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The St. Francis Pledge, promoted by the Archdiocesan Care for Creation Task Force is guided by the national Catholic Coalition on Climate Change, which receives full support and cooperation from the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops.
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Greetings!
Despite the craziness and uncertainty that's swirling around us fall has arrived, and I'm sure all of us are thankful for the pumpkins, apples, changing leaves, and cool breezes.
We join people all over the world to pray for those affected by the virus, and we also join our voices with our sisters and brothers thanking God for the glory of creation.
Since we're not able to celebrate them in person, we're thrilled to announce the Oct. 4th virtual celebration of our third class of Laudato Si' Communities which includes five new Catholic communities (see details below).
We hope you'll be able to join us on the 4th and enjoy (in a safe way) the beauty that continues to surround us.
Laudato Si', mi Signore (Praise be to you, my Lord!), for the beauty of your creation and the many gifts that you give us.
- Archdiocesan Care for Creation Task Force
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Laudato Si' Communities Recognition Event
On Sunday, October 4th - the Feast of St. Francis  - at 2:00 p.m., the Care for Creation Task Force will recognize our third class of Laudato Si' Communities. These parishes and schools have committed themselves to the care of God's creation, and we will honor them for their hard work. Please join us via Zoom to join us in celebrating these communities and learn more about the program. Contact Andrew Musgrave with any questions.
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The Season of Creation is a time to renew our relationship with our Creator and all creation through repenting, repairing, and rejoicing together. During the Season of Creation, we join our sisters and brothers in the ecumenical family in prayer and action for our common home.
Click here to see the calendar created by Earth Connection, and click here for more information.
Here's a liturgical guide from the Ignatian Solidarity Network, and here's a Feast of St. Francis 90 minute program that parishes can register to receive from the Catholic Climate Covenant.
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Laudato Si' Communities:
Highlights
Over the next few months, we'll highlight each of our new Laudato Si' Communities. We thank them for their inspiration to all of us to better care for God's creation!
Immaculate Heart of Mary, Anderson
- Bulletin and Facebook posts on educational materials and recycling through the year
- Heartbeat Articles (Heartbeat is the parish newsletter published 3 times a year)
- School Parent newsletter tips and educational material weekly through the year
- PRP Educational Event with Andrew Musgrave as speaker and activities for parents and children with fun activity stations (150 attendees)
- Recycled plastic prescription bottles for Matthew 25 during year: several thousand were diverted from landfills to be used in relief efforts across the globe
- Recycling, LED lighting, reducing lawn watering, using reusable dishes, and silverware in cafeteria and many more. The purchase policy of buying plant based plates, cups and napkins were done in response to Pope Francis' plea to avoid Styrofoam and plastics that are petroleum based and not biodegradable (in Laudato Si' specifically). Ours are made from wheat grass which is highly renewable, biodegradable (and compostable.)
- Fair Trade items such as coffee, chocolate, and olive oil are available for purchase each month. This helps environmentally friendly farmers to produce organic products.
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Bellermine Parish Keeping It Fresh
Bellermine Parish's Fresh is Better project with the gardens in Evanston keeps expanding. Check out this website to learn more about the project, or check out this video to take a virtual tour.
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| | Fresh is Better: Virtual Garden Tour - September 2020 |
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City of Cincinnati Solar Array 
Check out the great announcement from the city: we're building the largest municipal solar array in the country!
Once complete, the 100 mega-watt solar array will reduce the region's annual carbon emissions by 158,000 tons.
"Cities need to take action - and that's exactly what Cincinnati is doing. We are spending money we would already spend on power to buy lower-cost renewable energy that also benefits the community," said Mayor John Cranley.
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Join the next class of Laudato Si' Communities!
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Archbishop Schnurr blesses the Laudato Si' Community banners. (CT Photo/E.L. Hubbard)
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The Archdiocese Catholic Social Action Office and Care for Creation Task Force want to recognize Catholic parishes and schools that live out Pope Francis' Laudato Si' message of caring for God's creation. Qualifying parishes or schools will:
- Earn the title "Laudato Si' Community" at an annual recognition event;
- Receive an eco-friendly banner to display in or outside their building;
- Be featured on the Archdiocesan website, Facebook page, and in other Archdiocesan media outlets and communications.
To earn this designation, parishes/schools should:
- Complete a facilities assessment and meet a target score for environmental stewardship practices;
- Have 10 percent of its member-households complete their own household assessment.
- Host or provide a Care for Creation formation program to parishioners/students.
