Environment

Motivated by growing concern for environmental and sustainability issues, a parish team began to
meet in 2008 to see how Bellarmine can integrate ecological awareness into our
faith-life and spirituality to become more of a “green parish”. