Upcoming Events
Regular Monthly Meeting
Every 2nd Tuesday of the Month 7:00-8:30 pm |
Please join us via Zoom for our virtual monthly meeting as we discuss ways for our parish to care for our common home. We will send out Zoom link and an agenda a few days prior to the meeting.
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Events
"One Little Thing" Stories. Inspired by the "One … little … thing. What's one little thing going to do?" advertising campaign, we collected stories from parishioners about the "one thing" they are doing to care for our common home. We're all in this together, the ad suggests, and "lots of one little things, together, are many big things … solving big, big problems" brought about by climate change. We selected a few parisioner stories and published them in our weekly lenten Bulletins. And we encouraged parishioners to submit their own "one thing" story which we compiled HERE. Our hope is to inspire parishioners who feel overwhelmed by showing them the power that small individual actions have when done by many. If you have a "one thing" story you would like to share, please email us at [email protected] (include a photo if you have one!).
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Mardi Gras Dishwashing. It was a great honor to be a part of the Mardi Gras extravaganza to raise funds for our Work Camp youths! We were having a fine time in the kitchen trying to keep up with the stacks of plates, cups and silverware. The reduction in waste is only one benefit of using dishes. Although it was a lot of work, we had many hands and lots of laughter in the kitchen. It was rewarding to see the teens help with bussing the tables and collecting the dishes. We took three big bags of compost to the collection bins at the I-66 drop off station: one bag from when the Knights were preparing the meals and two bags from the meal with food, napkins and compostable cups. So much diverted from the trash stream!
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Winter Meeting Highlights. Our winter monthly meetings feature thoughtful presentations and lively discussion of a variety of topics. During the February Meeting, we learned about the differences between a linear economy (raw materials are mined, and products are manufactured, sold, consumed and thrown away) and a Circular Economy (a regenerative model, in which the life cycle of products is extended through the reprocessing, re-use, repair and recycling of existing materials and resources for as long as possible). The January meeting included an opportunity for participants to share One Thing That They Are Doing Now to build a more sustainable future. During the Advent Season, our December meeting started off in prayer with a Laudate Deum Examen, a time for prayer and reflection to deepen our care for creation and the most vulnerable. This examen follows the five steps of the Ignatian Examen, guided by key quotes from Pope Francis in his timely exhortation: giving thanks for God's creation, asking for light, reviewing the day, learning from our shortcomings, and looking toward the day to come.
Food Choices Matter. We’re gratified that so many of you—over 200!—signed up for “Food Choices Matter: How What You Eat Affects You, Others, and the Environment.” We had a great turnout and we hope those of you who attended found the presentations informative and motivating. Dr. Mary E. McGann, R.S.C.J., is adjunct associate professor of liturgical studies at the Jesuit School of Theology of Santa Clara University and the Graduate Theological Union, Berkeley, Calif. Here is a link to “6 ways a plant-based diet can help us meet Pope Francis’ ‘Laudato Si’’ challenge,” an article on our topic by Dr. McGann published in America magazine in March 2022. It provides a good synopsis of the points that Dr. McGann covered in her presentation. Contact us at [email protected] if you'd like links to additional resources on plant-based eating.
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Pope Francis Issues Laudate Deum. On the feast day of St. Francis of Assisi, eight years after the publication of the encyclical Laudato Si’ on the care of the common home, Pope Francis published an apostolic exhortation as a complement and update. Francis wrote “Eight years have passed since I published the Encyclical Letter Laudato Si’, when I wanted to share with all of you, my brothers and sisters of our suffering planet, my heartfelt concerns about the care of our common home. Yet, with the passage of time, I have realized that our responses have not been adequate, while the world in which we live is collapsing and may be nearing the breaking point.” (LD 2). You can read more about Laudate Deum HERE or watch the video to the right.
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"Effective Advocacy" Workshop at the May 2023 Meeting. Bob More led an advocacy workshop at our monthly meeting. He discussed working with Federal, State and local officials, providing a nice summary of "what elected officials care a lot about" as well as "what they don't care much about". He described nine forms of advocacy, such as the easy signing of petitions to more involved participation in meetings with elected officials or public hearings. He nicely summarized the pros and cons of each of the nine forms of advocacy. Following Bob's presentation, there was a good discussion of the many advocacy efforts at St. John Neumann related to Catholic Social Teaching. Click on the image to the right to view a recording of the workshop. Here is a link to Bob's "Effective Advocacy" powerpoint slides.
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A New Mary Garden Featuring Native Plants: A Spiritual Experience.
CCH worked with Josh Skeen, a parishioner who used his Eagle Scout service project to construct a Mary Garden next to the existing pollinator garden located on the east end of the SJN property. Creating a Mary Garden has been an activity dating back hundreds of years, originally in Europe. However, because Mary Gardens originated in Europe, the plants that are described are native to that region, and not in the United States. While some non-native plants do provide food for pollinators, using plants that are native to the United States in a Mary Garden can be both spiritually fulfilling and ecologically beneficial for our Earth and the creatures who dwell in it. To learn how you can build your own Mary Garden with native plants at home, please visit this St. Kateri Mary Garden web site.
CCH worked with Josh Skeen, a parishioner who used his Eagle Scout service project to construct a Mary Garden next to the existing pollinator garden located on the east end of the SJN property. Creating a Mary Garden has been an activity dating back hundreds of years, originally in Europe. However, because Mary Gardens originated in Europe, the plants that are described are native to that region, and not in the United States. While some non-native plants do provide food for pollinators, using plants that are native to the United States in a Mary Garden can be both spiritually fulfilling and ecologically beneficial for our Earth and the creatures who dwell in it. To learn how you can build your own Mary Garden with native plants at home, please visit this St. Kateri Mary Garden web site.
St. John Neumann and CCH accept Pope Francis’ Laudato Si’ challenge. Our parish and ministry were the subject of an article in the Arlington Catholic Herald. Ed and Janet recently had the opportunity to reflect on the efforts to integrate the church’s ecological teachings into the life of the parish when they enrolled SJN in the Vatican’s Laudato Si Action Platform. St. John Neumann is the first parish in the diocese to enroll in the platform, a program and associated website sponsored by the Vatican’s Dicastery for Promoting Integral Human Development that equips Catholic institutions, communities, families and households to implement Laudato Si’. Drafting the plan involved collaborating with parish staff and other ministries to see how they could collectively further the mission. More information can be found on the Action Plan page.
