From the Director

Oil Spill Tragedy:  A Call for Prayer and Contrition

As oil continues to pollute the water and land in Louisiana and beyond, I hope you will join me in reflecting on our own complicity in this tragedy.  Our thirst for energy drives our economy but the price can be very steep, as the people along the Gulf Coast--and especially those who died in the oil rig explosion--know so well.  By consuming less and conserving more we can all do our part and begin to demonstrate a love of our Creator by caring for Creation.

From Catholic Charities

In Louisiana:  Catholic Charities is Assisting Those Hardest Hit by the Oil Spill

Catholic Charities agencies throughout Louisiana are responding to the hardship imposed by the loss of fisheries for many dependent on the abundance of the Gulf for their livelihoods.  Mary Queen of Vietnam Parish, which encompasses Vietnamese Catholics east of the Mississippi River in the Archdiocese of New Orleans, sponsored several outreach gatherings in the archdiocese to hear from those most impacted by the oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico.  Read more here.

Please consider an "offset" for your carbon footprint by donating to the oil spill relief effort in one of the hardest hit dioceses, the Diocese of Houma-Thibodaux.  Click here to donate.

For Reflection

Praying for the Coast, Fishers, & Wildlife Impacted by the Oil Spill

The annual Mass for Mariners and People of the Sea celebrated in Washington May 22 took on special significance in light of the massive oil spill endangering people's livelihoods and sea life in the Gulf of Mexico. Washington Archbishop Donald W. Wuerl, the main celebrant and homilist, dedicated part of his homily to the situation. 

"Perhaps it takes a tragedy such as the events in the Gulf of Mexico to remind us of how life-giving the water is and how it touches all of us in one way or another... Our prayer for our brothers and sisters, mariners and people of the sea, is that with them we are united not only in the solidarity of support and prayer, but a solidarity of faith and new life made real in the waters of baptism and the Pentecostal outpouring of the Holy Spirit,"  Archbishop Wuerl said.

The Mass was hosted by the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops' Apostleship of the Sea national office and the USCCB Secretariat of Cultural Diversity in the Church.  Read more here about the liturgy.  

SCIENCE OF CLIMATE CHANGE

NEW National Academy of Sciences Report on Climate Change

In its clearest language yet--and in response to a request by Congress in 2008--the National Academy of Sciences issued three new documents on climate change focusing on the science, ways to limit future change, and suggestions for adapting to climate change impacts.  Panels of scientists outlined why the U.S. should act now to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and why the U.S. should have a national strategy to adapt to the inevitable. Read a summary of  the reports here. Read news accounts in this article "US Top Scientists Urge Coal, Oil Use Penalties." 

The reports compiled by the Research Council, the operating arm of the National Academy of Sciences and National Academy of Engineering, are part of a suite of studies known as "America's Climate Choices."   See a video about this impressive work toward a comprehensive approach to climate change. 

Scientists Issue Statement on Climate Change to Policymakers

In addition to these reports, 255 members of the National Academy of Sciences: "CLIMATE CHANGE AND THE INTEGRITY OF SCIENCE" urges action now to curtail greenhouse gas pollution and answers some of the recent questions about the consensus of the scientific community on climate change.  The letter was recently published in Science magazine.

STORY:  Diocesan-wide Energy Savings Project 

Child Care Facility Makeover Saves Money

Rich Vannucci, Project Director,  Building Commission, Diocese of Venice, sent this story:

I have been exploring energy efficiency programs for our facilities with MUCH success. Currently, I have assembled a 10 item 'menu' of programs that will save our campuses at least 25% in energy and 25% in water usage. It is our goal to reach the 33% - 50% savings and God willing, install Solar PV's throughout our diocese to come close to getting us 'off-grid'.

Our energy provider selected one of our programs that received a new efficient AC unit; new duct work; window tinting; programmable thermostats; new light fixtures; UV Light air handlers; new faucets/toilets and the like. St. Martha's Early Learning Center in Sarasota, FL is now enjoying energy efficient upgrades that should help the center save up to $1,000 a year. FPL's Nonprofit Energy Makeover team joined forces with several community businesses to provide the upgrades. St. Marthas provides child care to pre-school age children from low-income families, and every dollar saved on its electric bill is a dollar that can be used to help others.  See the video about St. Martha's here.  Read the full story here.

Do YOU have a STORY to tell ?

Please submit your STORY about how you, your family, your parish, school, or  religious community, are fulfilling the St. Francis Pledge and Reducing Your Carbon Footprint.