On 9 July 2025, students and staff from five Catholic schools within the Archdiocese of Birmingham joined thousands of campaigners at Westminster for a mass lobby of Parliament, demanding urgent action on climate change and biodiversity.

Their presence was part of a collaborative initiative led by the Columban Justice, Peace and Ecology Team and the London FCJ Centre for Spirituality and Ecojustice.

Representatives from Bishop Ullathorne and Cardinal Newman in Coventry, Archbishop Ilsley and St Thomas Aquinas in Birmingham, and St Peter’s in Solihull stood alongside other faith-based groups under the banner “For People, For Climate, For Nature.” They were joined by Bellerive FCJ in Liverpool, reflecting a wider Catholic commitment to ecological justice.

The lobby, organised by The Climate Coalition, brought together over 5,000 people from across the UK, including faith leaders, campaigners, and students. It’s estimated that around 500 MPs were engaged in dialogue, with campaigners urging them to uphold moral responsibility, protect vulnerable communities, and restore nature in line with Catholic Social Teaching.

James Trewby, who led the Columban delegation, praised the students’ passion and preparedness:
“What a privilege to support young adults from Catholic schools to raise their voices. I was so impressed with the way they put Catholic Social Teaching into action—sharing concern not only for their own futures, but also for biodiversity and people around the world.”

CAFOD’s chief executive, Christine Allen, was there and said: “People of faith from across the UK are uniting in Westminster to urge MPs to act now. This mass lobby is a key moment during the Jubilee Year to speak out and demand change. The UK must lead bold global reforms to cancel unjust debt and unlock funds to fight a crisis these countries did least to cause. This is about justice — and urgent action.”

In the late afternoon groups from Catholic schools gathered at Westminster Cathedral Hall for activities organised by CAFOD. Over a hundred school children attended the lobby and they were enthused by meeting MPs, collecting badges from stalls of the organising charities, and contributing towards the struggle for justice and poor communities and the environment. 

Two pupils from Cardinal Newman School described the experience as “really exciting,” linking it to their local eco-initiatives like tree planting. Their chaplain, Alfie McMillan, noted that the students spoke confidently and knowledgeably, drawing on their formation in Catholic Social Teaching and CAFOD-led education.

The day concluded with a Mass at Westminster Cathedral, celebrated by Bishop John Arnold of Salford, Lead Bishop for the Environment. He reminded the congregation of Pope Francis’s call in Laudato Si’ to care for our common home, echoing the Church’s long-standing commitment to environmental stewardship.

The Archdiocese of Birmingham is proud of its schools for embodying the Gospel call to justice and care for creation. Their participation in this national event reflects a growing movement among Catholic youth to live out their faith through action, advocacy, and hope.