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The Letter Movie. The C.are for Our Common Home hosted a screening of The Letter, a new documentary about how spiritual values call us to take action on the planetary crisis. It focuses on a small group of people from around the world who have an encounter with Pope Francis. The exclusive dialogue with the Pope, included in the film, offers a revealing insight into the personal history of Pope Francis and stories never seen since he became the Bishop of Rome. Pope Francis gives them new hope. After we watched the movie, we thought and talked about how we can take action. In case you missed it, or want to watch again, just click on the image to watch the movie (for free!) on Youtube. To learn more about how you can act in response, please visit the Laudato SI' Movement web site, the organization behind the filming of the Letter.
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Lent 2023 Bulletin Series - Hearing the Cry of the Earth and the Cry of the Poor. We shared stories from our sisters and brothers who are overcoming the impact of climate change. Catholic Relief Services (CRS) is working in many countries on projects that protect both the environment and the poor, who are often the first to experience the negative impacts of climate change while contributing the least to its causes. The Bulletin articles include a story of climate change impacts on the poor, a call to prayer, and a suggestion for how to act in response.
Click HERE to see the Bulletin articles. |
We are a Laudato Si' Parish!
SJN completed the three phases of the Laudato Si' Action Platform: (1) Enrolling where SJN commits to creating our own Laudato Si’ Plan, specified in the Parish Pastoral Planet; (2) Reflecting on how the Laudato Si’ Goals connect with core values of loving kindness, responsible stewardship of our place in creation, and care for the most vulnerable. The Reflection Document can be found HERE; (3) Developing a concrete action plan that outlines our shared journey to sustainability in the holistic spirit of integral ecology. The SJN Action Plan for Year 1 can be found HERE. The Plan was developed by CCH with involvement from Parish staff. We presented the Plan to the Pastoral Council, See presentation HERE. |
A Fair Trade 2022 Thank You!
Thank you to all our parishioners who purchased handmade items at the Fair Trade Sale held here over the Thanksgiving weekend. Your thoughtful and generous purchases leave a positive impact on so many communities and cultures around the world. We hope the giving and receiving of quality gifts adds joy to your holidays, knowing that we are in solidarity with impoverished but talented artists. |
St. Francis of Assisi Eco-Spirituality Program. During our October meeting, we presented a St. Francis of Assisi program developed by Catholic Climate Covenant. The title this year is Eco-Spirituality: Behold God in Everything. We learned about eco-spirituality by reading, watching a video, listening to music, praying and discussing.
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St. Francis of Assisi’s first biographer, Thomas of Celano describes the way of Francis like this:
“Who could ever express the deep affection Francis bore for all things that belong to God? Or who would be able to tell of the sweet tenderness he enjoyed while contemplating in creatures the wisdom, power, and goodness of the Creator? From this reflection he often overflowed with amazing, unspeakable joy as he looked at the sun, gazed at the moon, or observed the stars in the sky.” |
Electrify Book Discussion. During several of our monthly meetings we discuss the book Electrify - An Optimist's Playbook for Our Clean Energy Future by Saul Griffith. Griffith lays out a detailed blueprint—optimistic but feasible—for fighting climate change while creating millions of new jobs and a healthier environment. Griffith’s plan can be summed up simply: electrify everything. He explains exactly what it would take to transform our infrastructure, update our grid, and adapt our households to make this possible. Billionaires may contemplate escaping our worn-out planet on a private rocket ship to Mars, but the rest of us, Griffith says, will stay and fight for the future. Griffith, an engineer and inventor, calls for grid neutrality, ensuring that households, businesses, and utilities operate as equals; we will have to rewrite regulations that were created for a fossil-fueled world, mobilize industry as we did in World War II, and offer low-interest “climate loans.” Griffith’s plan doesn’t rely on big, not-yet-invented innovations, but on thousands of little inventions and cost reductions. We can still have our cars and our houses—but the cars will be electric and solar panels will cover our roofs
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Parish Enrolls in Laudato Si' Action Platform! Working with the SJN Office Manager, we enrolled the parish in the Laudato Si' Action Platform, a unique collaboration between the Vatican, an international coalition of Catholic organizations, and “all men and women of good will” to take action address our environmental issues. We are responding to the call for healing in our relationships with God, our neighbors, and the Earth itself. Through the Laudato Si’ Action Platform, we are walking the “path to renewal” together (LS 202). Look for more information on the SJN Action Plan that will be developed over the summer. Families and individuals can also enroll and develop a family-specific action plan - please visit the Vatican's web site for more information on how to enroll.
Why Catholics Care for Creation Webinar. On February 8 we hosted a diocesan-wide webinar to kick-off the Care for Creation webinar series. This first webinar in the series explains Catholic teaching about the created world and our duty to care for the common home God has given us. Our guest speaker was award-winning author, speaker, and educator, Dr. Catherine Wright. The webinar was recorded and can be viewed HERE. Shown to the left is Hildegard of Bingen, one of only 36 people to be named Doctor of the Church, who serves as inspiration for the webinar series. Among her most recognizable contributions is her theory of Viriditas, the divine force of nature. She was a visionary and polymath, a poet, playwright, composer, philosopher, theologian, Christian mystic, scientist, and Doctor of Medicine.
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Winter 2022 Waste Reduction at In-Person Parish Events. As the parish emerged from the COVID pandemic, we helped reduce waste at multiple parish functions. At the Hypothermia Shelter, we used and washed the re-usable plates, cups and utensils used by about 75 guests. We were supported by members of the SJN Work Camp program with reusable items. At Live Jesus 2022, we set up bins to collect the compostable items and food waste - all items were compostable - and took 10 bags to the West Ox compost collection facility. Finally, we helped the Funeral Ministry use and wash the parish's reusable plates, coffee cups and utensils. These efforts kept over two thousand disposable items from ending up being sent to the landfill or Covanta incinerator.
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Advent Prayer Service 2021. In lieu of our monthly meeting, we gathered for an early morning advent prayer service in the Marian Chapel in the main church. We prayed the Laudato Si Chaplet, using the very same words of St Francis of Assisi and a simple prayer technique to pray with creation inspired by the Canticle of the Creatures, the hymn that inspired the title of the Laudato Si' encyclical. We invite you to try this prayer as you walk outside surrounded by nature.
