“To the powerful, I can only repeat this question: “What would induce anyone, at this stage, to hold on to power, only to be remembered for their inability to take action when it was urgent and necessary to do so?”
The Committee for Social Justice is holding an informal listening session on October 13, 2024.
We have finished our video series and would love to hear your feedback. Are there ways that we can make a difference in our parish, our neighborhoods and our homes? How can we be better stewards of our common home? Are you interested in joining a St. Patrick-St. Anthony Creation Care Team? Please visit our table in the Franciscan Center to share your thoughts.
Below is a summary of the May 2024 newsletter from Catholic Climate Covenant. It gives examples from across the country where Catholics are being stewards of God’s creation.
- The Creation Care Team in the Archdiocese of Louisville, KY, is working with the Louisville Climate Action Network to offer workshops on energy efficiency for parishes, schools, and other church facilities.
- In the Archdiocese of Seattle, WA, the regional Creation Care Network hosted its spring environmental summit at Seattle University with a youth panel on Laudate Deum, updates on salmon restoration, Mass with Archbishop Paul D. Etienne, and workshops on Laudate Deum, climate anxiety, as well as creating and sustaining parish green teams.
- The Archdiocese of Chicago, IL, Office of the Vicar General and Care for Creation Ministry is hosting an in-person and online series titled “What on Earth is the Church Doing? Connecting the Dots Between Laudato Si and Contemporary Issues.” The series will explore how the principles of Laudato Si connect to pressing issues of our time in ways that are relevant to the lives and work of parish and archdiocesan staff and leaders, regardless of their involvement in ministry or theology. For more information, visit the Care for Creation Ministry Homepage.
- The Atlanta GA Inter-Archdiocesan Network reports that more than 40 Creation Care leaders representing 20 parishes and schools gathered at the Chancery for the Laudato Si Initiative Planning Workshop. Topics included: building successful creation care teams, zero waste, advocating for the Earth and the poor, and funding sources for creation care action.
- The Catholic TV network New Evangelization Television spoke to Tom Hinchen, a member of Metro New York Catholic climate movement, about the environmental benefits of a vegetarian diet. Statistics show that if Catholics globally gave up meat once a week throughout the year, it could make a deep impact on the environment.
- The Diocese of Lexington, KY, in the heart of Appalachian coal country, pledged to reach net-zero emissions across its 59 parishes as well as schools and other institutions. Bishop John Stowe said the effort was in response to increasingly urgent calls from Pope Francis that the church take concrete actions toward the preservation of the planet, including dangerous threats posed by climate change. Read more.
Videos:
If you missed any of the videos in our Creation Care series, you can watch them using the links below:
The Immaculate Conception parish in Hampton, VA as it leads the way and takes action on creation care locally, nationally, and globally. You can watch it here: A Hampton, VA Parish is Changing the World!
The Mary Queen Catholic parish’s Creation Care Team in Friendswood, TX as it responds to the climate crisis. You can watch it here: Education, Action, and Faith with Creation Care Teams
The Franciscan Friars Conventual, providing fresh food to those in need while using sustainable farming methods to restore the health of the land. You can watch it here: Caring for Creation: Healing the Soil and Feeding Souls
Young Catholic leaders who are acting on the climate crisis. You can watch it here: Catholic Youth in Action
Covenant Board member Sharon Lavigne as she addresses the environmental and health issues impacting communities in “Cancer Alley” Louisiana. You can watch it here: Inspired by Faith to Protect Their Community
The Environmental Justice Program at Catholic Charities, Diocese of Stockton, CA and how Catholic Social Teaching calls them to confront the environmental challenges harming poor and vulnerable communities. You can watch it here: Faith-Driven Environmental Justice
If you have any questions or comments, please contact the Committee for Social Justice.