We are accepting applications beginning on the Feast of St. Francis (Oct. 4) and they are due in by March 1. Qualifying communities will be recognized on Earth Day, April 22, 2020
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Support Legislation to Care for Creation 
The U.S. bishops and the Catholic Climate Covenant have both come out in support of the Energy Innovation and Carbon Dividend Act, legislation that is taking a big step in addressing the devastating harm that is being inflicted on our environment and people around the world. We encourage you to support this legislation too!
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PRACTICAL WAYS TO SAVE THE PLANET
The Columban Center for Advocacy and Outreach put together
in response to the growing impacts of the massive extraction of natural resources around the planet. The nine steps lead you through prayer, learning what scripture and our Catholic tradition says about God's creation and about the impacts of extractive industries, and act in solidarity with the cries of our wounded earth and vulnerable communities.
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To help bring Laudato Si' to life in your institutions through a series of individual and institutional level sustainability challenges rooted in reflection, the Ignatian Solidarity Network invites you to join in one of their programs as an individual or in a school, university, or parish community. Check out their Ignatian Carbon Challenge and Mini Challenge (currently the Season of Creation).
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Check out the NEW Catholic Climate Project
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A National Catholic Reporter
Feature Series
Our Common Home
The Earth - "our common home," as Pope Francis described it in his encyclical
Laudato Si' - is undergoing immense change. Each day, the impacts of climate change become more evident, while scientific studies indicate mere decades remain to limit global warming to avert the most serious consequences that come with it.
"Our Common Home" is a special NCR reporting series that through people, places and issues explores the role of faith and religion in responding to climate change, which the pope has called a matter of moral urgency and "one of the principal challenges facing humanity in our day."
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The following items are provided by the Archdiocesan Care for Creation Task Force Prayer and Learning Teams for use where appropriate in parish liturgies and bulletins during the coming months. |
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BULLETIN PRAYERS
OCTOBER
We plead through the intercession of St.
Francis whose feast day is this month
(Oct. 4th) to bring healing grace to all of God's marvelous creation and help us to alleviate the suffering of the poor. St. Francis modeled this for us, may we follow in his footsteps.
NOVEMBER
Most generous God, who has blessed us with so many gifts, help us to share our gifts magnanimously. We want to be more like you and love unconditionally.
We strive to be good stewards of all creation, especially during this season of Thanksgiving.
DECEMBER
During this holy season of remembering the Incarnation, let us always be mindful that we have been blessed with the fruits of God's creation. So let us in turn, bless others. May we be especially generous to our brothers and sisters in need, and may we protect God's great gift of Creation so that future generations may also be blessed by its abundance.
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INTERCESSIONS
For all of us, we know that October is Respect Life month, expand our hearts and grant us a healthy respect for all forms of life in your wondrous creation, help us to take great care of your creation, we pray to the Lord...
NOVEMBER
For all peoples of our world who are suffering during this season of bounty, may they be blessed by our compassionate hearts. Gracious God bless us and grant us raised awareness, enable us to reach out to those in need, we pray to the Lord...
DECEMBER
For all those who are suffering during this Advent season, may our Good and Gracious God bless us and grant us a keen awareness, a compassionate heart and the ability to reach out to those in physical, spiritual or psychological need, we pray to the Lord...
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PAPAL QUOTES
OCTOBER
"Take good care of creation. St. Francis wanted that. People occasionally forgive, but nature never does. If we don't take care of the environment, there's no way of getting around it." Pope Francis April, 2013
NOVEMBER
"Creation is not a property, which we can rule over at will; or, even less, is the property of only a few: Creation is a gift, it is a wonderful gift that God has given us, so that we care for it and we use it for the benefit of all, always with great respect and gratitude." May 21, 2014, Pope Francis' Audience
DECEMBER
"In switching on the light of the Nativity scene, we wish for the light of Christ to be in us. A Christmas without light is not Christmas. Let there be light in the soul, in the heart; let there be forgiveness to others; let there be no hostilities, which are dark. Let there be the beautiful light of Jesus. This is my wish for all of you, when you turn on the light of the crib." Pope Francis
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 CARE FOR CREATION TIP
While we all pray for an end to the coronavirus, many hope that we come out of it changed, having learned important lessons. Clear skies, clean waters, decreases in pollution and declines in ozone have been noted. As we gradually return to familiar routines, one change we might consider is reducing our carbon footprint - transportation, use of appliances, heating and cooling - by buying a carbon offset. Easy to do. Visit Terrapass or Cool Effect to learn how.
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Archdiocesan Video Promotes Care for Creation Work!
We are pleased to share with you our promotional video for the Climate Change Task Force and Care for Creation efforts in the Archdiocese! This 10-minute video features a number of local, Catholic leaders sharing our Church's teaching on creation and highlights some of the many efforts underway to bring it to life. Please share!
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