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Justice and Peace |
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JPIC in Action
On Jan. 22, 2011, Fr. Jacek Orzechowski, OFM, along with more than 200 others participated in the Polar Bear Plunge into the Potomac River organized by the Chesapeake Climate Action Network. Friars and partners-in-ministry came to the event to pray, call attention to the moral dimension of global climate change, and to support the effort that could lead to the development of a large-scale offshore wind farm in Maryland.
Click here watch a short video about the Franciscan Polar Bear Plunge.
Global Climate Change: A Franciscan Challenge
Global climate change is one of the most serious and urgent issues facing the human family. The poor, the most vulnerable and future generations will pay the heaviest price for the harm that has already been done to our environment.
As men and women inspired by St. Francis, the patron saint of ecology, we must be proactive in our response to this spiritual and moral crisis. Challenged by the words of Pope Benedict XVI, who said "our earth is speaking to us and we must listen and decipher its message, if we want to survive," the time to act is now.
Consider taking one or two of the following steps. As part of your daily spiritual practice, seek guidance for those actions you are able to take and, one day at a time, slowly build in more steps as you are empowered and emboldened.
Gain Insight from the Province's Climate Change Statement
- Holy Name Province Franciscan Statement on Climate Change.
Learn the Facts about Global Climate Change
- See more clearly how climate change will have the most harmful effects upon persons who are poor.
- Read about the Catholic approach to climate change.
- Understand the myths and truths about global climate change.
- Read the National Academies Report on climate change.
Reflect on Climate Change using Our Faith Tradition
- Watch the video "Who's Under Your Carbon Footprint?"
- Read the message of Pope Benedict XVI "If You Want to Cultivate Peace, Protect Creation".
- Learn about the Church's teachings regarding climate change.
- Reflect on a Franciscan approach to climate change.
- Read the book Care for Creation: A Franciscan Spirituality of the Earth by Sr. Ilia Delio, OSF, Br. Keith Warner, OFM, and Pamela Wood.
- Learn about what the challenge of climate change has to do with your baptism.
Take Action
- Take the St. Francis Pledge.
- Consider various ways to save energy and your money. Interfaith Power & Light have wonderful resources to assist local communities in energy saving.
- Share your desire to do something about global climate change with your pastor or lay leaders. Encourage them to offer in your parish an adult Faith Formation program: God's Creation's Cry for Justice/ Climate Change: Impact and Response.
- Form a small group and sign up for "C4C," the Franciscan Action Network's adult formation care for creation program, to learn and engage the Franciscan approach to caring for the earth. FAN recently held a webcast to look at next steps.
- Ask the decision-makers in your parish to consider promoting in your local Church Lent 4.5 Christian Simplicity: A 7-week faith formation program for Lent with special bulletin inserts and school resource books. For more information, please visit www.lent45.org.
- Support local, clean-energy initiatives. If you live in Maryland, consider getting involved in Chesapeake Climate Action Network's campaign focused on offshore wind power. Similar initiatives may exist in other states.
"I have done what is mine to do. May Christ teach you what is yours."
— St. Francis of Assisi
