Hilda Killian was one of the Focolare memebrs who attended the 2026 annual conference of the DCU Institute for Climate and Society, held at Dublin City University on 12 May under the theme Holding the Line: Climate Action in a Time of Crisis. The gathering brought together academics, artists, activists, journalists and civic leaders for a day of reflection, challenge and hope in the face of the climate emergency.
Heading the line up of kenote speakers was President Catherine Connolly, who offered a strong and thought-provoking challenge to the audience. She warned against continuing with “business as usual” while the world faces escalating ecological breakdown, social inequality and political instability. Stressing that climate change cannot be separated from questions of justice, democracy and human dignity, she called for a deeper cultural transformation rooted in solidarity and care for the common good.
Drawing on her long experience in public life, President Connolly highlighted the importance of listening to communities, protecting vulnerable people and resisting the temptation to see economic growth as the sole measure of progress. She also underlined the importance of education and civic participation, especially among younger generations, encouraging people not to lose hope or become paralysed by the scale of the crisis.
Hilda described the conference as deeply enriching, noting the wide range of voices and perspectives presented throughout the day. Particularly memorable were contributions from Seán Ronayne, whose work listening to and recording the sounds of nature has inspired many people across Ireland, and Dr. Aoibhinn Ní Shúilleabháin, alongside Prof. Claire Dupont and many others who explored the intersections of science, society, education, creativity and climate justice.
Yet it was perhaps the closing reflection from Dr. David Robbins that remained most strongly with the Focolare participants. In a time when many people feel powerless before the scale of the climate crisis, he offered a simple but powerful image:
“We don’t need a big ship to make change, but a flotilla of small boats.”
That image speaks strongly to the experience of faith communities and grassroots movements. Often, we can feel that our local initiatives are too small to matter. But a flotilla moves together. Each small boat contributes to a larger movement of courage, solidarity and direction. It also resonates with what Chiara Lubich said at the beginning of the Movement in Trent, that she and her group of young friends were few, poor an small, but she was sure of their great ideal: to bring the fire of love to the world.
The conference repeatedly highlighted that climate change is not only a scientific or political issue, but also a human, cultural and spiritual one. Speakers explored the importance of storytelling, art, indigenous wisdom, local communities and hope. As recent coverage from RTÉ has shown, rising temperatures and extreme weather events are becoming part of everyday reality, reminding us that climate disruption is no longer something distant or abstract.
For Christians, this moment also connects naturally with the spirit of Laudato Si’ Week, which begins later this month. Inspired by Pope Francis’ encyclical Laudato Si’, the week invites individuals, families, parishes and movements to renew their commitment to care for our common home. It is an opportunity not simply for discussion, but for concrete acts of conversion, community-building and ecological action.
Perhaps the most hopeful message from the DCU conference was precisely this: no single person or organisation can solve the crisis alone, but together many “small boats” can begin to change the tide. Faith groups, local communities, schools, artists, families and young people all have a part to play.
https://www.dcu.ie/commsteam/news/2026/may/president-catherine-connolly-challenges-business-usual-dcu-climate