Eco-News
Quarterly Newsletter
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Father Vincent Pizzuto, Vicar of St. Columba's Church and Retreat House, Inverness CA, welcomes you to our inclusive contemplative community of Celtic Christian spirituality.
Father Vincent Pizzuto, PhD began his appointment as Vicar of St. Columba's on January 1, 2017. Since his arrival, he has brought to our community a vibrant spirit of openness and hospitality along with considerable academic breadth and theological depth. Read more...
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A View from the Grand Canyon: An Ecological / Spiritual Perspective
Penny Washbourn
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My recent six days of white-water rafting, camping and complete isolation from all communication, was a once- in- a- lifetime experience of going deep into the earth. At the age of 81, I was the oldest on the trip, and it certainly tested my physical limits. Apart from the thrills of riding the white -water rapids, hanging on for dear life, the quiet stretches of the 188 miles we travelled on the Colorado river were the most awe-inspiring.
I kept thinking, we are going backwards in time as we descend lower into the Canyon, before human beings existed on this earth, before the fossil record, millions, no billions of years ago. The top layers of the peaks above us had once been submerged in a shallow sea. This was almost a visceral experience of the forces that have shaped our earth, and continue to do so, seeing how the magma and volcanic activity push black lava up through the cracks into the previous layer, in beautiful geometric designs. The powers of creation, destruction, and regeneration were everywhere. These same black lava rocks in places were shiny and softly sculptured by the power of the fast-flowing river.
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We were acutely aware of the power of this cold fast fast-flowing water, which we could hear all night, rushing by our beach camp sites as we gazed up at the millions of stars, so clear and bright. It was a completely dark sky view of the heavens until the moon came up. How does being in the Canyon make you feel, I asked a fellow rafter. She concurred with my awareness, very small in the great scheme of things, but amazed that we, too, are the product of these same creative forces that allow life on this planet to emerge. Protecting these lands in their almost natural state is now a sacred trust. Over the previous century, misguided commercial ventures, such as railroad building, mining, more dam building, and other schemes, have thankfully come to nought. The National Park and the Indian tribes now protect the Grand Canyon and the adjoining land. Few people have the opportunity to take this trip. I feel most fortunate and humbled to have been able to do so and survive it!
| Photo: The Grand Canyon, June 2025 Penny Washbourn | |
St. Columba's Solar Panels, by Anna Haight | | | | |
The Council for Ecological Discipleship invites you to an in-person retreat
in our Inverness, CA Retreat House
Earth, our Common Home
a RESTorative Retreat
October 16-18, 2025
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Come for RESToration by healing our wounds, learning from the land, feeding our souls and bodies to build resilience, and hope. This is a journey towards Regeneration through Lament, Listening, and Learning to Love
with
Payton Hoegh, MD | Program Director, Center for Spirituality in Nature
Fr. Vincent Pizzuto | Vicar St Columba’s Inverness; Professor of New Testament Studies and Christian Mysticism, University of San Francisco
and
Penny Washbourn, Sylvia Timbers, Steve Lyman, Ann Hall, Anna Haight | Members of the Council for Ecological Discipleship
This interactive retreat is for all who are fearful or in despair about the current state of our climate crisis, our future and the suffering of the Earth and her species. Save the date and learn more. Registration coming soon.
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Letter from the Editor
News from the Vatican,
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In recognition of the 10th Anniversary of Pope Francis’ Papal Encyclical on the environment “Laudato Si’” or “Praise Be to You” Pope Leo XIV announced a new rite for Mass and Roman Catholic leaders made public an appeal to world leaders to address the climate crisis more forcefully in a document titled “A call for Climate Justice and the Common Home: Ecological Conversion, Transformation and Resistance to False Solutions.”
As reported from Rome in the New York Times by Elisabetta Povoledo July 3, 2025(edited)
“The Vatican on Thursday released a new rite for Mass that can “be used to ask God for the ability to care for creation,” a Vatican official said, a sign of the church’s commitment to environmental protection, especially climate action.
The new Mass, titled “Mass for the Care of Creation,” is inspired, in part, by Pope Francis’ landmark 2015 encyclical on the environment, “Laudato Si’,” or “Praise Be To You.” It was approved by Pope Leo XIV, who appears determined to carry forward his predecessor’s engagement on the issue.
“With this Mass, the Church is offering liturgical, spiritual and communal support for the care we all need to exercise of nature, our common home,” said Cardinal Michael Czerny.
