Care For Creation
Care for Creation Ministry
“This sister now cries out to us because of the harm we have inflicted on her by our irresponsible use and abuse … . the earth herself. . . . . is among the most abandoned and maltreated of our poor; . . . We have forgotten that we ourselves are dust of the earth (cf. Gen 2:7); our very bodies are made up of her elements, we breathe her air and we receive life and refreshment from her waters.”
To answer Pope Francis’ call, the Care for Creation Ministry meets regularly to facilitate individual parishioners and the parish as a whole in living more in harmony with creation. We work with the interfaith community on local issues and on speaking in a unified voice calling for political leadership on this urgent issue.
If you would like to become a part of this ministry group or if you have questions, contact the ministry leader at stfccreation@gmail.com.
We are also a member of Interfaith Creation Care of the Triangle, an interfaith effort to care for creation and address climate change.
Pope Francis’ Laudato Si’: On Care for our Common Home
Pope Francis’ 2015 encyclical, “Laudato Si’: On Care for Our Common Home,” is an unprecedented opportunity to bring together people of faith to address one of the most urgent moral problems of our time: climate change. “Laudato Si’” means “Praised be” and is the repeating line in St. Francis’ famous Canticle Of The Creatures.
Watch Franciscan friar and former pastor of our parish Fr. David McBriar’s appearance on WRAL-TV in 2015 to discuss the encyclical and St. Francis church’s response.
Pope Francis connects the dots in how our faith calls us to protect the earth and to protect human dignity. We must witness to God’s love by caring for people who are poor (many of whom are already experiencing the effects of climate change across the globe) and for unborn future generations.
USCCB Global Climate Change Backgrounder
USCCB Document – Global Climate Change: A Plea for Dialogue, Prudence, and the Common Good
Why Does the Church Care about Global Change?
Ecclesial Quotes on Climate Change
Franciscan Action Network and Caring for Creation
Ignation Solidarity Network: ignatiansolidarity.net/
Society of Catholic Scientists: catholicscientists.org/
Diocese of Raleigh Care for Creation: dioceseofraleigh.org/human-life-and-dignity/care-creation
Strong Catholic Family Faith: catholicfamilyfaith.org/care-for-gods-creation.html
Creation Justice Ministries: creationjustice.org/blog/52-ways-to-care-for-creation
Greener Lent (Lenten eco project): greenerlent.org/
Resources around Laudato Si’: Care for our Common Home
Basic info: laudatosi.org/laudato-si/laudato-si-goals/ (7 year goals)
Pope’s talk: vaticannews.va/en/pope/news/2021-05/pope-francis-videomessage-laudato-si-platform.htm
Laudato Sí’ Action Platform: laudatosiactionplatform.org/
Home page to sign up for your personal action: laudatosimovement.org
Franciscans and Laudato Si 2020: Caring for Creation: Celebrate Earth Day at 50 and Laudato Si Week – Franciscan Action Network
Laudato Si’ Action Plans in the US
Diocese’s Action Plan – The Roman Catholic Diocese of San Diego
Interfaith Creation Care of the Triangle
Pachamama Alliance and Drawdown
North Carolina Wildlife Federation
County extension agent site: wake.ces.ncsu.edu/
Resources for local gardening: growingsmallfarms.ces.ncsu.edu/growingsmallfarms-pollinatorgarden/
Local ecumenical organization focusing on food and faith: lifearoundthetable.org/etf/
Local green businesses: greenishneighbor.com/green-directory
Package free store: pnpdurham.com/
NC climate statistics: statesatrisk.org/north-carolina/all
Package free store: mindfulmerchantnc.com/
Activity to build awareness of nature around us: CCA-Neighborhood-Natives-Scavenger-Hunt
Program to manage power consumption at home: duke-energy.com/home/products/power-manager
App to identify things in nature: Seek by iNaturalist