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Field Trip to Shepherds Corner Farms and Holy Cross Abbey. A group of CCH members traveled to western Loudoun County and Clarke County to learn about sustainable farm practices and sustainable burial plots. The first stop was Shepherds Corner Farm, which practices sustainable agriculture by regularly rotating the sheep and horses from pasture to pasture, for the long-term health of both the livestock and grassland. The owners have planted literally hundreds of trees and shrubs that serve as habitat for local birds and wildlife that grow in number and variety every year. All of the electricity that powers the farm and business is generated by on-site solar panels. The property also houses a large colonies of purple martins and bats, which provide 100% natural control of flying insects, both day and night.
We also made a stop at the Cool Springs Natural Cemetery, which is on the grounds of Holy Cross Abbey. Monks, as lovers of this place, have always cherished the land on which they lived and Cool Spring Natural Cemetery forms a concrete expression of this love and witnesses to monasticism’s abiding respect for, and stewardship of, the earth and the environment.
We also made a stop at the Cool Springs Natural Cemetery, which is on the grounds of Holy Cross Abbey. Monks, as lovers of this place, have always cherished the land on which they lived and Cool Spring Natural Cemetery forms a concrete expression of this love and witnesses to monasticism’s abiding respect for, and stewardship of, the earth and the environment.
Fair Trade Bazaar 2021.
In partnership with the Fair Trade Winds store, we held a very successful event after all Masses on Thanksgiving weekend. Fair Trade creates opportunities for economically and socially marginalized farmers and artisans. Fair Trade also cultivates Environmental Stewardship by encouraging responsible use of resources and eco-friendly production. Thanks to all who supported the Fair Trade Bazaar!!! |
Zero Waste Salesian Retreat.
SJN held a pre-Advent retreat that included a continental breakfast for the 75 attendees. CCH made the breakfast into a Zero-waste event by using washable coffee cups and juice tumblers. We also provided and collected compostable plates, bowls and spoons. The result was zero waste generated and just two small bags of compost: banana peels, food scraps, and compostable serving ware. The bags were disposed of at the Fairfax County compost collection site on West Ox Road. |
Feast of St. Francis of Assisi Educational Program. During our October meeting, we presented portions of ECOLOGICAL CONVERSION: Called to Tend to a Flourishing Garden of Life. This program, developed by the Catholic Climate Covenant, was developed to join thousands of Catholics and other people of faith who want to learn, grow, and respond to the Church’s teaching on caring for creation and the poor. Pope Francis was so inspired by St. Francis of Assisi that he is the first Roman pontiff to take the saint’s name. Since the beginning of his papacy, he has challenged us to make care for creation and care for the poor a cornerstone of our Catholic witness. This year also marks the 42nd anniversary of St. Francis of Assisi being named the patron saint of those who promote ecology by St. John Paul II. Click HERE to view the entire program.
PROJECT DRAWDOWN VIDEOS. During our monthly meetings from May to September, we learned from Project Drawdown's Climate Solutions 101 (drawdown.org/climate-solutions-101), the world’s first major educational effort focused solely on solutions. Rather than rehashing well-known climate challenges, Project Drawdown centers game-changing climate action based on its own rigorous scientific research and analysis. This course, presented in video units and in-depth conversations, combines Project Drawdown’s trusted resources with the expertise of several inspiring voices from around the world. Climate solutions become attainable with increased access to free, science-based educational resources, elevated public discourse, and tangible examples of real-world action. Continue your climate solutions journey, today.
LAUDATO SI' VIRTUAL CONFERENCE. Instead of having our July meeting, several members attended the virtual conference "Laudato Si’ and the U.S. Catholic Church: A Conference Series on Our Common Home.” This is a biennial conference series to convene, equip, and inspire Catholics who can more deeply integrate Laudato Si’ and its climate change teaching into the U.S. Church. In partnership with Creighton University the 2021 conference expressed Catholic Climate Covenant’s leading role coordinating U.S. Catholic enactment of the Vatican “Laudato Si' Action Plan." The conference featured interactive breakout sessions facilitated by teams of ministry leaders working to more faithfully incorporate Laudato Si’ into eight areas of the U.S. Catholic Church: creation care teams, advocacy, colleges/universities, media, environmental justice, preaching for creation care, parochial school education, and youth/young adults.
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EARTH DAY WEBINAR RECORDING
We presented a webinar on April 27 that talked about efforts you can make at home to Care for Our Common Home. Click on the Youtube video to the right to watch the Webinar. Presentations included: home energy audits, renewable energy certificates, composting options, and Mary gardens with native plants. Accompanying references used are contained HERE. |
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March 2021 Meeting. We learned about Home Energy Audits - what they are and why to do them. See here for the presentation.
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We also reviewed two books:
The Future We Choose by Christiana Figueres See review here. and Factfulness by Hans Rosling Both are recommended for your edification and encouragement in walking the walk of eco-conversion. |
Advent Retreat
Self-paced reflections that you can use throughout the Advent Season |
Thank you for taking the time to follow along this self-paced Advent Retreat.
We offer it as an opportunity to step back from your daily routine and allow the Lord to renew your body, mind, soul, and spirit. Click HERE to begin the Advent Retreat |
Food Waste Drop-off Site at West Ox Road Transfer Station. Fairfax County recently opened two new locations where residents can drop off food waste to be composted. Composting is the way that nature recycles. Food waste makes up as much as one-third of the trash we dispose of every day. We have been composting yard waste for several years – now we are ready to tackle food waste. The two new sites are at the I-95 Landfill Complex and the I-66 Transfer Station (West Ox Road). They are open from 7 a.m. to 4 p.m. seven days a week. For more information, please click on the County's Composting Page.
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Fair Trade Thank You! Thank you to all our parishioners who purchased handmade items during our virtual Fair Trade Sale held over the Thanksgiving weekend. Your thoughtful and generous purchases leave a positive impact on so many communities and cultures around the world. We hope the giving and receiving of quality gifts added joy to your holidays, knowing that we are in solidarity with impoverished but talented artists.
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November Items of Interest. At our November meeting, we learned about natural ways to sequester carbon from the atmosphere.
