Archdiocese of Cincinnati | Catholic Social Action Office

St. Francis Pledge Newsletter

Summer 2023

a newsletter from the Care for Creation Task Force

Summer is here, and it's beautiful!

We hope this newsletter finds you well and enjoying the arrival of summer. The birds and animals are active, the early flowers are blooming, the crops are growing, and the sun is shining more than it's not.

We just finished celebrating Laudato Si' week. There were a number of great resources offered, including this webinar on aligning your finances with your faith values. (You can find additional resources, provided by the Laudato Si' Action Platform, in their May newsletter.)

During the week, Pope Francis' released his message for this coming fall's Season of Creation. You can find it here. "We must...transform our hearts, our lifestyles, and the public policies ruling our societies."

Thank you for all you've done and continue to do to care for all of God's creation. We walk with you on this journey, and pray that our work honor's God and reflects our commitment to live out God's love for all people, here today and in the future.

And thank you Lord for lemonade and fresh veggies.

Pace e bene,

Archdiocesan Care for Creation Task Force

***CHANGE IN NEWSLETTER DISTRIBUTION***

If everything goes to plan, we'll be moving our newsletter distribution platform from Constant Contact to Active Campaign. Our email lists will transfer over so you won't need to do anything, but it will mean that the emails will look different starting in July. We just wanted to let you know so you weren't surprised or suspicious of spam.

Advocate

With the start of Ohio's 135th General Assembly, new hope and possibilities have arisen for legislation to be proposed, considered, and signed into law to better protect our state's resources. A few different bills have been introduced, and there's one in particular - HB 79 - that has strong bi-partisan support and a good chance of moving. This bill creates energy efficiency programs that will work to reduce energy waste, create jobs, improve health outcomes for our children and grandchildren, and allow Ohio to gear up for future clean energy initiatives and careers.

Will Kuehnle, the Associate Director of the Catholic Conference of Ohio for Social Concerns, testified in support of HB 79 in April. You can read his testimony here.

We encourage you to reach out to your elected officials and let them know that you support the passage of this legislation. (If you don't know who your elected officials are, you can go here to find out who they are.)

We also encourage you to check out a few other pieces of environmentally-focused legislation - HB 43, HB 41, and HB 120.

On May 3rd, Liliana Sierra, our intern for the Laudato Si Advocates program, testified at an EPA virtual public hearing for the Greenhouse Gas Emissions Standards for Heavy-Duty Vehicles – Phase 3. The ruling aims to establish stronger CO2 standards to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from heavy-duty (HD) vehicles beginning in model year 2027 and would be applicable to HD vocational vehicles (such as delivery trucks, public utility trucks, transit, shuttle, school buses, etc.) and tractors.

She was present to advocate in support of this change given the well-documented environmental harm caused to Cincinnati residents by the I-75 corridor. A Children’s Hospital of Cincinnati Medical Center study tracked about 750 residents from infancy to their teenage years and found a direct correlation between exposure to traffic related air pollution, specifically diesel exhaust particles, and 1) the development of allergic disease and asthma, and 2) neurodevelopment in childhood.

Additionally, it is well known that the creation of the Interstate Highway System, funded and constructed by the Federal and State governments in the 20th century, disproportionately burdened historically Black and low-income neighborhoods in cities across America, where exhaust from heavy duty vehicles is one of the main pollution sources.

By advocating for stronger CO2 standards for heavy-duty vehicles, we hope to address the inequities caused by pollution and make significant strides toward a healthier and more sustainable future for all.

Learn

From the Care for Creation Task Force

Sustainable Living Pocket Guide

Liliana Sierra, our Laudato Si intern, debuted this fantastic resource she created at our March LSAP conference. It was extraordinarily well received, and folks around the country have been utilizing it. You can find the English digital version here and the print version here, and we hope to have it available in Spanish soon.

From the Marianist Environmental Education Center

Native Plant Garden Tour

Saturday, June 10, 9:00-11:00am

Join MEEC staff and volunteers for a tour of the native plantings around the central campus at Mount Saint John. These include raingardens that catch storm water at the Marianist Novitiate and Chaminade Center, the courtyard at the Bergamo Center, the ditch garden along East Patterson Road, and more. Free to attend, but please RSVP by June 7. 937/429-3582 or info@meec.center

Native Plant Sale

Saturday, June 24, 8:00am-1:00pm

Our native plant sale is our most important fundraiser, and each sale is actually a non-exempt donation to our habitat restoration work, both here at Mount St. John and around the region. Check out the website for more information and the full guide of available plants.

