Care for Our Common Home

We acknowledge that all is a gift from God.  We gratefully respond to God with stewardship of creation. This is our faith doing justice. We collaborate in the care of our Common Home.

See the new Documentary The Letter. Also available on Youtube, The Letter features Pope Francis and leaders from around the world sharing how the climate crisis impacts their own lives and that of their communities. Click here to watch the full documentary.

Thanks to Mecklenburg County Environmental Engineer and fellow Catholic Joe Hack for his presentation on what and how to recycle. We learned quite a lot about the proper way to dispose of trash. Our Confirmation students and parents attended as this was a lesson about Laudato Si', Pope Francis' letter on integral ecology, creation, and supporting life. 

What is Integral Ecology?  Watch this video! (11:00)

Advocate and Act
A Guide to Green Shopping

Renewing the Earth:  Sign up for the Renewing the Earth, a virtual program connecting ecological themes, the Gospel, and the life of St Ignatius.  Learn, pray, and act to renew the earth.

Pope Francis' call to an Integral Ecology

Our parish joins the Jesuits worldwide in confronting the degradation of our environment and living conditions, especially effecting the poor. The Care for Creation committee invites you to a journey that fosters a spiritual and practical response to our connection to God's creation. What is Integral Ecology?  Watch this video! (11:00)

In his encyclical Laudato Si’, Pope Francis discusses the degradation of the environment, its connection to other moral crises, and our contemplative response as an Integral Ecology.  He asks, “What kind of world do we want to leave those who come after us, to children who are now growing up?” Watch this video (2:53) to understand Laudato Si  

• Laudato Si' >> Full encyclical (multiple hour read)
• An Overview of Laudato Si’>> By The Jesuit Post (5 min read)
• Best Laudato Si’ Summary>> A list of good Laudato Si’ summaries
• Laudato Si’ Summary & Action Steps>> From the Catholic Climate Covenant (<1 min read)
• Laudato Si’: A concise guide of key points>>  From America Magazine (20 min read)
  
• A resource to help the Ignatian family put  Laudato Si’ into action with the tools of Ignatian spirituality. 

Learn: 

• EPA's Carbon Footprint Calculator>> Estimate how much carbon dioxide you produce
• Catholic Campaign for Human Development Environmental Justice>>  US Conference of Catholic Bishops on the environment
• Video: Plastic Pollution Coalition - OPEN YOUR EYES Narrated by Jeff Bridges (4 min)
• Video: The Great Pacific Garbage Patch Is Not What You Think It Is  An explanation of the plastic problem (8 min)
• Video: Home - World Earth Day 2020>> A visual state of the planet in 2020 (2 min)
• Video: The Story of Bottled Water>> A history of how any why we have bottled water (8 min)
  

• VIDEO of Costa Rica Birds with Deacon Clarke & Dr. Catherine Wright

Charlotte Resources:  

• Innovation Barn>> A building in Charlotte dedicated to transitioning to a circular economy, one in which “waste” is used to help produce new products.  932 Seigle Ave
• 2018 Mecklenburg County State of the Environment report>>
• Meck Co. Environmental Sustainability Plan>>
• Summary of tree canopy plans>> From the City of Charlotte Environment Committee
• Disposal/Recycling Centers>> Locations of disposal / recycling centers and what can be recycled
• Items that can be recycled using Charlotte's curbside bins>>
• Material Recovery Facility>> Also known as the Metrolina Recycling Center.  The video on this page shows how recycling works in Charlotte.
• A resource to help the Ignatian family put  Laudato Si’ into action with the tools of Ignatian spirituality.
• Rivendell Farms - Food resource map, farmers markets and farms

Watch the Green Fair video here  (8:54)

Resources from our Green Fair:  

Composting at home
Laudato Si Movement and  sign the petition
Home Energy options
Fr. John's Handouts