+Praise be to You!+
This month we celebrate the feast of St. Kateri Tekakwitha, the patron saint of ecologists, the environment, Native Americans, the loss of parents, people in exile,
people ridiculed for their piety, and World Youth Day. Whew! She is indeed a great saint!
people ridiculed for their piety, and World Youth Day. Whew! She is indeed a great saint!
We invite you to use the resources below from Catholic Charities - Social Concerns to study St. Kateri Tekakwitha and think about how you can live our faith through the lens of the Church's social teaching.
St. Kateri's feast day, the July 13-15 Laudato Si’ and the U.S. Catholic Church Conference, and the Indiana Catholic Conference's Laudato Si' Study in August provide just a few great opportunities to reflect and plan how you and your parish can take concrete steps now and during the upcoming Season of Creation to care for our common home.
We are planning a few things for the Season (including a Tree/Wildflower sale), so stay tuned!
May your day be filled with peace,
All of us on the Creation Care Commission
Cheers to you!
Solar Panels at Boulevard Food Place Food Pantry. This summer the St. Vincent de Paul Boulevard Place Food Pantry in Indianapolis will be installing a 79 panel solar array as part of a major renovation. The panels will provide approximately 91% of electricity costs and benefit the mission of the pantry for years to come. Way to go!
Around ArchIndy this Summer
Saints and Social Justice - each month the Archdiocese Social Concerns will feature a Catholic Saint who exemplified the principals of Catholic Social Teaching in how they lived their lives. July features Saint Kateri Tekakwitha (feast day July 14)! Use the resource below in your religious education groups, as inserts in the parish bulletin, or on social media as a way to live our faith through the pray, learn, and act model.
Laudato Si' Summer Study - The Indiana Catholic Conference is hosting a Laudato Si' study later this summer as part of a series on the Church's social doctrine. The study will include live sessions with commentary on Laudato Si' from experts in theology, science, politics, and applications to rural and urban life. Be on the lookout for more information soon!
Eastside Creation Care Network (July 10) - Caring for creation is a great way to bring together people of all faiths! On the east side of Indianapolis the Eastside Creation Care Network meets periodically to discuss and work together on creation care projects. This Saturday's meeting will be both in-person (Downey Avenue Christian Church) or join online at 9am. A light breakfast will be available at 8:30am. For more information contact Rosemary Spalding at rgspalding50@gmail.com.
Around the Earth
Laudato Si’ and the U.S. Catholic Church Conference: Creighton University and the Catholic Climate Covenant are sponsoring this online conference from July 13-15 to convene, equip, and inspire Catholics who can more deeply integrate Laudato Si’ and its climate change teaching into the U.S. Church. Registration is FREE and now open!
The Catholic Petition - Healthy People, Healthy Planet. Join Catholics worldwide to sign this petition ahead of the UN Biodiversity Conference in October and
the United Nations 26th annual Climate Change Conference (COP26) in November to urge world leaders to tackle the climate crisis as we lift up the voices of the most vulnerable and advocate on their behalf. Sign the petition
Summer Challenge Bingo - Young adult Catholics from across the country are invited to play “climate bingo!” Explore what our faith teaches about climate change, learn how climate change intersects with other social justice issues, and build a national network for young Catholics caring for our common home. Everyone who gets “bingo” is automatically entered for a chance to win exclusive prizes. Register here
Season of Creation 2021 Guide is now available! How will you, your parish, and local ecumenical community pray, act sustainably, and advocate this year during the Season of Creation (Sept 1 - Oct 4)? Find resources centered around the theme "A home for all? Renewing the Oikos of God" at www.seasonofcreation.org (scroll past the contact form to view all resources).
Feast of St. Francis 2021 Program will be released mid August.
Columban Center Virtual Advocacy Leadership Training - Young adults (ages 18 - 39) who live in the United States are invited to participate in our 4-week-long program to empower young adults with the tools, the experience, and the network to be effective advocates for social justice and the common good. Applications are due July 20 and the program will begin the week of August 2. Learn more about the training.
List of our past newsletters -You can now find links to our past newsletters on our website at - www.ourcommonhome.org/newsletters. (Find the link in the "News & Reports" header for future use!)
More Upcoming Events
July 21 - Hoosier Interfaith Power & Light Statewide Call: learn what other congregations are doing and gain valuable strategies for improving your congregations environmental stewardship. Every 3rd Wednesday of the month. Register here
October 10 - Hoosier Interfaith Power & Light Faith Climate Summit. Stay tuned!
November 6 - Regenerative Farming Forum. Our friend down south, Caroline Nellis, is organizing this forum. Regenerative Agriculture is a good way to protect waterways and to combat climate change. View flier.
In case you missed it- The White Violet Center for Eco- Justice (Sisters of Providence of Saint Mary-of-the-Woods) was recently featured on a Catholic Sustainability Champions webinar of the Catholic Climate Covenant! View recording
Remember a webinar that you didn't register for or couldn't make? View a list of 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.