From EarthConnection

World Environment Day Program

Monday, June 5, 7:00pm

Held at the Sisters of Charity new La Casa del Sol Ministry Center (5820 Bender Rd., 45233), attendees will have a change to tour this new geothermal/solar building with many environmentally-friendly components, learn about living responsibly and simply, win door prizes, and meet other likeminded people.

Check out the many events - all free - being offered, and download their spring newsletter here.

From Pope Francis

You can find the pope's message for the 2023 Season of Creation here.

"...as followers of Christ on our shared synodal journey, let us live, work and pray that our common home will teem with life once again. May the Holy Spirit once more hover over the waters and guide our efforts to “renew the face of the earth” (cf. Ps 104:30)."

Act

LAUDATO SI ACTION PLATFORM

The Archdiocese of Cincinnati has officially joined the Laudato Si Action Platform (LSAP), along with parishes, people, dioceses, schools, universities, and other Catholic institutions across the globe. The LSAP offers a multitude of resources for all sectors of society addressing each of the seven goals:

Response to the cry of the Earth.
Response to the cry of the poor.
Ecological economics
Adoption of sustainable lifestyles
Ecological education
Ecological spirituality
Community resilience and empowerment

The AoC Care for Creation Task Force and, specifically, our Laudato Si Action Platform Implementation Committee would love to have you join in our work. Work can be based on the community type you represent (e.g. individual or family, parish or diocese, school or university, religious order, healthcare, organization or group, or the economic sector) or the goal in which you have the most interest. The LSAP is a long-haul - seven years - so we won't be rushing into anything, and we'll be thoughtful and intentional about our work.

You can register here to join the movement your self.

If you're interested, we can tell you what this is all about, see what actions we are taking, and discover how you and your community can get involved in our spiritual calling to care for our God’s Creation. More than ever, we understand that for the faithful to experience the global ecological conversion to which Pope Francis is inviting us, we must ensure that the leaders of our churches connect to the meaning and importance of this plea.

If you have any questions, please contact our Laudato Si’ intern, Liliana Sierra, at lsierra@catholicaoc.org.

Helpful Hints

If you're looking for some practical ways to make an impact right now, check out these ideas!

ECO-TIPS

FOOD STORAGE

EASY: Avoid plastic cling wrap, plastic bags or containers, especially if they can only be used one time and then discarded.

CHALLENGING: Consider alternatives to plastic food containers such as glass jars, silicone containers & lids, beeswax wraps, etc. Do some research.

NATURE

EASY: Spend some time walking, hiking, and biking in nature this week.

CHALLENGING: Try to avoid using a car for one day (or at least one trip) this week. Learn what public transportation is available in your area and substitute it (or share a ride with a friend) to minimize car use.

PLASTIC

EASY: Inform yourself about the U.N. Plastics Treaty (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xoHCkniPt9w) by watching this 3½ minute video supported by The Story of Stuff Project. Ask yourself what you can do to support the treaty’s goals and passage.

CHALLENGING: If you can take the time and are willing to be disturbed, I challenge you to watch at least one of these 3 videos (each about 45 min.):

· The Recycling Myth (https://vimeo.com/665182954 - password: why22)

· We, the Guinea Pigs (https://vimeo.com/703665418 - password: why22)

· Coca-cola's Plastic Promises (https://vimeo.com/662987000 - password: why22)

EDUCATE YOURSELF more on Laudato Si’

EASY: Read Laudato Si’ Chapter 3 (bit.ly/3pCSCjE) on The Human Roots of the Ecological Crisis (Section 101-136) which covers Technology, Globalization, and Anthropocentrism. After reading Chapter 3, figure out what “Anthropocentrism” means. Google it if you must.

CHALLENGING: Explain “Anthropocentrism” to someone.

Generic ECO-TIP

EASY: Seek out someone who is impacted by global warming (a farmer, shop keeper, someone who has lost a job…) and listen to their challenges.

CHALLENGING: Learn about the brands you buy by reading Behind the Brands and consider whether you should change any ways you spend your money.

From Susan Vogt, www.SusanVogt.net

For related articles check out her Living Lightly Blog: www.SusanVogt.net/blog

Another Tip

Composting shrinks the amount of garbage you throw away while transforming old food scraps and yard trimmings into dark, nutrient-rich compost. This acts as an ideal mulch, soil amendment, or top dressing for a flower bed or vegetable garden. Spring is a great time to start a compost pile or bin. It’s a rewarding practice and good for the earth. Check it out at https://www.npr.org/2020/04/07/828918397/how-to-compost-at-home or https://www.nrdc.org/stories/composting-101.

