+Praise be to You!+
Next week we enter Lent with Catholics worldwide - a moment for us to stop and reflect on God's mercy and love for us and all of creation.
As we pray, fast, and grow in faith with our local communities, let's also focus on living in solidarity with the poor and vulnerable across the world, especially those suffering from the effects of the climate crisis.
There are many things happening this month and we hope you find one from our list that will help you live prayerfully and simply!
Living with you in solidarity this Lent,
All of us on the Creation Care Commission
Weekly Lenten Programs
Laudato Si' Lent 2021: A Journey of Hope. Reflection Repentance and Renewal from the Global Catholic Climate Movement via weekly fasting themes. Register for inbox updates.
Greener Lent - Join parishes in North Carolina for an expansion to the traditional Lenten Fast. Learn about the significant environmental impact of consuming meat and grow closer to Christ through concern for our global neighbors. Register here.
Lenten Reflections on Integral Ecology - a weekly guide that could be used for small groups. From Terri MacKenzie, SHCJ . Download
Homily Helps, Reading Reflections and More
Praying with Creation during Lent, Homily Helps, and full list of Lenten Resources and calendars compiled by the Catholic Climate Covenant.
Also our list of 2020 resources are still available including the Seven Ecological Sins and Virtues weekly guide in both English and Spanish.
Daily Lenten Reflections
Steadfast: A Call to Love - Join writers from the Jesuit and broader Catholic network each day during Lent to persevere in work for justice with a steadfast spirit, rooted in love and commitment to care for both fellow human beings and our common home. Register here
Lenten Reflections on the Care for Creation - daily reflections for the 40 days of Lent produced by Fr. Emmet Farrell and edited by Mr. Roman Fernandez, Diocese of San Diego Creation Care Network. Download
Interfaith Action Calendars (will also be available in Spanish) - Interfaith Power and Light of DC, Maryland and Northern Virginia has published actions calendars for each of the 40 days of Lent. Although there are some days with action links specific to their areas - many of the days have ideas for everyone! Download a calendar
Around the Earth
Indiana
Indiana Catholic Conference (ICC) - follow bills and send custom/pre-composed messages to your Indiana legislators for issues related to Catholic Social Teaching. Visit the ICC Voter Voice (easy to use!) Also visit the ICC website for weekly reports, podcasts, and newsletter subscription.
City of Indianapolis seeking to expand its community recycling drop-off program - The city is actively seeking to expand by adding sites, especially in areas of the city currently under-represented. These are the large roll-off containers into which Indy residents can place their recyclables, free of charge. Crews with the Department of Public Works are committed to the regular service/pick-up of recyclables and the cleanliness of the surrounding area. If your congregation is interested in partnering with the City email Lindsay.Trameri@Indy.Gov.
Free Native Trees from Keep Indianapolis Beautiful (KIB) - If your parish and surrounding neighborhood (minimum of 12 trees to be planted in a 0.2 mile radius of the parish) is interested in creating additional sacred spaces and areas for wildlife with trees - contact us at mail@ourcommonhome.org to get started with Keep Indianapolis Beautiful's community forestry program. KIB provides the trees and maintains them for 3 years at no cost to you. They have volunteers available to plant, but this is also a great opportunity to engage parishioners in a faith-based activity outside and/or work with a neighboring house of worship for a common cause.
Free Native Trees from Keep Indianapolis Beautiful (KIB) - If your parish and surrounding neighborhood (minimum of 12 trees to be planted in a 0.2 mile radius of the parish) is interested in creating additional sacred spaces and areas for wildlife with trees - contact us at mail@ourcommonhome.org to get started with Keep Indianapolis Beautiful's community forestry program. KIB provides the trees and maintains them for 3 years at no cost to you. They have volunteers available to plant, but this is also a great opportunity to engage parishioners in a faith-based activity outside and/or work with a neighboring house of worship for a common cause.
ArchIndy Social Concerns Ministry - Follow the Archdiocese of Indianapolis Social Concerns ministry for more ways to pray and act on issues related to Catholic Social Teaching! Newsletter | Facebook
Worldwide
Laudato Si' Action Platform - Mark your calendars! The Laudato Si' Action Program will be officially launched in the US sometime around Laudato Si' Week 2021 at the end of May.
Catholic Energies Newsletter - Catholic Energies, a program of the Catholic Climate Covenant which provides project development and management services related to energy for Catholic organizations, publishes a quarterly newsletter with success stories from around the US. Read the January 2021 Issue.
Upcoming Online Events
In case you missed it! Indiana Renewable Energy Day Video (Feb 5)
Wednesdays @ 12pm (ongoing, 35 minutes) - Laudato Si' Community Contemplation hosted by the Global Catholic Climate Movement to come together with the GCCM community for short reflections, 15 - 20 minute guided meditation, brief sharing, and closing prayer. Register here to receive the ongoing link.
Feb 10, 7pm - Taking Care of God's Creation Webinar Series by local initiative Resilient Pike. Rev. Dr. Carlos Perkins will be moderating this webinar, with Ray Wilson and Dr. Dori Chandler of H-IPL. Watch Live
Feb 11, 8:30-9:30pm (6 Consecutive Thursdays) - Cry of the Earth, Cry of the Poor, In Commemoration of the 5th Anniversary of Laudato Si’ Series. Hosted by the University of San Diego - Care for our Common Strategic Pathway, the Center for Catholic Thought and Culture, and the Office for Mission. Register here.
Feb 12, 7pm - West Lafayette Climate Kidz Kickoff - Join WL Climate for a special kick-off of local initiative - Climate Kidz. Register here
Feb. 23, 7:30 - 9:00pm - Emergence: A Creation Care Gathering of Young Adults ages 18 - 39. The first of an initiative of the Catholic Climate Covenant. Register here.
Feb 25, 12pm - How to Evaluate Solar for Your Organization hosted by Mission Energy to educate nonprofit organizations on factors to consider when it comes to solar installations and methods available to avoid upfront capital costs to pay for these installations. Register here
Feb. 25, 7:30 - 9:00pm - Virtual Tour of the Center for Sustainable Landscapes (in Pittsburg, one of the “greenest” buildings on Earth). Contact tristate.creation.care@gmailcom by February 22 to register.
View more upcoming and past creation related webinars on our website at ourcommonhome.org/webinars.
If you have any questions, please contact us at mail@ourcommonhome.org
Subscribe to our monthly newsletter or text creationcare to 84576.
Creation Care Ministry is a pastoral ministry of the Archdiocese of Indianapolis.