The idea of removing CO2 from the atmosphere – either directly from the air or by capturing/storing it with vegetative sources – has been a strongly debated subject among environmentalists and engineers for years. Our monthly educational component looked at some of the types of natural carbon sequestration processes that are available, along with links to more detailed information and examples of projects being implemented. (Click HERE for a short summary)
The idea of removing CO2 from the atmosphere – either directly from the air or by capturing/storing it with vegetative sources – has been a strongly debated subject among environmentalists and engineers for years. Our monthly educational component looked at some of the types of natural carbon sequestration processes that are available, along with links to more detailed information and examples of projects being implemented. (Click HERE for a short summary)
2020 Season of Creation. Please visit the 2020 Seaon of Creation page HERE.
July Events - Amazonian Synod Discussion. A group of parishioners engaged in reading and discussing the final document from the 2019 Synod on the Amazon and the Pope’s 2020 Apostolic Exhortation, Querida Amazonia, over five sessions, using a study guide from the USCCB.
June Events - Work Camp Reboot. Our sacred space initiative got a boost from the WorkCamp efforts of over 30 teens and 25 adults. SJN’s WorkCamp community performed outdoor service projects at the church in collaboration with the Care for our Common Home Ministry. In a typical year, Diocesan WorkCamp brings together over 850 teens and 500 adults from across the Diocese for a week of service making homes of those in need warmer, safer, and drier. In response to COVID-19 restrictions, WorkCamp was “ReBooted” to focus on service to our local Parish. The prayer loop has been mulched, steps added, benches constructed, and amphitheater seats have been cleaned. Benches and mulch were also added to the pollinator garden. Final touches are being made to the prayer boxes which hold laminated pamphlets with prayer suggestions. We are so thankful to the Work Campers! Come out and enjoy a peaceful and prayerful walk surrounded by nature. Click HERE for a map of the Sacred Spaces on the SJN campus and nearby nature trails.
May Events - Laudato Si' Week 2020. Here are resources to celebrate the 5th anniversary of the publication of Laudato Si' during May.
Laudato Si’ – 5th Anniversary Resources GCCM Laudato Si' Week Trainings/events: https://laudatosiweek.org/activities/ Global Day of Prayer on May 24 at noon local time: https://laudatosiweek.org/prayer/ USCCB Resources: http://usccb.org/issues-and-action/human-life-and-dignity/environment/index.cfm St. Francis of Assisi in Triangle, week of Webinars: https://sfa-real.webinarninja.com/series-webinars/2175/register |
April 2020 Meeting Summary. Our very first Zoom meeting went very well. We heard from Delegate Karrie Delaney about the impressive environmental bills passed during the 2020 Virginia General Assembly, especially the Virginia Clean Economy Act and the Clean Energy and Community Flood Preparedness Act. Other significant bills will enhance protections for the Chesapeake Bay watershed, authorize a local disposable bag tax, and clarify what restrictions an HOA can impose on homeowners' installation of solar panels. Click HERE to see Del. Delaney's summary. Attendees expressed appreciation to Del. Delaney and her colleagues for their support for Virginia’s responsible transition to a 21st Century clean energy economy.
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Winter 2019-2020. Our activities over the winter focused primarily on exploring ways for SJN to reduce and offset CO2 emissions from parish operations, including options for obtaining electricity from wind and solar energy instead of fossil fuels. We gathered an informal focus group to introduce these ideas to a small group of parishioners and get their impressions. Receiving a positive response, we next met with Fr. Joe and Facilities Manager Mark Gosselin to ask for their support to further explore these ideas with the parish Finance Council and the Diocese of Arlington. Both Fr. Joe and Mark were supportive of exploring options. So we arranged a meeting with a member of the Finance Council and the new director of the diocesan Office of Planning, Construction and Facilities, Check back for updates as we travel the road to achieving net zero CO2 emissions by using wind energy credits and later solar panels to eliminate our parish carbon footprint.
Our dishwashing efforts included all six Hypothermia Prevention Shelter dinners and three Lenten Soup suppers. We also worked with the Youth Ministry in cleaning up the dishes for over 250 attendees at the annual Mardi Gras celebration.
Our dishwashing efforts included all six Hypothermia Prevention Shelter dinners and three Lenten Soup suppers. We also worked with the Youth Ministry in cleaning up the dishes for over 250 attendees at the annual Mardi Gras celebration.
November 2019 We held our annual Fair Trade Sale during the first weekend of Advent. Thank you to all our parishioners who purchased handmade items. Your thoughtful and generous purchases leave a positive impact on so many communities and cultures around the world. We hope the giving and receiving of quality gifts adds joy to your holidays knowing that we are in solidarity with impoverished but talented artists. All items were supplied by Fair Trade Winds in the Mosaic District. Here is a helpful description of the various Fair Trade Symbols.
October 2019 Meeting Summary. We celebrated the Feast Day of St. Francis of Assisi by using the program distributed by Catholic Climate Covenant. We learned about integral ecology and how three indigenous groups have been impacted by the climate crisis. See here for a 15 minute video and See here for the program.
September 2019 Meeting Summary. Our big effort in September was researching and preparing displays for the Food Choices for Personal and Planetary Health Showcase. We staffed the displays after all Masses on September 29. Please see here for a summary of each display board and practical suggestions for improving our health and environment by mindful food choices.
August 2019 Meeting Summary. Bob More summarized his experiences and the activities at Laudato Si' and the U.S. Catholic Church: A Conference Series on Our Common Home, The conference, hosted by the Catholic Climate Covenant and Creighton University, was held June 27-29 and attended by over 200 people from across the US. The conference was designed to more deeply integrate Laudato Si’ and Catholic climate change teaching into eight key ministries of the U.S. Catholic Church: Advocacy, Adult Faith Formation, Creation Care Teams, Energy Management, Higher Education, Liturgy, School Education, Young Adult Ministry. See this link for conference audio and presentation slides.
We also discussed plans for the 2019 Season of Creation. |
July 2019 Activities. At our July meeting we presented a 1 1/2 hour online course. Awakening the Dreamer , a transformative educational program developed by Pachamama Alliance that explores the challenges facing humanity at this critical moment in time and the opportunities we as a human family have to create a new future. In Awakening the Dreamer, we looked "squarely at the state of the world—where we are and how we got here—and then explored what role we can play in bringing forth an environmentally sustainable, spiritually fulfilling, socially just human presence on this planet." If you would like to take the free course at your convenience, see this link. Scroll to the bottom of the page to find the independent online registration button.
