From the Director

Dan Misleh                     Lenten Reflection from Pope Benedict XVI

In his 2012 Message for Lent, Pope Benedict XVI reflects on Hebrews 10:22:  Let us be concerned for each other, to stir a response in love and good works.

I am increasingly convinced that the root of the environmental crisis is a crisis of the spirit, a crisis of personal holiness that must lead to concern for one another and to stir a response in love and good works.  If we take the time—truly take the time—to nurture our own holiness, we will undoubtedly see that our own actions have consequences for other people and for the planet as a whole.  If we take the time to listen to our hearts, we will easily understand how environmental degradation and climate change compounds our duty to care for the most vulnerable.  Environmental degradation makes the life of the poor especially unbearable. (Pope Benedict XVI, August 27, 2006.)

The beauty of this season of Lent is that we are all invited to step back, access the quality of our relationship with God and with one another and prepare for the remarkable gift of the Resurrection.  To see the Holy Father’s Lenten Message, click here. 

FROM TWO PARTNERS

USCCB and Catholic Relief Services: Weekly Lenten Reflections

As part of the Catholics Confront Global Poverty (CCGP) initiative from the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) and CRS, you are encouraged participate in weekly ‘tiny retreats’-or five-minute reflections-to better lead you to solidarity with your brothers and sisters around the world.

The CCGP reflection for this week, Monday, February 27, 2012, considers stewardship of the earth and corresponds to the Catholics Confront Global Poverty’s goal of addressing global climate change and helping poor countries mitigate and adapt to it. 

Each reflection consists of four parts:

PRAY: In your prayer this week, ask God to help you to be particularly aware of your dependence on the natural world.

FAST: In solidarity with small farmers around the world and in the United States, make a commitment to fast from food this week that travels great distances to get to you.

LEARN: The environmentally-sensitive techniques that CRS shares with small-scale farmers around the world are a witness to our Catholic commitment to care for all of God’s creation–including both the land and the people who work on it–thereby fostering communities that are healthy and sustainable.

GIVE: It doesn’t cost much to take the whole family out to a fast food restaurant, but this week, make a point to eat at home, and put the equivalent cost of a family’s fast food meal in the Rice Bowl as an investment in sustainable, small-scale farming that improves the health of entire communities.

International Faith Voices

UK’s Religious Leaders Urge Repentance for “Shrug-Culture” on Climate Change

On Ash Wednesday, the United Kingdom’s mainline churches called for repentance over the prevailing 'shrug-culture' towards climate change.  Cardinal Keith O’Brien of St. Andrews and Edinburgh represented the Catholic community.  The leaders signed Operation Noah’s Ash Wednesday Declaration: Climate Change and the Purposes of God: A Call to the Church.  Operation Noah is an ecumenical group focused on a religious response to climate change.

The Declaration, also signed by Most Rev Desmond Tutu, Archbishop Emeritus of Cape Town, is framed around seven biblical themes and argues that, to be a Christian is to accept the call to radical discipleship and to work through the implications for church life of a real change in lifestyle.

A second Earth Summit is being prepared and the world seems apathetic towards the real threat to all planetary life, said Mary Grey, Professor Emeritus of Theology at the University of Wales. Read more here. 

IN THE NEWS

Try the environmental approach to the observance of Lent

The Sun News in western New York State published an editorial titled Try the environmental approach to the observance of Lent.  Op-Ed contributor David F. Sherman reflects on his past Lenten observances saying that because [t]he basic purpose of Lent is to prepare Christians for the renewal of Easter, an environmental approach to the season is admirable in light of Catholic commitment to care for God’s Creation. 

Sherman recommends resources from the Coalition and Lent 4.5 from the Passionist Earth and Spirit Center and affirms the vision of Lent 4.5:
There is a new way of observing Lent that helps us care for God’s creation by taking steps toward using only our fair share of its resources. Moving in [that] direction is essential for anyone walking in the footsteps of Jesus today.