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Parish and Local Community Groups: Family, Work and Citizenship
We remind parents that they are the first and principal teachers of children. … It is at home that they develop the habits of self-control, concern, and care that lie at the heart of environmental morality. … We ask business leaders and representatives of workers to make the protection of our common environment a central concern in their activities and to collaborate for the common good and the protection of the earth. —Renewing the Earth, United States Catholic Bishops (1992)
As the bishops suggest in Communities of Salt and Light, “[O]ur parishes need to encourage, support, and sustain lay people in living their faith in the family, neighborhood, marketplace, and public arena …” In addition to providing environmental education and action opportunities, parishes and pastors can encourage members to make environmentally responsible decisions by example through managing parish resources and facilities in an environmentally sensitive manner.
Protegiendo Nuestro Futuro (Protecting Our Future)
The National Rural Catholic Life Conference worked with local parishes in Yakima Valley, Washington, on this Pesticide Safety Education Program, which helped raise farmworkers awareness of the dangers of pesticides. A Spanish-language video, programs and announcements on the local Spanish-language public radio station, and formal classes helped educate adolescent and adult farmworkers on reducing the health impacts of agricultural pesticides on their lives and their families.
Parish Environmental
Initiative
Mary Help of Christians Parish
near Miami produced 5,000 brochures describing
its building program. The brochures explain
how the program was ecologically in harmony
with the land; produced appropriate liturgical,
spiritual, and ecological results; and was
economically sound. Their goal was to provide
ideas and templates for other dioceses and
parishes.
Despiertate
The Despiertate Project in
Baker, Ore., offered agricultural workers
an opportunity to reflect on their responsibility
to protect themselves and the integrity of
creation from dangerous chemicals in their
environment. The program included written
and video information on pesticides and other
chemicals, a discussion session, training
on how to address issues, and opportunities
for prayer and reflection.
Cooperative Recycling
Project
Parishes in the Diocese of
Owensboro, Ky., cooperated to recycle their
seasonal missalettes. The project provided
work for a formerly unemployed person and
a college student, who implemented the project.
All funds generated from the effort were
used for future environmental projects.
Interfaith Coalition
on Energy
The Interfaith Coalition on
Energy, which included the Archdiocese of
Philadelphia, prepared workbooks to help
parish leaders (pastors, youth groups, and
others) to conduct an energy audit and implement
cost-effective, energy-efficient practices.
Earth Passion
The Sisters of St. Joseph of
Carondelet worked with St. Anastasia, Visitation,
and St. Joseph’s Parishes in the Archdiocese
of Los Angeles to offer a range of discussion
sessions, videos, and other materials to
help parishioners become aware of ways they
can be more environmentally just in their
lifestyles. The program’s topics included
Church teaching, the spirituality of justice,
organic gardening, and sustainable living.
Sustainable Beekeeping
Catholic Community Services
in the Diocese of Wheeling-Charleston educated
Catholics about the importance of honeybees
to the local ecosystem and to the economy
and jobs in the area. Bee keeping in the
area was threatened by disease. In addition
to the project’s work with the beekeepers,
information about the Church’s efforts
in the area of the environment was disseminated
to area parishes.
Urban Ecology and Earth
Work
The Urban Ecology and Earth
Work in Detroit is a neighborhood-based project
in one of the poorest neighborhoods in Detroit.
With the assistance of the Sisters, Servants
of the Immaculate Heart of Mary, the project
plans to create a work-jobs program for 100
residents, sign up of at least 50 households
o elderly residents for Earth Work, and involve
200 volunteers.
Campaign for Peace and
Quiet
This project seeks to create
and raise awareness throughout the Bronx
to the dangers of noise pollution and the
benefits of peace-and-quiet. Newsletters
in Spanish and English are circulated to
all Catholic parishes and parochial schools
of the South Bronx vicariate, Catholic
parent-teacher meetings, school assemblies,
CCD and other classes. This effort is part
of larger community anti-noise pollution
campaign.