Crisis’ was the title of Niall Leahy SJ’s talk at the annual Novena of Grace in Knock, where he spoke and conducted workshops on Friday 15 August 2025. Watch the full talk here »

Fr Niall began by telling the congregation in the packed basilica that he had not come to ‘wag the finger’ at them. “I am no environmental saint myself,” he said, “and certainly not a worthy messenger of God’s care for creation.” But he did want to share with people the insights and urgings of Pope Francis, as communicated in his encyclical, Laudato Sí » on caring for the earth, our common home.

Fr Niall outlined Pope Francis two-fold analysis of the root cause of our current ecological crisis. Firstly, the rapid development of technology and the mindset of domination and control of the earth that it engenders. Secondly, the global impact of consumerism, which encourages us to “buy, buy, buy” and then discard, creating the ‘throw-away’ culture. It’s a culture that take our attention away from what we have, said Niall, encouraging us to focus on what we don’t have.

He said that the Pope wants us to know that we are called to witness to another way of living on this earth, a more humble way, that stems from knowing our place in the world we inhabit, and recognizes the worth of all creation and our connectedness to it. Today’s environmental crisis is on of disconnectedness’ from what truly matters and “hope comes when we reconnect.”

He shared two examples from his own life of how he has reconnected in this regard. The first was his forsaking of the car as often as possible to mount the environmentally friendly bicycle. His revelation that he had cycled to Knock (though from Claremorris not Dublin) drew a warm round of applause from the congregation! The fact that in Dublin, being on his bike meant he heard the Oasis brothers in Croagh Park singing ”We Don’t Look Back in Anger”, was also appreciated. Particularly since he stopped on a bridge and joined in the song with others gathered there to salute the two brothers who “had done Mayo well.” (Paul and Noel Gallagher’s father Tommy hailed from the county.)

Fr Niall’s second example was that of his renewed appreciation of the power of a garden. He spoke about the impact the garden in Gardiner Street Church had on the young children in the Jesuit school close by who were invited in to play and enjoy it. And he also explained the great work being done in the fruit and vegetable community garden initiative on Jesuit land in Clongowes Wood College, run along environmentally sustainable principles »

What needs to be done to ‘reconnect’ will be different for different people, Fr Niall acknowledged, concluding by affirming that “any action that gives you a better connection with nature, people, God, is a holy action.”