Catholic Corner
April 22, 2021
This week we celebrate Earth Day!!! The theme this year is Restore Our Common Home! In the spirit of Laudato Si here are ideas and resources to help take concrete action!
Let’s start with a prayer!!
Prayer for All Creation
God of all creation,
your goodness and glory
shine forth through everything you have made. Through the light of faith,
help us to see this world,
our common home,
not as a resource to dominate and exploit,
but as a gift to be cherished by all generations. Prompted by your Spirit,
we ask this in the name of Jesus,
through whom all creation was made.
Amen. (Prayer for All Creation, Catholic Charities USA)
How can we work to help restore the earth in keeping with Laudato Si?
Here are some suggestions and resources to get things started!
Tree planting
Have you planted (or plan to plant) trees? Have you bought trees to be planted elsewhere? For information on tree planting:
- Arbor Day Foundation and National Wildlife Federation have free tree seedlings saplings programs
https://www.nwf.org/Trees-for-Wildlife/Request-Trees
https://shop.arborday.org/ - Check with your State Forester for more information and grants or here for state by state information.
https://www.stateforesters.org/ - Liturgical resources suitable for tree blessings from Catholic Rural Life.
https://catholicrurallife.org/wp-content/uploads/Appendix-B-Alternative-Prayer-Services-.pdf - Donate to TIST- the International Small Group and Tree Planting Program. Every $1 donation equals 1 tree planted.
https://www.growcleanair.com/catholic-climate-covenant-and-tist - Example: St. Francis Xavier Parish, Hunt Valley, MD
https://www.ccsfx.org/tree-planting/
Clean up
Have you participated in a stream, river, beach, road clean-up? Examples of community clean-ups:
- St. Rose of Lima, Gaithersburg MD Eco-Action Annual Stream Clean-up
https://strose-parish.org/events/eco-action-annual-stream-clean-up - Immaculate Heart of Mary High School, High Point NC, “Eco-Eagles Stream Clean-Up”
http://www.catholicnewsherald.com/faith/147-news/school-header/1752-ihm-students-help-clean-up-local-stream - Sacred Heart Parish, Pinellas FL Beach Clean-up
https://www.sacredheartpinellaspark.com/clearwater-beach-cleanup/
Plant a Garden
Have you planted a garden? Have you applied for the garden to be certified as a St. Kateri Habitat? Examples:
- Audubon Gardens: St. Eugene Catholic Church, Asheville, NC
https://www.audubon.org/news/a-native-plants-garden-brings-birds-pollinators-and-parishioners-together - St. Peter and Paul Parish, Milwaukee, WI, Community Garden
http://ssppmilw.org/community-gardens/ - St. Jude of the Lake Catholic School, Mahtomedi, MN, Butterfly Garden
https://www.stjudeofthelakeschool.org - St. Elizabeth Seton Catholic Church, Crystal Lake, IL, meditation garden
https://elizabethannseton.org/meditation-garden
More information about these and other activities are available from:
https://ignatiansolidarity.net/ignatian-carbon-challenge/earth-day-2021-activities-and-resources/
