Archdiocese of Cincinnati | Catholic Social Action Office

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St. Francis Pledge Newsletter
Winter 2020
a newsletter from the Care for Creation Task Force
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Happy Advent
We've come through the season of harvest and entered the season of rest, where we reflect on what has passed and consider what is to come. Not coincidentally, Advent is a season of hope, a season of preparation. For many reasons, this has been a difficult year for almost everyone, yet we remain confident in God's love and hope-filled for the path on which we journey with God. We pray that this Advent will bring you peace, fill your soul with joy, and lead you with grace into the new year.
Laudato Si', mi Signore (Praise be to you, my Lord), for the beauty of your creation and the many gifts that you give us.
Pace e bene,
Archdiocesan Care for Creation Task Force
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The extremely controversial HB 6 has been the subject of tremendous debate. A number of bills have been introduced in the OH legislature to repeal, overturn, and/or put on hold various parts of HB 6, but it's unclear whether any of them will be passed during this lame duck session. What is clear is that - without any action - starting on 1/1/21 all Ohio residents (even the poorest citizens) will begin paying higher utility costs to bail two nuclear and two coal plants and Ohio renewable energy and energy efficiency standards will be significantly dismantled. It is highly questionable as whether this bill honors the common good and moves forward the call to protect God's creation. It is not questionable that this bill negatively impacts the poor and vulnerable and contradicts the work done by the Ohio bishops in 2014 & 2015 to improve energy efficiency standards. As the 49th worst state at utilizing renewable energy (only 2%), it is clear that we need to improve (not decrease) our efforts at achieving better energy efficiency.
We encourage you to keep an eye out for potential advocacy actions and keep watch for future emails from us for action alerts.
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Laudato Si' Communities - Highlights
Each season, we're highlighting one of our 2020 recipients.
For this winter newsletter, we're focusing on St. John Fisher in Newtown. For their project, they held a large computer recycling event that collected machines to benefit two different local nonprofits, and they engaged their youth in the event - both to help them learn and take advantage of their youthful energy and strength.
Congrats to St. John Fisher on becoming a 2020 Laudato Si' Community!!
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Laudato Si' Communities - You can do it!
We 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:
1. Complete a facilities assessment and meet a target score for environmental stewardship practices
2. Have 10 percent of its member-households complete their own household assessment
3. Host or provide a Care for Creation formation program to parishioners/students
We are accepting applications through May 1. Qualifying communities will be recognized on the anniversary of Laudato Si', June 18th. For more information, check out the website. If you have any questions, let us know.
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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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December
Bulletin Prayer
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.
Intercession
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...
Papal Quote
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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January
Bulletin Prayer
Ever loving God, we ask for your wisdom and compassion as we enter a new year still carrying the challenges of the past -Covid-19, racial injustice and deep division in our country. Give us the courage to be faithful citizens centered on respect for all created life as we also challenge civic leaders to work in solidarity to bring about justice for all peoples.
Intercession
That our local and national leaders may work together to protect our common home as they develop policies and actions that will demonstrate care for creation and the well being of all of humanity.
Papal Quote
The ecological crisis reveals the urgent moral need for a new solidarity, especially in relations between developing nations and those that are highly industrialized. States must increasingly share responsibility, in complimentary ways, for the promotion of a natural and social environment that is both peaceful and healthy. -St. Pope John Paul II, 1990 World Day of Peace
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February
Bulletin Prayer
God our Creator, your Son Jesus came among us to show us how to live as a community of love on the earth. Guide us through these forty days of Lent that we may follow Jesus’s example of humility, faithfulness, and mercy toward all our sisters and brothers and all of creation.
Intercession
That we who begin Lent this month may turn the practices of prayer, fasting and almsgiving toward actions that will protect and preserve all of God’s creation.
Papal Quote
The Lenten period of forty days spent by the Son of God in the desert of creation had the goal of making it once more the garden of communion with God that it was before original sin…May our Lent this year be a journey along that same path, bringing the hope of Christ also to creation -Pope Francis, 2019 Lenten Message
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