Sat Nov 18 5:30-7:30: Movie Night and Supper Please join us for a screening of "The Letter”, produced by Oscar-winning Off the Fence Productions in collaboration with Laudato Si’ Movement and the Vatican, followed by discussion and light supper. The film brings to life the transformative vision of Laudato Si’, Pope Francis’ encyclical letter on the environment, to inspire lasting action for our common home.  Middle and high school students are encouraged to attend with a parent. RSVP by Nov 16: https://tinyurl.com/11-18-23-THE-LETTER

RESCHEDULED TO JANUARY Nov 28th 7PM: Creation Care Book Discussion As people of faith we are called to care for our common home. Genesis calls us to tend the garden. Pope Francis reiterates this message in Laudato Si’.  But how? Feeling paralyzed by climate news at every turn? Wondering what YOU can do to combat the global climate crisis and ensure a livable future for all in our common home? The answer is: A LOT! “Take a deep breath and decide that collectively we can do this, and you will play your part.” (Christiana Figueres) Join us in reading and discussing this good news book! Concise, extremely optimistic yet pragmatic, this guide from the architects of the 2015 Paris Climate Agreement provides a framework for making an individual plan of actions we all can take - large and small - to create a better world now and in the future.  Title: “The Future We Choose: The Stubborn Optimist's Guide to the Climate Crisis” https://www.globaloptimism.com/the-future-we-choose Authors: by Christiana Figueres, Tom Rivett-Carnac RSVP: https://tinyurl.com/Book-Discussion-11-28-23

The book is available from many of our local libraries, and a free pdf copy is on the UN website at: https://tinyurl.com/UN-TFWC

The Season of Creation is the annual ecumenical celebration of prayer and action for our common home which begins on September 1, World Day of Prayer for the Care of Creation, and ends on October 4, the feast of St. Francis of Assisi, the patron saint of ecology beloved by many Christian denominations.

Individuals and communities are invited to participate through prayer, sustainability projects and advocacy. 

The Creation Care will provide ideas for individual and community activities for observing the Season of Creation each week in the bulletin and here.

Prophet Amos cries out: “But let justice roll on like a river, righteousness like a never-failing stream!” (Amos 5: 24) . As the people of God, let us work together on behalf of all Creation, as part of that mighty river of peace and justice.

2023 Season of Creation Activities

(note: many of these activities are adapted from resources provided by Catholic Climate Covenant.)