Laudato Si' Communities

This past October 4, we gathered at EarthConnection to celebrate the Season of Creation and our two new Laudato Si' Communities.

In this newsletter, we'd like to recognize the second of those two new communities, St. Peter in Chains (Hamilton).

The journey to becoming a Laudato Si community was travelled by a diverse group of people – from Fran Jacoby, a 93-year-old parishioner, to seventh grade students at St. Peter in Chains Parish and School. Mrs. Jacoby began by composing a letter that the Outreach Committee sent to an initial group of parishioners asking them to complete the household assessment. The invitations to join the survey widened to the school and the entire parish. Business manager Liz Moran, Maintenance Director Don Austing, and School Principal Dr. Joel Anderson helped complete the facility survey. Key to that assessment was the LED lighting installed in the church and church gardens tended by parishioners, known as the Gardening Angels. Dr. Anderson also was instrumental in arranging a presentation in Ms. Angie Wirtz’ seventh and eighth grade classes. Chris Schell of the Care for Creation Task Force engaged the students in a skit called "A Love Letter to the Earth" along with other awareness tips on how to care for God’s creation. Teachers at the school promote environmentally friendly efforts. For instance, Ms. Wirtz repurposed sofas and other household items to give a relaxed learning environment for her students in the classroom.

You can do it too!

We want to recognize Catholic parishes and schools that live out Pope Francis' Laudato Si' message of caring for God's creation.

Qualifying parishes or schools will:

Earn the title "Laudato Si' Community" at an annual recognition event; Receive an eco-friendly banner to display in or outside their building
Be featured on the Archdiocesan website, Facebook page, and in other Archdiocesan media outlets and communications.

To earn this designation, parishes/schools should:

1. Complete a facilities assessment and meet a target score for environmental stewardship practices

2. Have 10 percent of its member-households complete their own household assessment

3. Host or provide a Care for Creation formation program to parishioners/students

We are accepting applications for our 2022 communities. Qualifying communities will be recognized around the feast of St. Francis (10/4). For more information, check out the website. If you have any questions, let us know.

Pray

The Laudato Si Movement has launched a Prayer Book in English and in Spanish, with 62 prayers from 25 countries around the world to help you and your loved ones experience the ecological conversion that St. Pope John Paul II first mentioned, and Pope Francis echoed in Laudato Si’. Later this year, LSM will be launching an app featuring prayers from the Prayer Book and many other prayers. Here are the links for you to download it at no cost and share it among your friends and community.

English: https://mail.laudatosimovement.org/landing/prayerbook

Spanish: https://laudatosimovement.org/librodeoraciones

The following items are provided by the Archdiocesan Care for Creation Task Force Prayer and Learning Teams for use where appropriate in parish liturgies and bulletins during the coming months.

June

Bulletin Prayer

Gracious Father, You make the rain fall and the sun shine. Bless our crops and tillers of the soil during this sowing season as we strive to feed Your children and care for Your creation.

Intercession

For all men and women who lovingly seek to teach others to care for God’s wondrous creation, we pray to the Lord….

Papal Quote

On this earth there is room for everyone: here the entire human family must find the resources to live with dignity, through the help of nature itself—God’s gift to his children—and through hard work and creativity. At the same time we must recognize our grave duty to hand the earth on to future generations in such a condition that they too can worthily inhabit it and continue to cultivate it. (Pope Benedict XVI 2009)

July

Bulletin Prayer

Loving Father, increase in all mankind the desire to know and serve you more deeply.

Intercession

For those who continue to ignore and contribute to the destruction of God’s

creation, we pray to the Lord…

Papal Quote

Please I would like to ask all those who have positions of responsibility in economic, political and social life, and all men and women of goodwill:

Let us be protectors of creation, protectors of God’s plan inscribed in nature, protectors of one another and of the environment.

(Pope Francis, Homily at Mass for Inauguration, 3/19/13)

August

Bulletin Prayer

Loving Father, you surround us in the beauty of your Creation. Help us to protect and preserve all that you have given to us during this season of growing.

Intercession

For all men and women who lovingly seek to teach others to care for God’s wondrous creation, we pray to the Lord….

Papal Quote

"The environment is a common patrimony of all humanity and is everyone’s responsibility. Whoever possesses a part of it should merely administer it for the common good. If we do not do this our conscience is burdened with the weight of denying the existence of others.” (Pope Francis)