As we approach Lent, many of us will turn our attention inward and examine how faithfully we are living our lives. To live faithfully includes living justly and sustainably, two critical elements of creation care. Therefore, Lent is the perfect time to truly practice living, praying, and acting on Laudato Si'. As we prepare for Holy Week, let us reflect on how, as Christians, we can care for our common home.
This email contains a variety of resources to help guide you and your faith community through the season of Lent.
As always, I'm ready to help you and answer any question you may have!
Blessings,
Paz
How will you take action?
Reflect
God's goodness dwells in every creature.
If you were to look at every creature from the beginning of creation to the end of time,
[from] the most radiant angel or the tiniest worm,
you would see in it
signs of God's goodness and His overflowing love.
- St. Aelred of Rievaulx (1110 - 1167) An English Cistercian monk
Where in creation do you see signs of God's goodness and overflowing love? During Lent, commit to being open to these signs. Start a journal and write about the signs of God's goodness and overflowing love.
Act Together
Ten Minutes
Communicating Climate Change to People of Faith
Join us on Feb. 20th at 1:00 pm (Eastern) for a one-hour webinar featuring Dr. Katherine Hayhoe, a renowned climatologist and faith-community creation care leader, and Dr. Dan DiLeo, a Catholic Climate Covenant consultant and an assistant professor at Creighton University.
In this webinar Dr. Hayhoe and Dr. DiLeo will explore:
1) How to communicate successfully about climate change within our own faith communities.
2) Key narratives/messaging strategies that work.
3) The unique challenges and strengths within the Catholic community for successful climate change communication.
Earth Day Program
The 2018 Earth Day Program, Beyond a Throwaway Culture: Reduce Waste-Grow Community, is almost ready! Register now to receive the program in your inbox during the week of February 26th. The one-hour program includes prayers, readings, a short video, and action ideas for individuals and communities. It will help you inspire, equip, and mobilize your local Catholic community to reduce the amount of disposable plastic it uses and switch to sustainable alternatives.
Half Day
Order Eco-Palms for Palm Sunday!
Millions of palm fronds are consumed every year by parishes during Palm Sunday. Too many churches buy fronds from environmentally damaging harvesters. Buying from fair trade suppliers such as Eco-Palms farmers in the Caribbean and Central America helps improve their incomes and living conditions and ensures that the forests are sustainably harvested. Talk to your pastor and parish office staff about the benefits of purchasing fair trade palm fronds. Orders must be received by March 4th, 2018 for Palm Sunday delivery.
Earth Day Planning
Is your Creation Care Team hosting an Earth Day celebration this year? If you have registered, the program will be delivered to your inbox in late February. Now is the time to schedule a program. Some CCT's pair the one-hour Covenant program with a Creation Care/Earth Day Fair or a community-wide stream or park clean-up. This short video is a great way to get your community excited and ready! Register here.
Ongoing
Lent Resources
1) Lenten Creation Care Calendar
You may wish to deepen your Lenten practice with a "Creation Care" calendar. This daily devotional, created by the Inter-Religious Working Group on Extractive Industries, will give those looking to nurture their spirituality daily prayer, educational, and action-oriented activities. You'll strengthen your relationship with God, with your sisters and brothers, and with all creation. Get the online Lenten Calendar here.
The Inter-Religious Working Group on Extractive Industries is a Washington, D.C.-based coalition of faith, human rights, and environmental organizations concerned about the negative impacts of extractive industries on creation, which includes both the human and natural world.
2) Our partner, the Global Catholic Climate Movement, together with their partners at the Anglican Communion Environmental Network, collected the stories of 40 people around the world who live on the front lines of environmental destruction.
You can take a daily action during Lent to fast from causing harm to creation. Using the Lenten Fast Calendar online for each of the 40 days of Lent. Each day includes an impacted person's story and a prayer/reflection.
A full print version is available and it includes:
" A one-page Lenten creation fast calendar to use as bulletin insert/flyer
" 40 days of witness from people around the world
" 40 tips to reduce your environmental harm
" 40 reflection pieces with additional context, faith statements, and scripture
" Two discussion guides for Ash Wednesday and Palm Sunday
3) Interfaith Power and Light has several Carbon Fast Calendars and Prayer and Action Guides available here.
4) Earth Ministry offers a variety of Lenten Devotions, including the 2018 Carbon Fast for Lent Calendar from St. James Cathedral Care for Creation Committee and the Intercommunity Peace & Justice Center Stations of the Cross with All of Creation. These and other resources can be found here.