Creation Care  Ministry

In his  2015 encyclical, "Laudato Si,"  Pope Francis called on all people to live more in harmony with the planet & with each other.

The Passionist Order asked all parishes to implement the principles of Laudato Si  so in 2021  Father Jerome led a Zoom study group discussing the encyclical.  In 2023 the “Creation Care” ministry began at SPOTC.

The Passionists’ website (https://passionist.org/laudatosi/ ) states:    "What Pope Francis asks of us is a “profound interior conversion” leading us toward a future in which “all people can prosper personally and economically in harmony with the gifts God has given us in nature.”

At SPOTC there are many ways we can live the ideals Pope Francis requested:

1)   At parish festivals & picnics mindfully dispose of trash & left-overs to make our recycling efforts more efficient.

The Archdiocese of Atlanta urges parishes to make “zero waste” events the goal to strive for.

2)  Promote stewardship & beautification efforts around our 37 acres at SPOTC.

    3)  Community outreach. Live the message of Laudato Si through neighborhood clean-up events.

    4)  Provide educational resources & initiatives within the parish via study groups, presentations, etc.

    5)  Reduce the “energy footprint” SPOTC makes on the environment.

     ** With 120 parishes, missions, & schools in the Archdiocese - a small           improvement at every parish combines to create a substantial

           reduction by the entire church !

The message of “Laudato Si” encompasses all aspects of life on this planet -- environmental, social, technological, economic, etc. – and approaches the issues through 7 lens integrating creation care and Christian social teachings more fully into our daily lives & personal practices.

                           Truly,  a profound interior conversion.
 
Response to the Cry of the Earth  ( climate crisis, biodiversity loss, and ecological sustainability);     Response to the Cry of the Poor ( promote eco-justice for marginalized communities);      Ecological Economics ( sustainable production & consumption, ethical investments & divesting from fossil fuels);

        Adoption of Sustainable Lifestyles (every person’s actions make a difference);   Ecological Education;  Ecological Spirituality;   Community Resilience & Engagement