Happy Easter! As we celebrate our new life in heaven and on earth this Easter, we hope you will join us in making a new commitment to care for all of God's creation.
April and May are busy months with communities around the world celebrating Earth Day this Friday, April 22 and Laudato Si' Week May 22-29.
Please contact us if you need any help with your parish and school activities this spring!
All of us on the Creation Care Commission
"Now let the heavens be joyful, Let earth her song begin:
Let the round world keep triumph, And all that is therein;
Invisible and visible, Their notes let all things blend,
For Christ the Lord is risen Our joy that hath no end."
Let the round world keep triumph, And all that is therein;
Invisible and visible, Their notes let all things blend,
For Christ the Lord is risen Our joy that hath no end."
Saint John of Damascus
Cheers to you!
Photo credit: Cardinal Ritter Media Class
This month the Creation Care Commission visited Cardinal Ritter to see and learn about their new 26 panel solar installation. It was wonderful to hear from Ritter president Jo Hoy and Ritter teachers and staff about the excitement of the students and community around this project that integrates faith and science!
Learn more: Criterion article | Media Class Video | Contact Jo Hoy (jhoy@cardinalritter.org) to learn more about field trips for your class in the 22-23 school year.
Around ArchIndy
Outdoor Sacred Spaces Guide and Summer Challenge - We are preparing some resources for a summer outdoor challenge, but in the meantime, check out the ArchIndy guide to get started with fun places to visit and enjoy God's creation!
Encounter for Our Common Home with Senator Mike Braun - Encounter for Our Common Home is a National Catholic Campaign for Climate Solutions (MAY 2-6, 2022) that aims to bring together Catholics across the country to urge our U.S. Senators to enact authentic solutions to the climate crisis. The Indiana team has organized a virtual meeting with Senator Braun on May 4 at 2:15 p.m. EST. If you are interested in participating, please contact Sister Jean Marie Ballard by Friday April 22 (jballard@thedome.org).
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
Registration open for Earth Charter Indiana Summer Climate Camps. Various camps for ages 5-17 during the month of July. Financial assistance available. Apply
Earth Day (April 22) / Laudato Si Week (May 22-29) Programs
Integral Ecology: Pursuing the Common Good for 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
Laudato Si' Week Activities: See daily themes and sign up to receive notifications about Laudato Si' Week events and webinars from the Laudato Si' Movment.
21 Day Environmental Challenge start anytime to walk with other Catholics to learn pray and take action for environmental justice. Visit the Ignatian Solidarity Network to learn more.
Weathering the Storm: Faithful Climate Resilience - an ecumenical Earth Day program from Creation Justice Ministries to equip faith communities to protect, restore, and more rightly share God's creation. Get the program
Sacred Trust: Our children’s right to a livable future. A program from Interfaith Power and Light which examines our responsibility to safeguard our Earth for future generations, and how our faiths call us to respond with bold and just solutions to climate change. Download the kit
Beyond Local
Laudato Si' Action Platform (LSAP) - Join the global Catholic Church in a 7-year journey to global sustainability and spiritual conversion.
Get Started: Use the Eco Examen to reflect on your personal relationship with creation | Join the platform to get ideas and encouragement | Engage at the parish level
New Funding from the Victory Noll small grants program: Catholic groups working in the areas of creation care are invited to apply for small grants of up to $1,000. Deadline to apply is May 2, 2022. Apply
Vacation Bible School Resources - A list of new resources from The Pastoral Center designed to coach, equip, and empower parish leaders to invite their Catholic communities to better care for creation. (See Families & Children section of this page for the VBS/children ideas)
April 22, 9am - Challenging Conversations 2022: The Future of the Eco-Justice Movement (Union of Black Episcopalians). Register here.
April 25, 7:00pm - Film screening of Youth v Gov, a climate-change superhero film that follows 21 young Americans suing the world’s most powerful government to protect their constitutional rights to a stable climate. Join the Zoom (screening and discussion hosted by Earth Charter Indiana / Interfaith Power and Light)
April 27, 7:30pm - Enjoyed Youth v Gov? Join a webinar with the filmmaker and two young plaintiffs (who are people of faith) Register for the webinar
May 2-5, 7:30pm - Eco Poetry Retreat: Join the Ignatian Solidarity Network to connect and reflect on themes from Laudato Si’ through eco poetry. Each day, participants are invited to reflect on one theme and one poem, in small groups and individually. You do not need to be able to attend all four sessions to sign up for the retreat. Register for retreat
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.
