October 2019 Newsletter
Dear First Name,
It is impossible to ignore the passion and commitment of Greta Thunberg. Her speeches to the UN this September and last December are powerful articulations of a generation fearful of the future they face. I walked with some of them in DC last month. I do understand them. Future generations are a primary reason why I remain engaged in helping one institution understand, and act on the climate crisis as well.
Having lived and worked in Washington, DC, for nearly 25 years, I also know that it doesn’t take an entire nation to change its course. It only takes a fraction of us to bear witness to a future of hope and steer this ship to a new port. But as we sail along, we all must lay hands on the rudder. Each of us must ask the hard questions about how to respond. It starts in the depths of our soul, is thrust forward by our ancient teaching to be co-creators with God, it demands that we act and bear witness individually, in our parishes, communities and states, and with our policy makers.
Catholic Climate Covenant will provide many of the provisions to continue the journey. But you must decide how best to heed the call.
In Gratitude,
Dan
Dan Misleh
Founding Executive Director
Catholic Climate Covenant
Action of the Month
Sign/Share the Catholic Climate Action Petition
The United States must lead on climate action and the US Senate must ensure that we participate in international agreements which seek to prevent the impacts from climate change from doing irreparable harm to our common home and our shared future.
During this Season of Creation, and in the spirit of St. Francis of Assisi, whose Feast Day we celebrate on October 4th, we urge you to sign the Senate Petition for International Climate Action.
The petition will be active through the end of the Synod for the Amazon (October 27th). Plans are to deliver the petition to the United States Senate in mid-November.
In order to reach as broad an audience of U.S. Catholics as possible we ask that you also:
- Share the petition with family and friends.
- Share the petition on social media. Sample posting: “I’ve just signed the U.S Catholic petition for International Climate Action. Will you join me in the effort to ensure the United States leads on climate change? Go to www.Catholicclimateaction.org.”
- Activate your parish, school, or religious community and get as many people as possible to sign. We have put together a toolkit with ideas of how to share the petition here.
Catholics Leading the Way
Feast of St. Francis
The staff at Catholic Climate Covenant wishes you a blessed Feast of St. Francis on October 4th. We know that many of you have plans to host educational programs, festivals/fairs, and Blessings of the Animals. Please send us information (and photos!) on how your community celebrates the day.
This year’s free 90-minute Feast of St. Francis program, “We Are All Connected: Cry of the Earth, Cry of the Poor", complements and accompanies the Vatican's Amazonian Synod and focuses on integral ecology, environmental and climate justice, and lifting the voice of indigenous communities. The program contains prayers, readings, a short video, and suggested activities. The program may be used at any time that is convenient to your community.
DOWNLOAD 2019 FEAST OF ST. FRANCIS PROGRAM
New State Conferences Webpage
Check out the newly updated State Catholic Conferences, Dioceses, and Bishops webpage with resources from State Catholic Conferences! You will find, in one easily accessible place, links to statements from state conferences and individual Bishops.
We’ve been busy!
The summer of 2019 was memorable. In case you missed it, this article highlights the Covenant’s Amazing Summer.
Impactivate: Impact Investing Exchange, recently featured an interview with Catholic Climate Covenant Executive Director, Dan Misleh, that perfectly summarizes much of the work that we do! Check it out here.
Faithful Action on Climate Change
Catholics March and Rally with Youth
On Friday, September 20th, many Catholics took part in prayer services, marches, and rallies organized by youth as part of the worldwide Climate Strikes. Information about Catholic participation in the Climate Strike activities can be found here:
- Intergenerational Solidarity: Elders Join Youth in Climate Strikes, by Brain Roewe, National Catholic Reporter.
- Global Climate Strike Mobilizes Ignatian Network Institutions and Individuals, Ignatian Solidarity Network
For more information about how Catholic youth are organizing and taking action on creation care:
- Laudato Si’ Generation, the youth branch of the Global Catholic Climate Movement, an international network of over 800 Catholic organization.
- Let Us Sing as We Go: Province Schools Go Green, Jesuit Schools Go Green
- Ignatian Carbon Challenge: Challenging Jesuit institutions to reduce emissions at their institutions through prayer, education, and action.
- Don Bosco Green Alliance, an international collective of young people from the Don Bosco family of institutions, who contribute to global environmental action, thought and policy.
Mercy Meatless Monday Booklet
Though created for the 2019 Season of Creation, The Sisters of Mercy’s “Meatless Monday Booklet” contains important and useful information for throughout the year.