Since Lent began, many Western Christians have been focusing their spiritual and digestive energies on observing an eco-friendly Lent – abstaining not only from chocolate and red meat but, in some quarters, fish, regular electric light bulbs and gasoline (whenever possible).

This trend – born on the Internet and fueled by websites that answer the question “What would Jesus Do?” with the refrain “Go Green” – seemed somehow off the mark as a Lenten exercise.

So said a number of Catholics I touched base with on the subject.

Maybe it’s because most of them already do their best to follow good environmental practices throughout the year by recycling, using public transportation when possible (in Central New Jersey that takes almost super-human effort), cutting down on packaging, buying from local farmers… the litany goes on and on.

In other words, the admonitions to devote Lent to making a greener world didn’t seem like a special effort and isn’t that what Lent is all about?

A few days ago, motivated by the first three weeks of Lent in a frosty, impenetrable landscape, battered by terrifically cold temperatures and the claustrophobic feeling that comes from being housebound for days, I began to sign on to Catholic websites urging everyone to “Go Green for Lent.”

I pretty much put it down to the sheer need for a sense of green that generally settles in every March in the run-up to St. Patrick’s Day. This year, the need for green settled in with a vengeance.

One of the sites encountered was www.catholicsinalliance.org which set up a Facebook page encouraging all people of faith to take the St. Francis Pledge. Created by the Catholic Coalition on Climate Change, the pledge encourages people to put their faith into action by advocating for Catholic principles and priorities in climate change.

Another, the ecumenically oriented earthministry.blogspot.com, advocated eschewing “environmentally harmful habits” during the six weeks of Lent and starting “environmentally friendly ones.”

Among their suggestions: feasting on the light of God by having one meal by candlelight each day; fasting on energy by switching from regular light bulbs to energy saving ones; turning down the water heater to 120 degrees and setting the thermostat to 55 or lower at night when not at home.

Good suggestions all, but very standard. They’ve been around for years and are widely applied yearround by people who take environmental concerns even somewhat seriously. Here again, nothing seemed created especially with Lent in mind.

Finally though, www.earthministry.blogspot.com zeroed in on some that really seemed to fit the bill. These included: Feasting on the blessing of water by offering a prayer of thanksgiving each time you wash or drink from the tap; feasting on creation by getting outdoors and walking; feasting on the richness of God’s word by reading Scripture through the lens of environmental justice.

I appreciated those suggestions and am doing my best to fold them in among the Lenten practices already settled on by Ash Wednesday.

If I had to guess, I’d say it’s a sure thing that the concept of “Go Green for Lent” will be a subject of discussion at the 17th annual Environmental Expo in St. Mary Parish, Colts Neck, April 18 from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.

This parish, always on the forefront of Catholic social teaching on the environment, holds the event in conjunction with an Environmental Liturgy at 10:30 a.m. which marks the Environmental Sabbath – a time to pause and reflect upon the character and quality of our relationship to the planet.

The event’s theme, “Celebrate the Bounty of the Earth” invites everyone to manifest care, concern and appreciation for the fruits of the earth and asks what we need to do as its stewards to build a restored earth for generations yet to come.

Representatives from Clean Ocean Action, NJ Clean Energy Program, Monmouth County Friends of Clearwater, Monmouth County Master Gardeners, Master Composters of Monmouth County, the 4-H Carrot Rabbit Club and others will be on hand to help educate and motivate adults to take specific earth-friendly actions.

With a crew like that on hand at the free event, which is open to the public, it seems like a perfect event to take a poll and see whether “Go Green for Lent” had a local impact.

Since the event dovetails neatly with Earth Day on April 22, it should make for good conversation.

Stay tuned.