Earth Day program from Catholic Climate Covenant

The Catholic Climate Covenant has released its 2023 Earth Day program. The theme is “Simple Living: God’s Vision of Abundant Life.”
 
The program includes a Facilitator Guide (with all the materials, script, links, and instructions for an event organizer) and a Participant Guide (suitable for in-person and online [i.e., Zoom] group events).  
 
According to the organizers, the approximately one-hour interactive program (with prayers, readings, discussion questions, and practical activities) may be used to celebrate the 53rd anniversary of Earth Day on April 22nd, or the 8th anniversary of the Pope’s encyclical on the care of creation, Laudato Si' (Laudato Si’Week is May 21-28, 2023), or at any time that fits a community's schedule.
 
The link is here.

Planning for Earth Day

The email began with a simple question. How will you and your parish, school, or religious community celebrate the 51st anniversary of Earth Day this year?

Since the email came from the Catholic Climate Covenant, it contained the answer, i.e., a link to a free one-hour educational program that can easily be downloaded.

 

With spiritual nourishment and practical activities, the program is intended for Earth Day (April 22), the 6th anniversary of Laudato Si’ (May 16-24), or whenever works for you. The interactive program includes prayers, readings, a short video, discussion questions, and suggested “restoration” activities.

Included in the program package are a Facilitator Program Guide (with all the materials, script, and instructions for an event organizer), a printable Participant Program Guide (suitable for in-person group events), and an Online/Individual Participant Program Guide (suitable for online [i.e., Zoom] events or for individual use.)

Click here to download the program. Organizers say that the Spanish version of the program will be out soon.

#CatholicClimateCovenant #EarthDay #LaudatoSi' 

 

Earth Day reflection

Daniel J. Misleh, Executive Director of Catholic Climate Covenant, offers an Earth Day reflection through Catholic Charities USA’s Daily Reflections and Prayer Resources. Today he writes about Pope Francis, poverty and climate change. Here is a selection:

Shortly after his election, Pope Francis explained that he chose his papal name to honor St. Francis of Assisi because, “For me, he is the man of poverty, the man of peace, the man who loves and protects creation; these days we do not have a very good relationship with creation, do we?” Since then, Pope Francis has repeatedly affirmed the insight from his predecessors that poverty and creation care are intimately related, especially in the face of climate change. 

This summer, Pope Francis will release the Church’s first papal encyclical devoted to ecology. Given Francis’ popularity and his unquestioned moral stature, this document is expected to have a profoundly positive impact on the efforts of both the Church and the world to address climate change. Pope Francis’ attention to ecology will be particularly good news for the world’s poorest people and communities: they are the most vulnerable to the adverse consequences of climate change—even though they have contributed very little to the problem.  The fact is that the world’s poorest people emit less carbon into the environment because they do not have as many vehicles, nor as many temperature control systems that heat and cool the air, nor as many electronics and machines powered by electricity, nor do they consume as much food (primarily meat) that requires more energy to produce, than those who are not poor.  However, when they live in coastal areas, with less money to construct safeguards against extreme weather brought about by climate change, those who are poor are more likely to feel the effects of such disasters.

You can read more here.

The Spirituality of Earth Day

A friend from Catholic Charities of the Diocese of Rochester sent us the following, which we are happy to share.

The Spirituality of Earth Day

A healthy spirituality is grounded in the here and now - the realities of life here on earth. What could be more precious than a world whose water, air and dust is literally filled with the elements of all the saints that ever lived - even of God's own Son? The cycle of air and water is such that some of the molecules of air we breathe and water we drink in a lifetime likely passed through the holiest people who ever walked the earth - the greatest sinners, too! That's a pretty tangible aspect of the communion of saints.

What better way to honor God than to love and care for the earth, our home. There is nothing political about protecting our resources and ensuring that all people - in this present generation and those to come - get to share equitably in the goodness of the earth. No matter how conscientious we try to be, driving hybrids, changing our lightbulbs, reducing/reusing/recycling, we each use more of the earth's resources than the world will be able to maintain. Try this for a spiritual exercise: go to www.myfootprint.org take the quiz, reflect on your score, and consider some next steps - it's a gift to your "mother".