ADLA > Ministries and Departments > Office of Life, Justice and Peace > Creation Sustainability Ministry (CSM)

Creation

On the fourth anniversary of Pope Francis’ encyclical on caring for the earth, "LAUDATO SI" Bishops celebrate the beauty of California while warning of the perils facing our home:

"God Calls us all to care for our common Home"

Click on the pictures below to download California Bishops’ Pastoral Statement.

God Calls Us All to Care for Our Common Home (1).jpg

Consider How Your Parish and Family Can Save Money and Steward Creation

RESOURCES FOR EVERYONE

Read Laudato Si by Pope Francis

Laudato Si is the encyclical letter by Pope Francis on Care for our Common Home. He advocates for an authentic human ecology that respects creation and human dignity.

St Kateri Tekakwitha. Download our prayer card to the patron saint of the environment St. Kateri Tekakwitha. Read more about her life.

PARISH RESOURCES

California faces droughts and high energy consumption. Parishes often desire to be good stewards of their resources by recycling, saving energy, and using water wisely. Download these handy checklists to see if your parish can save energy, resources, and money while caring for creation at the same time!

Checklists:

Parish Electricity Checklist

Parish Water Checklist

Parish Resources Checklist

Styrofoam Flyer

Other resources:

10 Ways Your Parish Can Make a Difference – Catholic Climate Covenant
Eco-Parish Guide for Catholic Parishes- Catholic Climate Movement
Green Your Parish: 25 Steps Under $25 – Interfaith Power and Light
Green Your Parish: 25 Steps Over $25 – Interfaith Power and Light
Solar Initiative – Catholic Energies
California Solar Resource Guide and general information – Interfaith Power and Light
LA and Ventura County Provider for Clean, Renewable Power – Clean Power Alliance
End Plastic Pollution Resource Page – Catholic Climate Covenant
Congregational Water Efficiency – Interfaith Power and Light
Catholic Land Trust – Saint Kateri Conservation Center
Divesting from Fossil Fuel Investments – Catholic Climate Movement
Homily Helps – Catholic Climate Covenant
Caring for God’s Creation: Resources for Liturgy, Preaching and Taking Action – USCCB
Congregational Carbon Footprint Calculator – Interfaith Power and Light
Register your Parish or School as a St Kateri Habitat – Saint Kateri Conservation Center

RESOURCES FOR PARISH LEADERS AND FAMILIES

10 Ways You Can Make a Difference – Catholic Climate Covenant
Start a Creation Care Team – Catholic Climate Covenant
Catholic Climate Ambassadors – can provide talks/workshops in parishes
Parish Resources for Action – Catholic Climate Movement
Reduce Your Carbon Footprint – Catholic Health Association
Carbon Footprint Calculator – Environmental Protection Agency
Become a Laudato Si Animator – Catholic Climate Movement
Climate Action Kit – Interfaith Power and Light
Tips for talking with Local Elected Officials about Switching to Cleaner Energy – Catholic Climate Movement
Tips for Sustainable Living – Living the Change
Water Security Strategy for 2030 – Catholic Relief Services
Pathways to Prosperity: Helping Farmers Succeed – Catholic Relief Services

Earth Day Resources for April 22, 2019

All Creation Gives God Praise: Protecting Biodiversity in a Time of Climate Crisis – Catholic Climate Covenant
Hope for the Amazon – Catholic Climate Movement

Formation Resources

Catholic Social Teaching 101: Care for God’s Creation (video) – Catholic Relief Services
Faith Based Study Guide on Climate Change – Catholic Rural Life
Faith Based Study Guide on Poverty and Hunger – Catholic Rural Life
High School Laudato Si Curriculum – Laudato Si for All
Adult Study Guide for Laudato Si – Laudato Si for All
Religion Has Nothing to Say About Climate Change, Right? – video for kids, Climate Science Center
Laudato Si Study Guide – Inter-franciscan Commission for Justice, Peace and the Integrity of Creation
Health and Climate Change, annual reporting – The Lancet
Christian Teaching on Care for Creation – Green Faith
Catholic Ecology Library – Saint Kateri Conservation Center

Spiritual Resources

Novena to St Isidore, Patron of Rural People
Liturgical, Prayer and Spiritual Resources to care for God’s creation – Catholic Climate Movement
Developing an Eco Spirituality – Catholic Climate Movement
Prayer for our Environment – Salt and Light
Prayers to Care for Creation -- USCCB

Consider Small Ways Your Family Can Care for Creation

50waystohelp.com

There are many ideas to help your family conserve natural resources, save money, and teach your children about how to be good stewards of the earth.

Request Consultation from Catholic Energies

catholicenergies.org

Catholic Energies helps parishes and schools save energy, supporting parishes through projects of energy procurement, efficiency, storage, financing, education, and renewable energy.

Educate Students with Respect Life Week Curriculum

Environment Resources

Our annual Respect Life Week Curriculum includes information for TK-12 about human ecology and caring for our common home with students.

Volunteer to Support a Local Community Garden and Food Collection

archla.org/service

Many local organizations like MEND Poverty, Seeds of Hope and Sowing Seeds for Life have community gardens to provide fresh fruits and vegetables to low income families. Other organizations like Food Forward collect produce from backyards for food pantries.

Statements from Archbishop on Creation

Renewing the Face of the Earth

For the Beauty of the Earth

'Praise Be' and the Gift of Creation

Angelus Articles on Creation

Laudato Si' and the New Evangelization

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