 
August 24, 2011
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From the Director
More NEW RESOURCES: Sessions for Youth on Climate Change
This week, postcards began arriving at parish and school offices as well as Catholic campus and youth ministers throughout the country. Accompanying the postcard are several new resources to help parishes, schools, youth groups and others celebrate the Feast of St. Francis and beyond. The newest of these is a 6 session program Friending Planet Earth on climate change and Catholic social teaching (see all 6 sessions here). Visit our website where you’ll see most of these new resources posted and ready to use. Please do what you can to share these resources with friends, family, parishioners and students!
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From the Vatican
Environmental Stewardship at World Youth Day
World Youth Day 2011 recently concluded in Madrid, Spain, where more than a million young Catholics gathered for a week of prayer, worship, and celebration of the Catholic faith. En route to Madrid, Pope Benedict XVI took questions from reporters and responded to a question about the global economic crisis by saying:
The economy is not measured by maximum profit but by the good it brings everyone," so it must create jobs -- especially for the young -- and must respect the environment to ensure a future for all humanity.
Read more here.
Once in Madrid, the Holy Father attended what organizers billed as “A WYD in Symphony with the Environment.” To be able to hand over the land, to future generations, in good condition, is a cause of concern for every Christian, and therefore it is also a worry for WYD, explains Eva Latonda, the person responsible for “100% Natural.” Latonda and other “100% Natural” coordinators say that the goals of this 2011 WYD sustainability initiative were to recycle all the waste generated by WYD and make the gathering a “Zero Emissions” event.
Read more about “100% Natural” and the sustainability efforts at WYD 2011.
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From a Diocese
Catholic Climate Ambassador/NASA Scientist in San Jose
In an article for the Valley Catholic Online, official publication of the Diocese of San Jose, Catholic Climate Ambassador and NASA scientist Anthony W. Strawa, Ph.D., offers both scientific and theological considerations on global climate change and its impacts.
From the standpoint of science, Dr. Strawa says that thousands of scientists who study Earth’s climate, its changes and impacts on humanity . . . are unanimous in the assertion that “warming of the climate system is unequivocal…”; and that “there is very high confidence that the net effect of human activities since 1750 has been one of warming.” (IPCC).
From a theological perspective, Dr. Strawa says that the U.S. Catholic Bishops have defined global climate change as being about protecting “the human environment” and “the natural environment.” In other words, the effects of climate change harm both the environment as well as human life and dignity- especially the poor who contribute least to the problem. Strawa notes that while the Franciscan theologian Bonaventure describes Creation as the limitless and dynamic love between Father and Son through Holy Spirit, over the past 50 years it has become increasingly obvious that we have not been caring for the sacramental universe as we should.
Dr. Strawa concludes by offering hope through initiatives such as the Catholic Climate Covenant: The St. Francis Pledge to Care for Creation and the Poor, as well local projects such as the Catholic Green Initiative (CGI) in the Diocese of San Jose where he assumes the role of committee chairman.
Read the entire article here.
Consider inviting a Catholic Climate Ambassador for your Feast of St. Francis event. To find one near you, visit our website.
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From An ArchdioceSe: For Schools & Parishes
Catholics Can Turn to Church Teaching as They Recycle
Parishes and schools in the Archdiocese of Omaha have begun to recognize that they can tie environmental efforts directly to their faith:
Many Catholic schools in the archdiocese - urban and rural - involve students and staff in recycling, and teachers talk about the importance of stewardship. The children are very aware that stewardship includes taking care of our planet and each other says Peggy Grennan, principal at St. Margaret Mary School in Omaha.
At Creighton Preparatory School, the Green Jays club supports and initiates recycling efforts at the high school and has started a community garden to emphasizing environmental awareness and highlight church teaching. Club members wear T-shirts with "Gang Green" on the front and Pope Benedict XVI's 2010 World Day of Peace Message, "If you want to cultivate peace, protect creation," on the back.
Jeff Palzer, a member of Our Lady of Lourdes Parish in Omaha, says the church could provide a service by talking more about environmental and conservation issues: Then we don't view it as a 'conservative thing' or a 'liberal thing' but as stewards taking care of time and talent and treasurer. There are no political presumptions about it. I'm just being a good Catholic.
Read the entire article here.
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Story: Parishes Fulfilling the St. Francis Pledge
Congregations go for `creation care,' one rain barrel at a time
More and more congregations across the country are adding rain barrels as part of their Christian vocation to “cultivate and care for” God’s good gift of Creation. The barrels, which reduce both municipal water consumption and erosion by collecting rain water for local irrigation, typically have more than one religious dimension:
Water plays a significant role in our biblical and sacramental life says Jamal Kadri of Holy Name Catholic Church in Washington, D.C. Rain barrels are also a recognition that God has made us stewards of creation and its limited supplies says Cathy Colton, First Presbyterian parishioner in Washington D.C. In addition to ecological stewardship, rain barrels can help parishes exercise financial stewardship by lowering a community’s water bill.
Read more in this Christian Century article.
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Back to School: Energy Saving
If your school has not set up a recycling effort, start planning one. Reusing paper and recycling paper saves money and energy. Recycle aluminum cans and plastic bottles.
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