We also signed a petition to Governor Northam: Say No to More Fossil Fuel Infrastructure on behalf of our Ministry.
See petition here.
We also signed a petition to Governor Northam: Say No to More Fossil Fuel Infrastructure on behalf of our Ministry.
See petition here.
June 2019 Activities. We had a fantastic talk - Creating a Wildlife Habitat in Your Yard - by Kim Young, She taught us how to transform a typical suburban yard into a native plant wildlife habitat. We hope you were motivated and encouraged to take action to make some changes in your own space, even if in just a small corner of your yard or neighborhood. Click here for Kim's handouts. And here's a list of 2019 native plant sales upcoming this fall.
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Bioretention Basin Signs. CCH had some signs made to draw attention to the bioretention basins along the main driveway. These are sensitive vegetated areas that help reduce the impact of stormwater runoff from the parish parking lots. Mark Gosselin requested these signs as a way to educate folks as to why these areas are roped off from foot traffic (previously people would walk through these sensitive areas on the way to or from mass or the farmer's market).
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Pollinator Garden Refresh. An Eagle Scout project in 2017 resulted in the creation of a Pollinator Garden on the east end of the lower parking lot. Over time, some of the "deer resistance" plantings have been nibbled away. CCH purchased new plants to refresh the area so that we can still attract bees, butterflies and other pollinators to our Sacred Grounds.
May 2019 Activities. In our May 14 meeting, we tackled the issue of consumerism as we watched and discussed a 20-minute documentary entitled, “The Story of Stuff.” We also shared a document from interfaith leaders called "Faith Principles for the Green New Deal" and summarized a recent Catholic Climate Covenant webinar, "Why the Faith Community Holds the Climate Key."
CCH members viewed two other recent webinars of note: "Catholic Social Teaching and the Green New Deal" from Catholic Climate Covenant, and “Going Green at Your Home” from Faith Alliance for Climate Solutions.
At noon on May 24, members of Care for our Common Home prayed a virtual Rosary together. We celebrated the 4th anniversary of Pope Francis's completion of Laudato Si' and were in solidarity with over a million people who participated in Climate Strikes across the globe. We prayed the Joyful Mysteries to announce our hopeful stance for raising awareness to the demands of young people for bold action on the climate crisis. For each decade, the virtual rosary has a thoughtful reflection with references to scripture and Laudato Si'.
CCH members viewed two other recent webinars of note: "Catholic Social Teaching and the Green New Deal" from Catholic Climate Covenant, and “Going Green at Your Home” from Faith Alliance for Climate Solutions.
At noon on May 24, members of Care for our Common Home prayed a virtual Rosary together. We celebrated the 4th anniversary of Pope Francis's completion of Laudato Si' and were in solidarity with over a million people who participated in Climate Strikes across the globe. We prayed the Joyful Mysteries to announce our hopeful stance for raising awareness to the demands of young people for bold action on the climate crisis. For each decade, the virtual rosary has a thoughtful reflection with references to scripture and Laudato Si'.
Lenten Soup Supper
Dish Washing Support April 12 8:00 - 9:00 pm |
Care for Our Common Home will provide dish washers so that we can use “real” bowls/utensils instead of single use disposables. We will help the Knights of Columbus and Boy Scout Troop 124 set up the soup bowls, spoons, napkins, tumblers, and pitchers for water. And help clean-up afterwards.
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April Meeting Summary We presented a special Earth Day program on Biodiversity prepared by Catholic Climate Covenant. In this hour-long program, we “will delve into the scriptural and ethical dimensions of our call to be stewards of all of God’s creation, examine the importance of biodiversity and species loss, and discuss how we must respond.”
March 2019 Activities. It was a busy month in the SJN kitchen, washing dishes at the Women's retreat breakfast, Mardi Gras dinner, and three Friday night Soup Suppers. Our efforts prevented over 2,500 single use plastic/paper disposable items from being sent to the incinerator in Lorton. Thanks to the 25 volunteers at these events that continue to build a "Beyond a Throwaway Culture" at SJN.
We also coordinated with the Live Jesus program by collecting and disposing of the 100% compostable items (plates, utensils, cups, napkins) and food wastes. Thanks to the Live Jesus purchase of compostable items for 700 attendees, the parish diverted a substantial amount of material from going to the incinerator which instead will be turned into compost by our commercial composting partner (Veterans Composting). Click HERE for a summary of the event. |
February 2019 Meeting Summary. We learned more about recent legislative developments at the National, State, and Local levels. There were presentations and good discussions on the Green New Deal Resolution, Energy Innovation and Carbon Dividend Act, Virginia legislative initiatives, and Fairfax County initiatives. We also reviewed a Summary of 2018 CCH Activities and some Ideas for 2019.
January 2019 Meeting Summary. Our meeting focused on the life cycle of textiles. Janet Broderick described some of the environmental and social aspects of the clothes manufacturing process. Terry Barlow discussed ways to de-clutter our closets and what happens to the clothes that we choose to donate. Jennifer Koons identified some factors to consider when buying new clothes. View their insightful presentations by hovering over the Youtube video to the right. Use the Youtube controls at the bottom left of the screen to pause or bottom right to switch to full screen mode.
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A Fair Trade Thank You Message. Thank you to all of our parishioners who purchased handmade items at the Fair Trade Sale held at SJN over the Thanksgiving weekend. Your thoughtful and generous purchases leave a positive impact on so many communities and cultures around the world. We hope the giving and receiving of quality gifts adds joy to your holidays, knowing that we are in solidarity with impoverished but talented artists.
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November/December Activities. In our November meeting, Bob More presented information on carbon pricing options for reducing greenhouse gases. View the presentation HERE. Over the Thanksgiving weekend, we made a presentation to the 2018-2019 JustFaith class, who are using Laudato Si': On Care for Our Common Home as their principal text. During our December meeting, we discussed the book Drawdown: The Most Comprehensive Plan Ever Proposed to Reverse Global Warming. It maps, measures, models, and describes the 100 most substantive solutions to global warming. The goal of the research that informs Drawdown is to determine if we can reverse the buildup of atmospheric carbon within thirty years. All solutions modeled are already in place, well understood, and analyzed based on peer-reviewed science, and they are expanding around the world. We also discussed the best ways to dry your hands in public restrooms.
