Sunday Oct 4: Respect Life Sunday & also the Feast Day of St. Francis


 St. Francis Icon
RESPECT LIFE SUNDAY
this year falls on the
feast day
of St. Francis,
the "Patron Saint
of the Environment"


Why not consider taking the St. Francis Pledge to Care for Creation and the Poor to unify the call to respect life, advocate for the poor and vulnerable of the world, and be good stewards of God's creation?

From the Catholic Climate Covenant website:

All across our country, Catholics are taking the St. Francis Pledge to Care for Creation and the Poor and joining the Catholic Climate Covenant. The St. Francis Pledge is a promise and a commitment by Catholic individuals, families, parishes, organizations and institutions to live our faith by protecting God’s Creation and advocating on behalf of people in poverty who face the harshest impacts of global climate change. To join the Covenant, you commit to act on each of the five elements of the St. Francis Pledge:

+ PRAY and reflect on the duty to care for God’s Creation and protect the poor and vulnerable.
+ LEARN about and educate others on the causes and moral dimensions of climate change.
+ ASSESS how we-as individuals and in our families, parishes and other affiliations-contribute to climate change by our own energy use, consumption, waste, etc.
+ ACT to change our choices and behaviors to reduce the ways we contribute to climate change.
+ ADVOCATE for Catholic principles and priorities in climate change discussions and decisions, especially as they impact those who are poor and vulnerable.

CLICK HERE to learn more, take the pledge, and join the Covenant.


Sunday Sept 20: A Care for Creation Gathering


All are welcome to our gathering on:

HOLY GROUND, COMMON GROUND:
CARE FOR CREATION &
THE CATHOLIC TRADITION

Date: Sunday Sept 20
Time: 1:30 - 3:00 pm
Place: Our Mother of Sorrows
in the Parish Activity Center Auditorium (Bldg #7)
Address:
1800 S. Kolb Rd, Tucson AZ


We will open with a meditation and scripture, followed by a talk on how the themes of stewardship of the Earth and Care for Creation are woven through Scripture and Catholic tradition. The key themes of the U.S. Bishops' statements on Renewing the Earth and Global Climate Change: A Plea for Dialogue, Prudence and the Common Good will be shared, along with the environmental messages from our Popes. Also included will be a basic overview of the relevant science as linked to our call for a faith-based response to environmental issues. There will be time for discussion and sharing and a variety of resources for learning more will be available.

The Holy Ground, Common Ground Core Resource Team will be the presenters.

USCCB Resources on Creation & Environmental Justice







WEB SITE:
US CONFERENCE OF CATHOLIC BISHOPS Environment / Environmental Justice Program
http://www.usccb.org/issues-and-action/human-life-and-dignity/environment/ 



PASTORAL LETTERS and STATEMENTS:


Renewing the Earth: An Invitation to Reflection and Action on Environment in Light of Catholic Social Teaching (1991):

http://www.usccb.org/issues-and-action/human-life-and-dignity/environment/renewing-the-earth.cfm 


Global Climate Change: A Plea for Dialogue, Prudence, and the Common Good (2001):

http://www.usccb.org/issues-and-action/human-life-and-dignity/environment/global-climate-change-a-plea-for-dialogue-prudence-and-the-common-good.cfm


"Partnership for the Future"  [pdf]
A pastoral statement on the environment
by the Roman Catholic Bishops in New Mexico May 11, 1998


U.S. Bishops Call for Moral Focus on Global Climate Change

News Item, February 7, 2007


Why Does The Church Care About Global Climate Change
U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops



OTHER WRITINGS:


The Good Life from a Catholic Perspective: The Problem of Consumption  [pdf]
by Msgr Charles Murphy

Ecological Spirituality [pdf]
by Fr Joseph Tetlow 


Our Popes on Caring for Creation

+ Pope Francis's 2015 Encyclical:  Laudato Si' -- On Care for the Common Home

Pope Benedict XVI's 2010 World Day of Peace message:  If  You Want to Cultivate Peace, Protect Creation

+  Pope John Paul II's 1990 World Day of Peace message: Peace with God the Creator, Peace with All of Creation


For links to more Vatican Messages, see the Catholic Climate Covenant's page:

Statements and quotes from Pope Francis

Statements and quotes from Pope Benedict XVI & Saint Pope John Paul II


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More to come!

Resources for Catholics on Climate Change & Creation

CLIMATE CHANGE AND CARE FOR CREATION LINKS

+ Catholic Climate Covenant website
         http://catholicclimatecovenant.org/


+ The Franciscan Action Network:


A Position of the Carmelite NGO On Climate Change     
         by Joan Brown OSF,  Catholic Update Series