WOULD YOU LIKE TO ‘GO GREEN‘?

Pope Francis began his encyclical, Praise be to you, my Lord: On Care for our Common Home with the reminder that “St. Francis of Assisi reminds us that our common home is like a sister with who we share our life and a beautiful mother who opens her arms to embrace us.” (1) “St. Francis was a mystic and a pilgrim who lived in simplicity and in wonderful harmony with God, with others, with nature and with himself. He shows us just how inseparable the bond is between concern for nature, justice for the poor, commitment to society, and interior peace.”(10)

“Everything is interconnected. . . . We are faced not with two separate crises, one environmental and the other social, but rather with one complex crisis which is both social and environmental. Strategies for a solution demand an integrated approach to combating poverty, restoring dignity to the excluded, and at the same time protecting nature.” – Pope Francis, Laudato Si’: On Care for Our Common Home, nos. 138, 139

St. Francis of Assisi found healing and God’s love in creation/nature. Take time during this summer to enjoy nature and learn God’s creativity and love from this wondrous gift God has given us. If you wish to learn more about St. Francis, Franciscan spirituality, and Pope Francis’ encyclical go to www.franciscanaction.org.

What Other Parishes Are Doing

From the Church of the Resurrection in Dubuque, Judith wrote to tell us about her parish’s “Green Team.” The Green Team inserts sustainability tips into the parish bulletin every week and has even made its annual parish festival “green” through composting and recycling. The compost pile from this year’s festival was the size of two Holstein cows!

Prayer to Care for Our Common Home

Father of all,

Creator and ruler of the universe,

You entrusted your world to us as a gift.

Help us to care for it and all people,

that we may live in right relationship–

with You,

with ourselves,

with one another,

and with creation.

Christ our Lord,

both divine and human,

You lived among us and died for our sins.

Help us to imitate your love for the human family

by recognizing that we are all connected —

to our brothers and sisters around the world,

to those in poverty impacted by environmental devastation, and

to future generations.

Holy Spirit,

giver of wisdom and love,

You breathe life in us and guide us.

Help us to live according to your vision,

stirring to action the hearts of all —

individuals and families,

communities of faith, and

civil and political leaders.

Triune God,

help us to hear

the cry of those in poverty,

and the cry of the earth,

so that we may together

care for our common home.

Amen.

This prayer from the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops is based on Pope Francis’ Laudato Si’: On Care for Our Common Home