The new Mass was published a day after Pope Leo stated his concerns for the environment through a message for an upcoming day of prayer “for the care of creation,” on Sept. 1. Leo warned of “the evidence in various parts of the world that our earth is being ravaged.” That meant, he wrote, that “environmental justice” could “no longer be regarded as an abstract concept or a distant goal” but had become “an urgent need that involves much more than simply protecting the environment.” “For it is a matter of justice — social, economic and human,” he added.
The idea for the new Mass began under Francis, who made care for the environment a cornerstone of his papacy. There was also a desire to respond to “various requests for a liturgical way of celebrating the meaning and the message of ‘Laudato Si’,’” Cardinal Czerny said.
The decree for the new rite states: “At this time it is evident that the work of creation is seriously threatened because of the irresponsible use and abuse of the goods God has endowed to our care,” and so it was “appropriate” to add a special Mass.”
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FILMS
Kiss the Ground
In 2023, CED discussed the documentary, Kiss The Ground, in 2024 had a Zoom/ live presentation with Ryland Engelhardt, one of the co- founders of the movement and in 2025, CED discussed Common Ground, their most recent documentary. Recently announced, a series of short videos: Kiss the Ground, the leading nonprofit promoting regeneration and healthy soil as a viable solution for our wellness, water, and climate crisis, is thrilled to announce the first seasonal launch of its short video series, “5 with a Farmer.” It introduces a diverse lineup of farmers—from California to Texas to Connecticut—who candidly share their challenges, successes, and unique personalities.
Kiss the Ground is spotlighting the real people behind our food. Since 2013, the organization has empowered millions to join the Regenerative Movement through compelling storytelling, working with hundreds of farmers nationwide to highlight their essential role in promoting regenerative practices.
“While most people prioritize taste and health when shopping for food, only 8% of us talked to a farmer last year about the origin of the food we consume. Our “5 with a Farmer” shorts will hook audiences with inspiring, quirky perspectives from the dedicated and creative people who grow our food and protect human and planetary health across the country. We invite you to meet them and hear their stories.” – Evan Harrison, CEO of Kiss the Ground
This season will feature 12 hand-selected farmers who are creatively embracing regenerative solutions and redefining what it means to steward the land.
Audiences can now watch “5 with a Farmer” or apply to feature their farm in future seasons, as well as check out all the ways Kiss the Ground works with farmers, at kisstheground.com/farmers. Watch the summer season.
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Film Discussions
We will be providing opportunities to discuss the most important documentaries concerning the impact of climate change as well as progress being made across the globe to address those effects. Participants watch films on their own time and register for an online discussion, moderated by a Council member.
2025 Upcoming films and dates:
Out There: A National Parks Journey:
November 19, 4:30-5:30pm PT
| Check Online Offerings for registration information a month prior to the discussion to receive the Zoom link. | | | |
BOOK STUDY
Throughout the year, the Council will provide a "slow" read and online discussion of foundational and new texts that address the spiritual crisis of our human relationship to the earth. Each book study meets three times over a six-week period to allow for careful reading and reflection. Sessions are moderated by Council members.
2025 Upcoming books and dates
Times all Pacific
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Saving Us: A Climate Scientist's
case for Hope and Healing in a Divided World by Katharine Hayhoe
July 16, 4-5:30pm
July 30,4-5:30pm
August 13, 4-5:30pm
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The Light Eaters: How the Unseen World of Plant Intelligence Offers a New Understanding of Life on Earth
Zoe Schlanger
September 24-5:30pm
October 8 4-5:30pm
October 22 4-5:30pm
Check Online Offerings for registration information a month prior to the first discussion to receive the Zoom link.
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IN THE NEWS
In this section we highlight one organization that is contributing to the health of the planet.
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Bill McKibben's Third Act Has announced Sunday September 21 as SUN DAY
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"This is an invitation—a call—to congregations as well as to any and all people of faith to join us in preparing for Sun Day on September 20-21, 2025, a grassroots weekend of action when millions of people across the United States will celebrate the gift and power of clean energy and the urgent need to stand up to the wealthy and well-connected who are doing everything they can to stand in its way." -Jim Antal, Third Act. Learn more.
"Earth Day in 1970 turned into a (highly successful) drive six months later to defeat a ‘dirty dozen’ Congressmen. Hopefully the energy that comes out of SunDay in September will have something of the same effect. Our new poster came out today. Join in the effort at sunday.earth" - Bill McKibben's Newsletter.
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12835 Sir Francis Drake Blvd.
PO Box 430
Inverness, CA 94937
415.669.1039
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