Father John Grace at Immaculate Conception Catholic Church in Hampton, Virginia, has been a leader on climate change and creation care in the 40+ years he’s dedicated to the priesthood.
For readers and followers of our work here at the Covenant, you’re probably familiar with Father John’s name. Over the years, he and his parish have taken several major creation care steps as a community, converting to 100% solar power, donating 25,000 trees to Kenyan farmers, and supporting clean water efforts for the Navajo Nation. His work even inspired us to create a series keeping up with all of the amazing things he’s done over the years!
Father John believes that the support of a parish’s pastor in creation care work is crucial in elevating the importance of environmental work among lay Catholics. That’s why, for two months, he and parishioners worked side by side to build a local shoreline in an effort they dubbed the “Francis Project.”
(Photos taken by Sue Mangan with the Chesapeake Bay Foundation)
This past summer, Immaculate Conception Church partnered with the Chesapeake Bay Foundation (CBF) on a major living shoreline project on the Hampton River. Over 100 volunteers from the church helped build 1,076 feet of oyster sill using thousands of oyster castles and recycled shells. The effort aims to combat sea level rise and polluted runoff in the densely populated region.
“All of our area (the five cities of Hampton Roads, VA) is in the top 3 locations in the U.S. for sea level rise (and ground sinking),” Father John said. “Even the Navy’s DRYdocks get flooded in extreme high tides, as do our streets in heavy rains. It is getting worse every year.
“As you know, I have been constantly looking for a local ‘water’ project, and I found one that deals with rising water and protecting against surges. It is the living shoreline. We are partnering with the Chesapeake Bay Foundation to create a living shoreline in Hampton River starting in May!”
Fr. John Grace emphasizes that climate change is a moral issue, not just political or economic. The project is being dedicated to Pope Francis, and parishioners, including elderly members, are deeply involved — even taking vacation time to participate.
“Our faith doesn’t stay in the doors [of the church], it goes outside, with a sense of shared responsibility,” Father John told Chesapeake Bay Magazine.
Father John sent more updates in an email to the Covenant.
“We moved hundreds of blocks these past few days. I have been very impressed with the number of parishioners literally ‘getting down in the mud!’” he wrote. “We had to cancel a couple (of) days of work due to the high heat this week. We should have to work done by July 9th.”
Over 70 parishioners started the volunteer work on May 11th.
The Catholic Virginian, the biweekly newspaper for the Diocese of Richmond, also covered the work of the Hampton parish in its publication.
The parish even produced a video summarizing the project and its importance.
After a summer of busy activities, parishioners came together to reflect on all of their creation care work so far this year as Father John held Immaculate Conception Church’s first annual Mass for Creation Sept. 12, “in our backyard among the trees and gardens.”
“I am still amazed at the turnout and universal response,” Father John said. “The day was perfect, from the ideal weather to the participation of well over 200 parishioners. It was a call to appreciate and savor the creative love of God in all life and the need to be responsible for the divine gift of creation.”
“Looking back, I’m really happy we were able to do this — to honor Pope Francis and honor his legacy by essentially applying his vision in our own local environment,” Father John told the Covenant. “Literally caring for our neighbors in terms of protecting homes from storm surge, expanding and protecting the wetlands and their biodiversity, and finding fellowship. Looking back in terms of what we did and why we did it, I am very proud of our parish.”
