+Praise be to You!+
Happy Easter!
As we emerge from the solemnness of Lent, winter, and the past year, there is much to rejoice in the hope of the Resurrection!
April and May are busy months with communities around the world celebrating Earth Day on April 22 and Laudato Si' Week May 16-24. Earth Day is a great time for schools to focus on the theological aspects of care for creation with so many end of the year events happening in May.
Additionally this month we are excited to partner with the Archdiocese's Catholic Charities - Social Concerns Ministry for an online Lunch and Learn! Join us on April 22 for "The Cry of the Earth and The Cry of the Poor". The webinar will explore topics of climate related migration. As Pope Francis reminds us - climate change happens everywhere, but the greatest pain is felt by those who have contributed least to it.
Please contact us if you need any ideas for your parish and school activities this spring! We hope you'll find some useful resources in this issue of our newsletter and pray for successful planting of your gardens!
All of us on the Creation Care Commission
Cheers to you!
Photo credit: The Criterion, April 13, 2018
Did you know St. John the Apostle Parish in Bloomington installed solar panels back in 2017 on their Parish Life Center? In just the first three months of the system use they saved close to 13 tons of carbon dioxide from their decreased use of fossil-fuel generated energy. Kudos to this effort by the parishioners and pastor to complete the first installation of solar panels at a parish in our Archdiocese!
If you are interested in learning more about solar, a great resource is Solar United Neighbors who hosts monthly learning sessions. Join the next webinar on April 28.
Do you have a story to share about your outdoor or indoor space? Email us at mail@ourcommonhome.org.
April Activities Around ArchIndy
The Cry of the Earth and The Cry of the Poor - online Lunch and Learn, April 22 @ 12pm presented by ArchIndy Catholic Charities - Social Concerns in partnership with Creation Care Ministry. How are you connected to care for God's creation and migrants? Join us to find out! This Lunch and Learn is for those actively engaged in Creation Care or Migration ministry and those who are curious and just want to learn more. Discussion will include perspectives on the recently released booklet “Pastoral Orientations on Climate Displaced Persons” by the Migrants and Refugees Section and the Integral Ecology Sector of the Dicastery for Promoting Integral Human Development.
Outdoor Sacred Spaces Guide - Last fall, as part of the 5th Anniversary Year of Pope Francis’ Encyclical “Laudato Si’: On Care for Our Common Home”, we worked with leadership at outdoor sacred spaces throughout the Archdiocese to compile this new resource. It is our hope this resource will encourage Catholics across the region to rediscover a religious vision of God’s creation as they visit, reflect, and pray in these beautiful spaces we have in our communities!
Spring Native Plant Sales - The Nina Mason Pulliam EcoLab at Marian University in Indianapolis is hosting a native plant sale to benefit education programs and restoration in the EcoLab. Native flowers, grasses, and groundcover from Spence Restoration are available to order online this April with pickup in May.
Why plant native? There are many benefits to native planting: lower maintenance with less need for artificial fertilizers, ability to conserve water in their natural habitat, plus many natives provide vital habitat for birds and other species of local wildlife.
More native plant sales
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Indiana Catholic Conference (ICC) - The ICC is following several creation related bills this session. With the session ending April 29, much can happen in the last 2 weeks! If you have not done so already, sign up to receive Action Alerts at https://www.votervoice.net/INDIANACC/home
Earth Day Programs
Restore Our Common Home - a one-hour educational and prayer program from the Catholic Climate Covenant. Perfect for families, parishes, schools, and religious communities! Get the guide
Sacred Ground: Cultivating Connections - an organizer's kit to examine how food systems contribute to injustice and climate change and hour our faith calls us to respond from Interfaith Power and Light. Get the Kit
Earth Day Poster Contest - The Sisters of St. Benedict in Ferdinand Indiana invite Dubois County 5th - 12th grade students to submit posters, poems, or essays inspired by the environment. More information at www.thedome.org/earth-day-contest.
Film Screenings - this year's and past film screenings as part of Interfaith Power and Light's Annual Faith Climate Action Week taking placing around Earth Day. View film information
Earth Day Guides PreK-8th - a 2017 resource from the Catholic Climate Covenant which include activities, prayers, and video for Earth Day separated for PreK/K and Elementary / Middle School. Download the Guides
21 Day Environmental Challenge starting after Earth Day on April 23 to May 16 walk with other Catholics to learn pray and take action for environmental justice. Visit the Ignatian Solidarity Network to learn more.
Upcoming Online Events
April 9, 9am - Global Prayer Gathering organized by GCCM and this month hosted by Africa - to hear creation’s song, creation’s cry, and creation’s invitation. Register here.
April 13, 3pm - How Catholic Sisters are Helping to Save the Earth -- and You Can Too a webinar with EarthBeat and Global Sisters Report. Learn more.
April 14, 8pm - Beyond Laudato Si': Embracing the Challenge of Franciscan Eco-Spirituality in the Age of Pope Francis. A lecture by Daniel P. Horan, OFM at Gonzaga University. Register Here
April 17, 12pm - Care for Creation: Spirituality and Responsible Investment with Sister Barbara Jennings, CSJ. Register Here
Laudato Si' for 9 Hours - Join Santa Clara University in reading Laudato Si’ over a period of 9 hours starting on April 21 at 12pm! More information at www.scu.edu/turn/laudato-si/
April 22, 12 - 1pm - The Cry of the Earth and The Cry of the Poor Lunch and Learn presented by ArchIndy Catholic Charities - Social Concerns in partnership with ArchIndy Creation Care Ministry. Register here
April 22, 12pm - Preventing and Managing Food Waste. Hosted by the Indiana Recycling Coalition. Register here.
April 22, 7pm - Earth Day 2021 with Our Native American Catholics. Webinar from the Diocese of Charleston focused on sustainable ecosystems, small scale gardening and activities/crafts for connection with creation. Information and registration here.
April 24, 9am - 12:30pm - Caring for Tomorrow, Today - 2021 Conference of the Tri-State Creation Care, an interfaith group based in Evansville, Indiana. More information here.
Save the Date! Laudato Si’ and the U.S. Catholic Church: A Conference Series on Our Common Home is scheduled for July 13-15. This event sponsored by Creighton University and Catholic Climate Covenant is no seeking individuals to join working groups in preparation for the conference. More information here
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.
