Creation Care Ministry of the Archdiocese of Indianapolis
First published in The Criterion on December 15, 2017. In his 2015 encyclical letter “Laudato Si’, on Care for Our Common Home,” Pope Francis states, “There is an urgent need to develop policies so that, in the next few years, the emission of carbon dioxide and other highly polluting gasses can be drastically reduced” (#26). …
Catholic Energies can help parishes live ‘Laudato Si’Read More
First published in The Criterion on September 8, 2017 Since the publication in June 2015 of Pope Francis’environmental encyclical, “Laudato Si’, on Care for Our Common Home,” a significant worldwide increase in Catholic awareness has taken place regarding our role in taking responsibility to care for the environment. As part of those efforts, the pope …
The Season of Creation and awareness of ‘Laudato Si’Read More
First published in The Criterion on June 9, 2017 “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand” (Mt 4:17). With these words, Jesus began his public ministry. To repent is to take a new path—a path that leads us closer to God and to the person he is calling each of us to be. …
Resources for ecological conversion are available for archdiocesan parishesRead More
First published in The Criterion on March 3, 2017 “It cannot be emphasized enough how everything is interconnected.” —Pope Francis, “Laudato Si, on Care for Our Common Home,” #138 Two weeks ago, my wife Julie and I were lucky enough to be standing in the Vatican at an audience with Pope Francis with 1,200 supporters …
First published in The Criterion on September 9, 2016. Remember the line “Finish everything on your plate; there are starving children in China?” How crazy was that? What did it matter what we ate or did not eat to those across the world? And yet I wondered, are we not connected in some deep and …
Care for the poor is rooted in Christian simplicityRead More
Published in The Criterion – July 1, 2016 “Global temperatures soar for the 12th straight month” reported the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration in May. India recorded its hottest day ever at 123.8 degrees amidst a deadly heat wave and drought. Climate scientists said sea levels could rise to devastating levels sooner than previously predicted. …
Climate change is an urgent problem, but our faith calls us to act in hopeRead More
First published in The Criterion on March 25, 2016 Stewardship of creation is more than something we just do. Stewardship of creation is a response. It is a way of being and understanding our place in the world. Stewardship of creation is integral to what we are all called to do as Catholics: To respond …
Responding to Pope Francis’ call to action to care for creationRead More