This year, Earth Day comes at the time when the Church commemorates the second anniversary of Pope Francis’ encyclical on the environment, On the Care of Our Common Home.
In observance of Earth Day, people throughout the world, whether Catholic or not Catholic, are heeding the Holy Father’s call by hosting events in order to better understand the spiritual nature of their responsibility to preserve the environment. In the Diocese of Trenton, events will be held in the following parishes:
St. Ann Parish, Lawrenceville, will hold a 10-day “Care of Our Common Home” program that will include a number of activities.
On April 27, parishioner Tom Keevey will lead an adult faith formation presentation, “The Prophetic Voices of Teilhard de Chardin, Thomas Merton and Tom Berry,” from 7:30 to 8:30 p.m. in the Pope John Paul Community Room. The presentation will offer a brief history on how the human community has steadily over the centuries alienated itself from its home, the planet Earth. Participants will explore attempts to raise awareness on such problems in the United States by the pioneers of the environmental movement leading to the proclamation of Earth Day in 1970 and on the global front, with the United Nations Earth Charter in 1987. Participants will look at some of the prophetic voices including theological, spiritual and scientific teachings of Teilhard de Chardin, Merton, Berry and culminating with Pope Francis’ encyclical.
Keevey, who resides in Ewing with his wife, Catherine, holds master’s degrees from St. Michael College, the University of Ottawa and the Catholic Institute in Parish, specializing in ritual, symbol, worship and the environment. He has lectured and conducted workshops on the topic and has also taught in St. John University, Queens, N.Y., and has lived and studied with Father Berry.
On April 28, the parish youth group will host a tree planting on the parish grounds starting at 4 p.m.
During the weekend of April 29-30, all parishioners are invited to join the Lawrence Township Organic Waste Recycling Program by signing a letter to legislators who support the teachings of Pope Francis and the Catholic bishops on the environment.
On May 1, the movie Before the Flood will be shown at 6 p.m. in the Pope John Paul Community Room. Narrated by Leonardo DiCaprio, the movie depicts what might be at stake unless definitive action is taken on the environment. A discussion will follow.
St. Ann Parish is located at 1252 Lawrence Rd.
St. George Parish, Titusville, will observe Earth Day with a concert April22 at 7 p.m. The concert is free and open to the public. Music will be provided by the 12:30 Mass Band from St. Ann Parish, Lawrenceville. The 12:30 Mass Band, which has provided both liturgical and coffee house music for the past 10 years, will present a variety of musical works that will center on environment, creation and celebration.
St. George is located at 1370 River Road (Route 29).
Reflecting on why Catholics should regard Earth Day as being important, Msgr. Vincent Gartland, a retired priest of the Diocese, stated how the last three popes – John Paul II, Benedict XVI and Francis – “have made significant statements on the responsibility we have to care for the environment.”
The three popes have in different ways addressed human approaches to ecology and care for creation. For example, said Msgr. Gartland, who assists with Masses in St. George Parish and is former pastor of St. Ann Parish, Pope Benedict was often referred to as being the “Green Pope” because he spoke about the environment so frequently and backed it up with actions, bringing solar power to the Vatican and making Vatican City the first solar powered nation state in the world.
“Pope Benedict reminded us that the natural environment has been gravely damaged by our irresponsible behavior,” Msgr. Gartland noted.
Elaborating on Laudato Si, Msgr. Gartland noted how Pope Francis added Care of Creation to the list of Beatitudes and joined the Orthodox Catholic Church in declaring Sept. 1 as World Day of Prayer for the Care of Creation.
“Our spiritual leaders have been calling our attention to the problem of almost 50 years,” said Msgr. Gartland. “It is about time we stopped business as usual and paid attention.”