September/October Activities. Please click HERE here to see the many 2018 Season of Creation Events, including the Sustainability Showcase, student photo contest, and dedication of St. Francis of Assisi garden statue.
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June/July Activities. At our June meeting, we watched and discussed the video Happening: A Clean Energy Revolution. (see Trailer HERE). The video was written, produced and directed by James Redford for HBO (yes, Robert's son). Janet has the DVD if you want to borrow it. Ed and Janet made a presentation at the monthly Parish staff meeting to provide an overview of our ministry and to let them know about our Beyond a Throwaway Culture initiative (see the presentation HERE). Kelly was interviewed by a Spanish language radio station to talk about Laudato Si', which will be broadcast throughout South America (additional information coming soon!) On July 5, Pope Francis spoke on the 3rd anniversary of the publication of Laudato Si' (click HERE to read his encouraging remarks and how we can "hear with our hearts"). At our July meeting, we learned a bit more about how plastics are made, both from fossil fuels and renewable sources (click HERE to watch the National Geographic video and HERE to watch the video on plastics made from canola plants.
SJN Receives Sustainability Champion Award (Local Congregation Category).
On June 10, we were presented with the 1st annual FACS Sustainability Champion Award by the Faith Alliance for Climate Solutions. We had the honor of listening to the keynote speech by Elena Ixcot (Grandmother Teresa), an elder and spiritual leader in the Maya community who is guided by the knowledge and teachings of Mayan ancestors to respect and care for Mother Earth and Mother Nature. Click here to view the FACS facebook page with more photos of the event. |
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Single Stream Recycling Video. For those of you who missed the March tour of the American Disposal Recycling Facility in Manassas, this video shows how the material you collect for recycling is processed. It shows what is (and what is not being recycled). For more details on how we can become better recyclers at home, visit the American Disposal Service web site or google your disposal service to determine their particulate recycling guidance.
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CCH IN THE NEWS!
Check out this article about care for creation efforts in the Diocese, including at SJN. A few of our many activities are highlighted in the article, as well as activities at other parishes in the Diocese. The photo accompanying the article shows Martha Ritchie, Bev Sherman, Al Kenneke, and Ed Sabo during one of our road cleanups. Bob More is quoted: "The spirituality component is really paramount in what we’re doing here. There can be a lot of practical benefits, but we’re coming from a place of our responsibility for God’s creation and to care for the poor and vulnerable. That’s really what motivates us." A good article published just in time for Earth Day! Click HERE to view the article. |
CCH IN THE NEWS!
Ed Sabo and Betsy Zolper (St. Mark) are quoted in the National Catholic Reporter on reducing waste at Catholic parishes and other facilities. Betsy is quoted in all three articles, Ed in the second and third. There is a great quote from a creation team member in Nebraska: “The Styrofoam that you're throwing in the landfill today will be here when Jesus comes again, and he's not going to be happy.” Here are links to the three articles: Reducing waste: ‘Throwaway culture’ in spotlight as Earth Day targets plastics Reducing waste: Catholic parishes, hospitals see results from efforts to reduce and recycle Reducing Waste: Parish change begins with awareness, bins and reminders |
Presentation on Skin Care and Cleaning Products
Click here for summary of presentation by Julianne O’Dwyer on April 12, 2018
Click here for summary of presentation by Julianne O’Dwyer on April 12, 2018
March 2018 Activities. A group of 20 took a tour of the American Disposal Recycling Facility in Manassas. We learned what is (and what is not being recycled), and how we can become better recyclers at home. The full service tour included comprehensive educational components as well as stops at the tipping floor and the first sorting conveyor belt. Click here for a summary of what we learned. At our monthly meeting, we prepared for spring gardening by learning about composting, rain barrels, and native plants. We also had a presentation on efforts to petition the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors to make the county fossil free; to learn more about this effort, email [email protected] or find them on Facebook.
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February 2018 Activities. Board members from Faith Alliance for Climate Solutions (FACS) gave us a presentation on their initiatives and suggested how we might work together in the coming year. Of special interest was the Fairfax to Zero campaign to urge Fairfax County to take bold, urgent, and sustained actions to become a leader in local solutions to climate change. Also during February, we helped reduce waste at Lenten Soup Suppers and the Called & Gifted workshop. We facilitated using compostable coffee cups and reusable plates, cutlery, and tumblers for a crowd of nearly 300 people at the workshop. This work highlighted how our ministry can work with the community, and was much appreciated by Fr. Joe and workshop participants. Finally, several of us attended a delightful and informative presentation at St. Mark Church from Jane Crosby on Zero Waste Living.
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January 2018 Meeting Highlights. We took a look back on our 2017 activities and accomplishments, We also looked forward to ways we can care for our common home in 2018 and how to get more parishioners involved in caring for creation. For inspiration, we started the meeting listening to Lori True's song Let This Be the Time. (Lori performed with David Haas at a concert at SJN and facilitated a 1/2 day Advent retreat the following day to prepare us for Advent.) We were especially moved by a particular line in the song: "When our care for creation becomes our vocation - let this be the time." Full song lyrics can be found here.
We concluded the meeting with this Prayer for a Committee Meeting. |
December 2017 Meeting Highlights. Electronic waste or e-waste is one of the rapidly growing problems of the world. E-waste comprises of a multitude of components, some containing toxic substances that can have an adverse impact on human health and the environment if not handled properly. Kelly Gallo discussed the issue of e-waste, highlighting how wealthy nations have been sending e-waste to developing countries like China and India, where environmental enforcement is relatively lax. Click here for Kelly's presentation. Also, Ann More provided information on two organizations that promote simple ways to care for our common home. The Take 3 Message is simple: take 3 pieces of rubbish with you when you leave the beach, waterway or…anywhere and you’ve made a difference. The Last Plastic Straw organization strives to educate the public about the absurdity of single use plastic, its effects on our health, our environment, and our oceans.
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Fair Trade Bazaar. CCH organized this annual event and provided education on the importance of fair trade. Fair Trade conserves, preserves, and cultivates the environment when possible. If you missed it, merchandise can still be purchases from the Fair Trade Winds store in the Mosaic District or online from the CRS Ethical Trade website.
