CURRENT CONCERN Those of us that are passionate about being good stewards to what has been entrusted to us, namely creation, assume that all others share that same view. We try to educate people on all the major environmental issues of our day and we sit frustrated from their lack of conviction. Why? We need to step back and work from the ground up- connecting people with the natural world and their faith, sparking curiosity, helping them form an emotional connection with creation. From here we can develop the moral compass that shapes our stewardship and finally utilize that new worldview to enact action, lasting action. We often think of only children needing this connection but it is for all ages. Even if you were a farm kid growing up playing in the back-forty everyday, you still may need rejuvenation in this connection today. Seeing families during our hands-on ecology programs is such a joy on several levels. First, parents spending time with their children (real time, not half distracted checking e-mails time). Second, the excitement of children for discovery is contagious and you often see the parents getting more excited than the child. Lastly, on their way to the car, you can overhear the conversation, “we need to do this more often.” Laudato Si Project strives to restore this natural connection and deepen our faith that will call us into action. Learn more at www.naturecatholic.org Continuing the Season of Creation As you may know, September 1st was the World day of Prayer for the Care of Creation and begins the ecumenical Season of Creation. This season ends with the feast day of St. Francis of Assisi on October 4th. Many environmentally minded Catholics and others Christians are busy during this period with various educational programs, stewardship projects and events that raise awareness to the need to connect Faith and Care for Our Common Home. One of the challenges is how to get this message to a new audience, the folks that really need to hear and begin to live it. This is where we need to be more innovative as a Church and something that Laudato Si’ Project is always keeping in the forefront of our mind and mission. How do we engage new audiences? How do we draw in Catholics and people of faith who don’t see environmental protection as an aspect of a life of virtue? How do we bring God to the conversation with someone who loves creation but doesn’t recognize the Creator? This is not just a challenge for Church officials to debate at a conference or organizations to discuss at a board meeting but something we each need to respond to through our daily actions. Our witness of connecting our faith to a life striving for justice and sustainability will speak more to those we encounter than any single Season of Creation ever will. Remember that our actions and our lives may be the only Gospel that someone ever reads. | INFORMATIONWe Are Still In Archdiocesan Creation Care Collaboration On November 21,2016 representatives from parishes, the Archdiocese, Marquette University, Marquette HS/Laudato Si' Project, City of Milwaukee, and Catholics for Peace and Justice/Waukesha County Green Team met to begin discussing how we can bring the content of Laudato Si’ more fully alive and prominent in our parishes and our community. Lots of good information was shared and connections made. The next meeting is Jan 13 at 12 noon. Contact Rob Shelledy at the Archdiocese to get on the information/invitation list. If you are interested in building a Creation Care ministry in your parish, connect with this group. What is COP21? More than two decades ago, members of the United Nations met in Rio de Janeiro for the “Earth Summit.” At this extraordinary gathering, attendees agreed on some basics about climate change and how to tackle its human causes. This agreement is called the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, or “UNFCCC.” In it, 196 nations agreed to meet every year to fashion a treaty on how to keep the planet from warming to dangerous levels, and how in the meantime to help affected people. These nations are “parties” to the UNFCCC agreement. Together we call this gathering of 196 nations the Conference of Parties, or COP for short. The COP has been meeting every year since 1994. This November 30, they will convene for the 21st time. And that’s where we get the term COP21 Why is COP21 Important? | PARISH RESOURCESJoin the Force for Creation - Become a Laudato Si’ “Animator”. Animators promote the Laudato Si message to help turn it into action in their local communities, whether that be a parish, school, religious congregation, lay group, youth organization, retreat center, Boy Scout troop, or more. Learn More HereVatican Video on Celebrating the Anniversary of Laudato Si’ |
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