Hello everyone,  

Welcome to a special edition of our Justice, Peace, and Integrity of Creation (JPIC) newsletter. Our normal JPIC emails complement our parish e-newsletter and website/social media announcements by providing an overview of all Immaculate Conception’s social justice ministries and advocacy opportunities in our church and the greater community. This special edition, however, only focuses on our parish’s observance of the “Season of Creation,” an annual celebration in which Christians around the world listen and respond together to the cry of creation and the cry of the poor. We began our journey on September 1, joining millions of other Christians around the globe, focused together on this year’s theme of “Listen to the Voice of Creation.” In this newsletter, you will find numerous opportunities to actively engage with our celebration and reflect on ways we have already celebrated together. We hope you will join us as we continue to move toward the culmination of this Season with our parish’s celebration of Saint Francis Week. Thank you for all that you do to embody God’s love for the world in your daily lives. 

SEASON OF CREATION: PARISH & COMMUNITY-WIDE EVENTS 

Watch the Video of the Solar Panel Installation on

Immaculate Conception's Campus

Duke University Climate Commitment

Duke is hosting a series of events from Sept 20-30 announcing Duke’s Climate commitment, an effort to unite the university's education, research, operations, and public service missions to engage our entire community in the pursuit of climate change solutions. More information about the event can be found here - https://2022.climate.duke.edu/, including how to register for the large public event on Sept 29 in Page Auditorium, as well as a symposium on Climate and Environmental Justice on Sept 30. We encourage all parishioners to join them for these public events. 

Birding at Brumley North - Triangle Land Conservancy

(October 8, 8:30 am – 11 am, Brumley North Parking Lot, 3620 Old State Hwy 10 Chapel Hill NC 27514) Come join us for a beautiful Fall birding hike at our Brumley North Nature Preserve! Did you know that Brumley North is the #2 Hotspot for birding in the state? Our Brumley Birding hike will be led by co-members of both TLC and the New Hope Audubon Society. We will meander on an easy 1.5-mile hike over about 2 hours with many stops along the way. Please wear good walking shoes, bring a water bottle, and binoculars if you have them. We suggest that you leave your furry friends at home for this hike as they may scare away wildlife viewing opportunities. This is a free event, but pre-registration is required. Save your spot here! If this event is full, please fill out the form at this link to be added to the waitlist. 

HIGHLIGHTS: SEASON OF CREATION 

Opening Event - Season of Creation

Shemá: Biodiversity, Franciscans, and the Season of Creation:” For a Present That Has a Future. 

A review of the Zoom presentation and conversation by the Franciscan Rome Office of Justice, Peace, and the Integrity of Creation: 

For more on the Season of Creation, see our parish website:

For a listing of the Care for Creation (Green Team’s) other ongoing activities and contact information click below: 

SAINT FRANCIS WEEK 

Franciscan Festival (October 1, 12 - 3 pm)

Join us for our first annual parish-wide celebration of creation and fellowship at the Franciscan Festival. Special guest DJ and IC alum Fr. Patrick Tuttle OFM will be on hand in front of Immaculata providing a lively, interactive soundtrack as we celebrate our common home. There will be fun games and prizes and tasty treats, along with crafts and exhibits on the playground. Food will be served by the Knights!! YM will be organizing fun for the kids! There will be a Green Team tent where you can learn ways to take care of our common home - caring for creation like St. Francis. The event will include a special blessing of our new solar panels. We are striving to make this event zero-waste, so please do your part and bring your reusable water bottles and look out for our composting receptacles and recycling bins! Volunteer to help or register here so we can prepare!​

Virtual Transitus Service, (October 3, 5:30 pm)

The Franciscan Action Network (FAN) is hosting a virtual Transitus service presented by members of their Franciscan Justice Circles. Please register in advance by clicking here. After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting. 

Saint Francis Mass (October 4, 7 pm)

Bilingual Service 

The Spirituality of Francis and Clare

October 5, 6:30 pm, San Damiano Conf. Room 2

Father Hugh will offer a reflection on the spirituality of St. Francis and of St. Clare. He will reflect on how each of the saints approached one of these values from personal and historical contexts and how the value is reflected in a few of their writings.

CARE FOR CREATION: ADVOCACY 

Fossil Fuel Non-Proliferation Treaty

A Carbon Plan for the People Webinar 

Wednesday, September 28, 1-2:30 p.m. & 7-8:30 p.m., Online 

Interested in staying up to date on North Carolina's biggest climate change decisions? Join North Carolina Interfaith Power & Light for a comprehensive discussion on what the carbon plan entails, what has happened so far, and what we can do moving forward. Attend our first session, our second session, or both. 

Community Supported Agriculture (CSA)

Fall Community Supported Agriculture Shares: Get a steady supply of fresh vegetables & support a Black farmer. IC’s Green Team is continuing a partnership with other churches to support Kamal Bell of Sankofa Farms, in Efland. The CSA is 6 weeks, ½ & full shares available, pick up at First Presbyterian Church on Thursday, 4-6 pm. For more info, contact Larry Brockman at [email protected].