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2017 Season of Creation Events - September 1 to October 4. Click on this 2017 Happenings link to view highlights of the numerous Care for Our Common activities at St. John Neumann. Around the world, there were over 500 Season of Creation events in 46 different countries! Some of the worldwide events are summarized here.
November 2017 Presentation on Natural Burials. Click here for a summary of the presentation. During the month of November as we commemorated our departed loved ones, it was timely to consider our own funeral arrangements. We were pleased to have two speakers discuss natural burials as an alternative to a traditional burial. Vern Conaway provided an overview of the Cool Spring Natural Cemetery at the Holy Cross Abbey in Berryville. Jordan Wince, a funeral director at the Adams-Green Funeral Home in Herndon, answered questions about the decisions that need to be made at the funeral home. About 25 parishioners attended the event. Click here to learn more about the Cool Spring Natural Cemetery. Click here to watch the PBS documentary Saving Place, Saving Grace about the Holy Cross Abbey, focusing on environmental stewardship at the Abbey and the Cool Spring Natural Cemetery (starting at about 47:40 in the video).
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7-Week Laudato Si' Study. The Care for Our Common Home Ministries at St. John Neumann and St. Mark co-sponsored a discussion of Pope Francis’ 2015 encyclical. We used Fr. Dan Horan’s Understanding Laudato Si’ videos as our guide. You can view Fr. Dan’s presentations here . We completed the study by asking ourselves questions such as these:
What steps have we taken in our individual lives to be good stewards of the earth? What additional steps can we take to devise a sustainable and just world,? What creative initiatives are being taken in our local community? How might I share the teachings of Laudato Si’ with others? Please consider these questions in your own time of prayer and contemplation. |
Bird watching Walk - November 3, 2017
What a beautiful day to see native birds in the grounds behind the Parish.
What a beautiful day to see native birds in the grounds behind the Parish.
Red Bellied Woodpecker Two Downy Woodpeckers Song Sparrow Bird Photos by Mike Ruth
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July 2017 Meeting Highlights. Fr. Daniel P. Horan, OFM introduced us to the three models or approaches to creation that evolved over the course of Christian history - from dominion to stewardship to kinship. These different ways of interpreting sacred scripture and theology help set the context for how we can approach and understand Pope Francis's teaching in his encyclical letter. For more from Fr. Horan, click here for his youtube channel. We also started planning for the Season of Creation along with our guests from the St. Mark Care for Creation team. We concluded with a Prayer of Praise and Thanksgiving.
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June Meeting Highlights. We celebrated the 2nd anniversary of Laudato Si' by taking time to step back and reflect on how our lifestyles and attitudes may have changed over the last two years. Attendees shared their common experiences: using ceramic mugs instead of throwaway coffee cups, spending more time in nature, adjusting thermostats, purchasing renewable energy from Arcadia Power, having civil conversations with friends to promote the Pope's message, becoming more active in advocating for our common home, and contemplating more deeply on Catholic Social Teaching. We concluded with this Prayer to Care for Our Common Home from the US Conference of Catholic Bishops.
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Happy 2nd Anniversary Laudato Si'! Answering Pope Francis’ urgent call, we pledge to: 1) Pray for and with creation 2) Live more simply 3) Advocate to protect our common home Make the Laudato Si' Pledge by clicking here |
May Meeting Highlights. We started with an upbeat slide show of the Peoples Climate March, highlighting the inspirational Catholic participation in the March. On advocacy, we summarized CCH participation in the Catholic Climate Lobby Day that preceded the March, and we reviewed Fr. Joe's Letter to Governor McAuliffe (which we had drafted) in support of Virginia's efforts to reduce the Commonwealth’s carbon emissions and grow the clean energy economy. We had a report on our work with the Religious Education program, including an event in which children wrote letters to Pope Francis concerning care for creation, which we forwarded to the Vatican--see CCH's Letter to the Pope and the Response letter from the Vatican. In anticipation of hosting Bishop D'Silva of Mumbai, India, on May 14, we showed a YouTube video that provides some background on the Bishop and his perspectives on peace, justice, and the environment. Bishop D’Silva serves as the Secretary of the Federation of Asian Bishops’ Conferences Climate Change Desk. His motto is "Care for Creation." (Unfortunately, Bishop D'Silva was not able to come because his visa to travel to the U.S. was delayed.)
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Earth Day and Peoples Climate March.
On April 23, we had a tree blessing and Prayer Service to thank God for the many blessings we receive through His gift of creation to us. On April 29, we joined with interfaith groups at the People’s Climate March. The event drew nearly 200,000 people, despite the scorching heat, including many Catholics who echoed Pope Francis’ call to address climate change. Click here for a more photos of Catholic groups at the March (note the CCH banner in photo 22 of 30). |
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April 2017 Meeting Highlights. In Laudato Si, Pope Francis urgently appeals for "a new dialogue about how we are shaping the future of our planet." To learn more about how we can conduct this dialogue, we viewed this 7-minute video, "If I just explain the facts, they'll get it, right?" by Katherine Hayhoe, an atmospheric scientist and associate professor of political science at Texas Tech University. The video was followed by a discussion of the Catholic Climate Covenant webinar, "Just Transition: Shrinking our Carbon Footprint While Leaving No One Behind." The webinar addressed what Catholic Social Teaching has to say about a just transition to a clean energy economy, focusing on Appalachia. Click here to view this and other webinars sponsored by the Covenant.
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Religious Education Family Night and Lenten Activity. Care for Our Common Home teamed up with the Religious Education Office and presented a Family Night activity at the beginning of Lent. After eating pizza on reusable plates, we presented Laudato Si’ at a level of understanding suitable for early elementary ages. We also showed the entertaining, short Green Ninja movie (link here), and then families discussed ideas for reducing their carbon footprint. The children wrote letters to Pope Francis thanking him for writing his encyclical for us and pledging actions to care for our common home. Throughout Lent, all religious education classes engaged in simple activities to reduce waste and enjoy nature as a Faith in Action event. Notice the stickers on the “carbon footprints” in the photo.
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February Highlights. Our monthly meeting included a presentation on Advocacy 101. Click here for more information about how you can advocate for the Care for our Common Home. SJN continued to be a Cool Congregation in 2016, as we were able to document that energy use and costs were about 10% less in 2016 than in 2015, and 30+% less than in 2013/2014.