• Prepare for this year’s Season of Creation by reading the Message of His Holiness Pope Francis for the World Day of Prayer for the Care of Creation
• Thurs Aug 31 7PM:  Vespers Service for the Preservation of Creation on Thursday, at St. George Greek Orthodox Church, 1033 West Park Avenue, Ocean Township. Refreshments and fellowship to follow. Please see https://tinyurl.com/Vespers23 for the full flier.
• Fri Sept 1 9:00AM: Join the online interfaith World Day of Prayer for Creation prayer service at https://youtu.be/pv3kExaSMmI
• Thurs Sept 28, 1:30 PM - 2:30 PM:  Waterspirit's Microplastics Beach Survey (registration required)
• Sat Sept 30, 10:00 AM - 12:00 PM: Beach Cleanup with Waterspirit and Save Coastal Wildlife (registration required)
• Pray the St. Francis of Assisi Novena: https://cafod.org.uk/pray/prayer-resources/novena-to-st-francis
• Wed Oct 4 9AM: Online ecumenical Season of Creation closing prayer service: https://laudatosimovement.org/event/soc-closing-prayer-service/
• Wed Oct 4th Noon: Blessing of the Animals at the Church of St. Anselm. Deacon Bill will preside.
• Wed Oct 4 3PM:  Webinar from AARP about reducing your energy use and lowering your fossil fuel consumption, both of which help our common home. The recording will be sent to anyone who registers by Oct 3rd. Registration Link: https://tinyurl.com/AARP-10-4-23 Note: You do not need to be an AARP member to attend the webinar, but you will need to make a free account on their website to register for the event. 
• Sign up to receive daily Season of Creation reflections from the Creation Care Ministry of the Paulist Center, Boston at: seasonofcreationdaily.org
• Connect with the beauty of God’s creation by taking an “Awe Walk” (https://ggia.berkeley.edu/practice/awe_walk), perhaps in one of Monmouth County’s 30+ parks.
• Calculate your carbon footprint. Understanding which activities are carbon-intensive allows you to know where you can take action. The EPA has a free carbon footprint calculator you can use. 
• Use less water. Water processing accounts for approximately 3% of energy use in the United States, according to the EPA. Saving water means saving energy. Post a “please conserve water” sign at sinks and showers, install low-flow spigots, or select the “eco” setting on laundry machines and dishwashers.
• Participate in an Ignatian Ecological Examen http://www.ecologicalexamen.org, a reflection tool to heed Pope Francis’ call in Laudato Si’ to care for creation and to reconcile our relationship with God, creation and one another.
• Petition Policymakers. Your elected officials have the power to take action on climate change. Write policy makers to tell them that you stand for the stewardship of creation.
• Go Meatless on Fridays. By going meatless at least one day per week, you’ll both honor Catholic teaching and better care for Creation – the earth, animals, and yourself. A plant-based diet is better for you and the planet. “Meat and dairy provide just 18% of calories consumed, but use 83% of global farmland and are responsible for 60% of agriculture’s greenhouse gas emissions.” (Source: https://www.un.org/en/actnow/facts-and-figures)
• Recycle More. Recycling reduces your carbon footprint both because landfills emit greenhouse gasses through decomposition, and because manufacturing and food production is carbon-intensive.
  • Composting is recycling. Use St. Anselm’s composting bins if you don’t have your own. Contact us if you need more information.
  • Find where and how to recycle almost anything in your area at search.earth911.com, or see  the Monmouth County recycling center’s guide.
• Avoid Single-Use Plastics. Use your own travel mug/cup and reusable water bottle. Bring a reusable container when eating out to carry leftovers home. Use dinnerware and cutlery instead of plastic plates, plastic utensils, and plastic cups.
• Focus your Mealtime Prayer on Gratitude for Creation: 
• Earth maker and Lord of all creation, we are mindful that this food before us has already been blessed by your sun, soil, water, and air. 
  We pause to be grateful for these hidden treasures of life in this food. 
  For this food and all of creation, your great gift of love, we thank you Lord. 
  (Excerpted and adapted from Food as A symbol by Edward Hays).
• Be energy efficient.
  • During the summer months, close your curtains to block heat. During the winter, open your curtains during the day to allow the sun to warm your home. These simple steps can significantly reduce the need for air conditioning and heating, which are likely the most energy-intensive aspects of your home.
  • Do an energy audit of your home or apartment and make improvements where needed. https://www.njcleanenergy.com/energy-checkup
  • When choosing new appliances, consider more efficient heat-pump versions of furnaces, water heaters, and dryers. Federal rebates and tax credits may be able to help you make these purchases. https://www.irs.gov/newsroom/irs-going-green-could-help-taxpayers-qualify-for-expanded-home-energy-tax-credits
• Reduce your fossil fuel consumption.
  • Adjust your driving routine to combine multiple errands into one trip in order to reduce the amount of fossil fuel you use.
  • If you pay your own utility bill, consider NJ's innovative new community solar program which provides access to discounted solar energy from a remotely-located solar farm with: no panels on your roof, no extra costs, no changes to your home or apartment, and no repairs. https://www.sustainablejersey.com/communitysolar
  • Adjust the thermostat when you leave the house - a change of just 5 degrees is a good start.
• Pray “A Prayer for Our Earth”, found at the end of Laudato Si’.
• We are all strengthened when we act together as a community. Consider joining our Creation Care Team. Select ‘Creation Care’ from the items on the Parish Time and Talent survey https://tinyurl.com/St-Anselm-Time-Talent-23.

“Living our vocation to be protectors of God’s handiwork is essential to a life of virtue; it is not an optional or a secondary aspect of our Christian experience.” (Laudato Si’ 217)

• Link to Laudato Si': https://www.vatican.va/content/francesco/en/encyclicals/documents/papa-francesco_20150524_enciclica-laudato-si.html

Is the climate crisis a burden? Or an opportunity?

Christiana Figueres lands firmly in the ‘opportunity’ camp, and invites us to do the same. 

In her thought-provoking keynote address to the webinar series, “Laudato Si' and the U.S. Catholic Church”, she challenges us to adopt a mindset of “stubborn optimism”, and gives us ample reasons to do so.

We invite you to view the discussion with Ms. Figueres at: https://tinyurl.com/CF-CCC to hear her encouraging and empowering message about what we all can and must do - individually and collectively - to ensure a more stable and healthier world for ourselves and those who will follow us.

Ms. Figueres was one of the architects of the landmark 2015 Paris Climate Agreement. Dan Misleh, Catholic Climate Covenant founder, states: “If you read one book on climate change this year, it really needs to be ‘The Future We Choose’ “, co-authored by Ms. Figueres and published in 2020.

The Monmouth County Library has copies, or it can be read on the United Nations website: https://tinyurl.com/UN-TFWC

Community Solar Information Session June 10 at 3pm

On May 25, 2023, Pope Francis renewed his call to “institute a rapid and equitable transition to end the era of fossil fuel”, in his  Message for the World Day Of Prayer for the Care of Creation. How can we answer this call? 

Everyone who pays an electric bill in NJ - renters and homeowners - can move away from using fossil fuel-generated electricity in their homes through community solar, a new program from the Board of Public Utilities’ Office of Clean Energy. Without installing our own solar panels, we can switch to using solar-generated electricity by subscribing to a local solar farm, and received a discount on our electric bill.

