On Care for our Common Home
Week of June 25th
Pope Francis wrote: “…self-improvement on the part of individuals will not by itself remedy the extremely complex situation facing our world today…
Social problems must be addressed by common networks and not simply by the sum of individual good deeds…
The ecological conversion needed to bring about lasting change is also a community conversion “(219)
ACT: Advocate for serious climate policies; Tell a friend or
family member your climate story; share your personal commitments with others; Keep learning.
Week of June 18th
Pope Francis wrote, “Everyone’s talents and involvement are needed to redress the damage caused by human abuse of God’s creation.”
ACT: Each of us can be an activist for creation by letting family and friends know that caring for our common home is a priority for us
and by taking action, which might be carrying a re-usable water bottle and picking up trash in the park.
Week of June 11th
Pope Francis, following the teachings of St. Francis of Assisi, calls for our “ecological conversion,”
whereby the effects of our encounter with Jesus Christ becomes evident in our relationship with the world around us.
He states that we must live our call to be protectors of God’s handiwork.
That it is not an optional or a secondary aspect of being a Christian.
ACT: Examine some of your daily actions and how they protect ‘God’s handiwork’.
Can you recycle? Waste less? Conserve energy?
This May, we join Catholic communities around the world in observing Laudato Si’ Week.
In 2015 Pope Francis wrote the Encyclical “Laudato Si’, On Care for our Common Home.” It calls us to actively care for our Common Home,
to work for climate and ecological justice. Laudato Si Week arrives as Pentecost celebrates the moment that the Holy Spirit came to the apostles.
They then began their mission to the world.
ACT: Watch “The Letter” on YouTube (Scroll down for link to video), perhaps with family and friends.
Speak to others about it. Reflect on how you can put your gifts to service for God, for others, for our common home.
Week 6 – April 16th
Pope Francis wrote, “Today, in a word, the issue of environmental degradation challenges us to examine our lifestyle.” 206
ACT:
Decide on a lifestyle change Make a plan with your family to choose a vegetarian meal once a week,
or set up a composting bin, or eliminate one item that is packaged in disposable plastic from your home.
For many people, this is beverage bottles.
Week 5 – March 31st
Pope Francis wrote “Many things have to change course, but it is we human beings above all who need to change.” (#202)
ACT:
Watch Fr. James Martin’s “Catholic Social Teaching: Care for God’s Creation.”
Week 4 – March 26th
Pope Francis wrote, “We are faced not with two separate crises, one environmental and the other social, but rather with one complex crisis which is both social and environmental. Strategies for a solution demand an integrated approach to combating poverty, restoring dignity to the excluded, and at the same time protecting nature.” (#139)
ACT:
Do you rely on single-use plastic water bottles?
Consider alternatives:
carry a reusable metal or glass water bottle with you and encourage your family and friends to do the same.
Week 3 – March 19th
Pope Francis wrote “We have to be aware that when we address ecological concerns
they must also be addressing social issues. We must hear both the cry of the earth and the cry of the poor.” (#49)
ACT:
The next time you are in the produce section of your grocery store,
hold the farmers, pickers, truck drivers – those who make this harvest possible, in your heart.
What sacrifices do they make to get this food to you? What can we do to make their lives better?
Week 2 – March 12th
Pope Francis wrote “We have to realize that a true ecological approach always becomes a social approach;
it must integrate questions of justice in debates on the environment, so as to hear both the cry of the earth and the cry of the poor.” (#49)
ACT:
Reduce food waste.
Plan your cooking needs before shopping, consider buying something for a food pantry
Week 1 – March 5th
Pope Francis wrote “All is not lost. Human beings… are also capable of rising above themselves, choosing again what is good, and making a new start…
and [embarking] on new paths to authentic freedom.” (#205)
ACT:
Look around your home.
Can you slowly change your buying habits? Purchase less plastic?
Seek clothing with natural fibers instead of plastic-based synthetics?
Buy environmentally friendly cleaning products?
Caring for Our Common Home
Pope Francis wrote -”Laudato Si” On Care for Our Common Home” in 2015. In it he calls for our attention to how we care for God’s Creation. Francis asks us to examine how we are treating God’s gift of the earth and its environment.
In the Fall of last year, a small group of Midd-South parishioners participated in
one of JustFaith’s EcoJustice programs. The program included readings from Pope Francis’ encyclical On Care of our Common Home and a selection of other readings and videos.
We were inspired by the program and feel called to take some action. Each of us pledged to take certain personal actions to care for our common home as many of you are likely doing.
As members of Midd-South Catholic Parish we have been offered the opportunity to share some of what we learned with the parish and invite you to join us in taking action.
Over the next weeks, the bulletin, parish website and Facebook will be featuring reflections, prayers and actions that will assist each of us in responding in our own way to the call to Care for our Common Home.
On Sunday April 23 at 2pm, The Letter: A Message For Our Earth
will be shown at the Sacred Heart Campus.
We will hear personal stories from 4 unheard voices from around the world, follow their journey to Rome and witness their extraordinary dialogue
with the Pope.
So… we hope you will join us for the movie. Following the screening we will have the opportunity to reflect on its message, and explore actions
that we might take as a community.
Sincerely,
Barbara Wheeler
Dorothy Tanneberger
Kate Clarke
Marge O-Dea
Mary Ann Neiger
Steve Tanneberger