“Care for our common home”
We are committed to protecting our common home, God’s creation, from the climate emergency and ecological crisis.
The Letter - A Message for our Earth
Date: Wednesday April 19th
Time: 7:00 pm
Location: In the Norm
The Letter tells the incredible story of heroic acts by ordinary people to address the global environmental crisis affecting all of us. Pope Francis meets with these heroes to talk about the cries of the poor and the planet, Laudato Si.
“Earth Day” traces its origins to a book published in 1962
A Reading from the Book of Genesis:
And God said, “Let the water under the sky be gathered into one place and let dry ground appear.” And it was so. God called the dry ground “land,” and gathered waters God called “seas.” And God saw that it was good. Then God said, “Let the land produce vegetation: seed-bearing plants and trees on the land that bear fruit with seed in it, according to their various kinds.” And it was so. The land produces vegetation: plants bearing seeds according to their kinds. And God saw that it was good!
Then God said, “Let us make humankind in our image, according to our likeness, and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, over the birds of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the wild animals of the earth and over every creeping thing that creeps upon the earth.” So, God created humankind, in his own image, in the image of God he created them; male and female he created them.
God of life, your amazing love extends through all time and space, to all parts of creation, which you brought into being and called good. You made a covenant with Noah and his family, Abraham and Sarah, and Moses and the Israelites, reminding them of the dignity and beauty of all of creation, and their responsibility to love and care for all.
As we commemorate Earth Day, teach us to always be thankful for your loving providence. Open wide our hearts so that we might honor all that you have created – caring for one another and our Mother Earth – and promote the healing of the earth. Following the example of St. Francis and St. Clare, may we embrace a simple lifestyle for the sake of the planet. Teach present and future generations to respect the intrinsic dignity of all living things, enjoy the fruits of creation you provide, and give you praise and thanks for your great gift of life. Amen.