Fossil fuel burning for energy accounted for 73% of total U.S. greenhouse gas emissions in 2020, according to the US Energy Information Administration. Community solar offers one way for us to reduce that percentage  - and save money.

The Creation Care teams of St. Anselm and St. George Greek Orthodox Church invite you to an information session on Saturday, June 10th at 3:00pm. You can attend either in-person in the St. Anselm Learning Center (refreshments will be served) or online.

Pope Francis adds, “Let us raise our voices to halt this injustice towards the poor and towards our children, who will bear the worst effects of climate change. I appeal to all people of good will to act in conformity with these perspectives on society and nature… We can and we must prevent the worst from happening. … So let us join hands and take bold steps to “Let Justice and Peace Flow” throughout our world.”

Questions can be sent to creationcare@stanselm.org

Learn more at: njcleanenergy.com/renewable-energy/programs/community-solar

Community Solar Brochure from NJ’s Clean Energy Program: https://tinyurl.com/NJ-CS-brochure

Find a community solar project near you at: sustainablejersey.com/communitysolar

Ideas for Celebrating Earth Day 2023

• Interfaith Power & Light is offering access to 'Current Revolution': three short films which present a thoughtful and thought-provoking view of our country's transition to renewable energy. Click this link below, then SIGN UP TO VIEW AT HOME to access these films.
• Catholic Climate Covenant is offering their Simple Living program for our use this Earth Month to help us consider ways to live sustainably for the benefit of all creation. The entire program can be found here, and we adapted their materials for a shortened reflection exercise here.
• Join Interfaith Power and Light for prayer for creation at noon on Earth Day April 22nd.

Environmental Stewardship Awareness Weekend March 25-26

Join us March 25-26 in the St. Anselm Learning Center after each Mass to learn about many ways we can care for God's creation, our common home, the earth. We have lots of great information to share, giveaways, refreshments, and a drawing. This event is sponsored by the St. Anselm’s Creation Care Team with our partners at St. George Greek Orthodox Church’s Caring for God’s Creation Ministry.

LENT 2023

The Creation Care Team at St. Anselm Church wishes to offer you ways to engage in activities to care for our common home, the earth, during Lent.

Click here to view three resources we selected from a collection from Catholic Climate Covenant, or here to view the entire collection.

April 1st Clean Ocean Action Beach Sweep registration is now open!

This time, we'll meet at 10am at Seven Presidents Park.

When registering, please specify: group/organization: Ecumenical Creation Care Ministries of St. George and St. Anselm parishes

Click here to register. 

See https://cleanoceanaction.org/beach-sweeps for more information..

Mark your calendar for the second 2023 beach cleanup: Saturday October 21st.

Stay in Touch with Us!

Stay in touch with what your St. Anselm’s Creation Care Team is doing, planning, thinking and learning about with our partners at St. George Greek Orthodox Church’s Caring for God’s Creation ministry by following our newly created facebook page at: https://www.facebook.com/EcumenicalCreationCareMinistry

We’ll be posting there regularly and you can message us there also. 

We’ve got on-going  plans for 2023, so follow us to see all the details and join us!

If you don’t “do” facebook, you can email us at creationcare@stanselm.com to be added to our email list.

2022 St. Anselm Creation Care Posts

Earlier St. Anselm Creation Care Posts

MISSION STATEMENT

The mission of our committee is two-fold: (1) to provide assistance and care for the needs of the more vulnerable people in our parish and local community and (2) to identify, publicize, and educate the parish on current social justice issues.  In all of our activities we follow certain key principles of Catholic social justice.

CATHOLIC SOCIAL JUSTICE PRINCIPLES 

The dignity of Each Person

Belief in the inherent dignity of the human person is the foundation of all Catholic social teaching. We are made in the image and likeness of God and must be the starting point of a moral vision for society.

The Common Good and Community

We have a responsibility to participate in organizing our society, in law, policy, economics and politics because of the direct effect on human dignity and the rights of individuals.  We must protect human life and dignity and promote the common good.

Rights and Responsibilities

We have not only the right but the responsibility to participate in politics out of concern and commitment to the good of the community. We have a duty to keep informed about issues of the day and to vote to protect the common good.

Option for the Poor and Vulnerable

The Bible teaches us to put the needs of the poor first.  Jesus showed us the way. This is the true test of our Christianity: how we treat those living in poverty.

Stewardship of God’s Creation

God gave human beings the task of caring for and nurturing all of creation. All people have an equal right to breathe clean air and drink clean water. In his Encyclical, Laudato Si, On Care for our Common Home, Pope Francis calls all people of the world to take “swift and global action” to stop the environmental destruction of our planet which has a disproportionate effect on those living on the margins of society.  Concern for creations is inseparable from concern for justice.

Promotion of Peace

There is a close relationship in Catholic teaching between peace and justice.  Peace is the “fruit of justice and is dependent on the right order among human beings.