Archbishop William E. Lori urged the faithful of the Archdiocese of Baltimore to follow Pope Francis’ recent appeal to be environmentally conscious, noting steps the archdiocese is taking to reduce its negative impact on the climate. .
In an Oct. 10 email to parishioners in the archdiocese, Archbishop Lori wrote: and irreparable damage to life-sustaining ecosystems like our Chesapeake Bay. ”
On October 4, the Pope announced a new apostolic exhortation, Laudato Deum (“Praise God”), a sequel to his 2015 encyclical “Laudato si, Concerning the Care of Our Common Home.” “)announced. The publication of this exhortation coincided with the feast day of St. Francis of Assisi, the patron of ecology, whose famous hymn inspired the title of Laudato Si’.
Only about one-fifth of the length of Laudato Si’ (which he refers to extensively), he says, “The world we live in is falling apart and may be approaching a breaking point.” The message of this exhortation is even more urgent, as Pope Francis said: I have written. “Climate change is one of the major challenges facing society and the international community.”
The document reiterates important messages that have resonated throughout Pope Francis’s Curia, including care for marginalized peoples, care for creation, human ecology, and global It includes a “synodal” approach to solving problems.
He said the issue of climate change is “inextricably linked to the sanctity of human life” given the “impacts on the most vulnerable”.
Archbishop Lori mentioned several steps the archdiocese is taking to combat climate change. This reduces carbon emissions by operating solar power plants that power the Catholic Center, the Cathedral of the National Basilica of the Assumption of the Virgin Mary, and the Cathedral of the Virgin Mary. Queen, all from Baltimore. The archdiocese also invited the Baltimore Tree Trust and other environmental organizations to plant more than 1,000 trees on archdiocesan property.
“The Pope speaks to each of us and asks us to consider what we can do for the benefit of all of us,” the archbishop said.
He encouraged parishes and school communities to install rain gardens and bioswales to reduce runoff and eliminate unnecessary impervious surfaces.
Many Catholic institutions in the area are doing just that.
- At Notre Dame Preparatory School in Towson, students gain hands-on experience with environmental awareness in an Advanced Placement Environmental Science course with a service-learning component.
- At Our Lady of Mount Carmel in Essex, the project transformed the school and parish grounds. With a grant and guidance from the Powder Valley Conservatory, the school and church installed her two rain gardens, six reservoirs, and one bay landscape. They also planted 10 native trees during the project, which began in 2018.
- Baltimore Catholic High School is a Maryland Green School Certified School with a Green School Club. When Baltimore City recently stopped recycling collection for its facilities, students took action. As recyclables pile up during the pandemic, students at a Catholic high school have found another way to recycle items that would otherwise be sent to a landfill.
- Loyola University of Maryland recently announced several initiatives to further Pope Francis’ environmental efforts. The North Baltimore campus launched a climate change and energy management plan and built a new green facility, the Miguel B. Fernandez Family Center. The university also sponsors a community-focused farmers market and several other environmental education initiatives. Loyola aims to be carbon neutral by 2050.
- Notre Dame School Sisters and NDP students encouraged shoppers to use reusable bags and distributed cloth bags sewn by the Sisters.
“A great opportunity lies before us, and the Laudate Deum provides a roadmap,” Archbishop Lori wrote. “Each of us can do our part to reject practices that exploit natural resources, practice environmentally responsible behavior, and have a broader perspective that recognizes the interconnectedness of all people. can.”
OSV News contributed to this article.
Email Jerry Jackson at gjackson@catholicreview.org
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