CCH also sponsored a community-wide showing of the award-winning American documentary film Bag-IT, exposing the effects of plastic bags and other plastic consumer merchandise, and its effects on land ecosystems, the marine environment, and the human body. View the movie trailer here. A lively discussion among attendees followed the movie, the discussion questions are provided here. Some ideas for reducing plastic wastes are provided here. |
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Highlights from January 2017 Meeting. We welcomed a group from St. Mark Parish in Vienna, who are forming their own creation care team. Teilhard de Chardin's Patient Trust Prayer provided our opening inspiration. Our education segment focused on Renewable Energy Certificates (click on the linked image on the left to learn how RECs are generated). And we learned how residential consumers could obtain RECs to promote electricity generation from renewable sources (click here to view the PowerPoint Presentation).
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Highlights from December 2016 Meeting. For those of you who missed it, we had a great December meeting. Our educational piece focused on plastics, including the humorous "The Majestic Plastic Bag - A Mockumentary" (click on the linked image on the right to view). Helene Shore talked about her group, the Virginia Green Baggers, which educates about how single-use plastics harm the environment and provides free reusable cloth bags. And Bill Richey shared Thomas Merton's A letter to a Young Activist written to a young activist about "work in advocacy and activism...but also idealism and the hopes many of us try to live out (as hard as that may be sometimes) for a better world."
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SJN's Annual Fair Trade Bazaar - December 3/4, 2016. CCH coordinated the record-setting SJN bazaar this year. We worked with the Fair Trade Winds store in the Mosaic District (Merrifield) in providing an array of products from indigenous artists and farmers that promote the Fair Trade movement. About a dozen CCH volunteers helped set-up the displays, answered questions from shoppers, and provided information that promotes the Fair Trade movement and its connection to caring for our common home. Many of the products we buy – coffee, tea, chocolate, handicrafts – are produced in developing countries. Through the Bazaar, we encouraged parishioners to do some of their Christmas gift shopping to help these small farmers, laborers and artisans earn a living wage, provide for their families, and invest in their farms and communities in an environmentally responsible way. To learn more about fair trade, see this Catholic Relief Services website. Proceeds from the Bazaar will be used to promote several CCH initiatives in 2017.
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St. Francis of Assisi Feast Day Prayer Service - October 1, 2016
CCH helped the parish celebrate the feast day of our patron saint of ecology with songs, prayers, presentation and discussions. About 40 people attended the event in the de Sales Chapel to learn how to faithfully respond to our Catholic Social Teaching of caring for creation. Mickey Edwards made a presentation on Laudato Si’, the Pope’s encyclical about the environment. We learned how “Caring for our Common Home” reveals to us new corporal and spiritual ways to minister to Christ in the least of his brothers and sisters. |
World Day of Prayer for the Care of Creation - September 1, 2016
Pope Francis declared September 1 as the World Day of Prayer for the Care of Creation, as the Orthodox Church has done since 1989. He says “the annual World Day of Prayer for the Care of Creation will offer individual believers and communities a fitting opportunity to reaffirm their personal vocation to be stewards of creation, to thank God for the wonderful handiwork which he has entrusted to our care, and to implore his help for the protection of creation as well as his pardon for the sins committed against the world in which we live.” CCH coordinated prayer opportunities throughout the day - daily Mass, Nature Prayer Walk, Rosary with Care for Creation meditations, and Centering Prayer with spiritual readings on the Care of Creation and 20 minutes of silent Contemplative Prayer.
Pope Francis declared September 1 as the World Day of Prayer for the Care of Creation, as the Orthodox Church has done since 1989. He says “the annual World Day of Prayer for the Care of Creation will offer individual believers and communities a fitting opportunity to reaffirm their personal vocation to be stewards of creation, to thank God for the wonderful handiwork which he has entrusted to our care, and to implore his help for the protection of creation as well as his pardon for the sins committed against the world in which we live.” CCH coordinated prayer opportunities throughout the day - daily Mass, Nature Prayer Walk, Rosary with Care for Creation meditations, and Centering Prayer with spiritual readings on the Care of Creation and 20 minutes of silent Contemplative Prayer.
St. John Neumann Certified as a “Cool Congregation” - June 2016
Our parish was recently named a Certified Cool Congregation by Interfaith Power and Light (IPL) based on the reduction in our building’s energy consumption and carbon emissions. The effort was spearheaded by Mark Gosselin, our Facilities Manager, and fully support by Fr. Tom Murphy. Several energy-saving measures have been implemented in the past few years, resulting in a 28% reduction in electricity usage. We emitted 29% less greenhouse gas emissions, and our annual fuel bill was reduced about $15,000! We hope this certification will inspire parishioners to reduce our energy consumption as a visible sign of caring for creation, in accordance with the stewardship messages of Laudato Si’ and Catholic social teaching. You may notice the plaque on the "Wall-of-Fame" in the Brown-McCarthy Auditorium. For more info, please see the write-ups on the Catholic Herald and Cool Congregations web sites.
Our parish was recently named a Certified Cool Congregation by Interfaith Power and Light (IPL) based on the reduction in our building’s energy consumption and carbon emissions. The effort was spearheaded by Mark Gosselin, our Facilities Manager, and fully support by Fr. Tom Murphy. Several energy-saving measures have been implemented in the past few years, resulting in a 28% reduction in electricity usage. We emitted 29% less greenhouse gas emissions, and our annual fuel bill was reduced about $15,000! We hope this certification will inspire parishioners to reduce our energy consumption as a visible sign of caring for creation, in accordance with the stewardship messages of Laudato Si’ and Catholic social teaching. You may notice the plaque on the "Wall-of-Fame" in the Brown-McCarthy Auditorium. For more info, please see the write-ups on the Catholic Herald and Cool Congregations web sites.
Responding to Climate Change as People of Hope: Pope Francis' Call to Action - September, 2015 A parish-wide presentation was held in the Brown-McCarthy Auditorium to reflect on Pope Francis’ encyclical on the environment and his visit to the U.S. About 50 parishioners learned how and why the Church is drawing attention to the moral dimensions of climate change, and why we should be inspired to take action to care for our common home as people of hope. Our presenter was Lonnie Ellis, Associate Director of the Catholic Climate Covenant. This event was co-sponsored by the Pax Christi, Pro-Life, and JustFaith ministries.
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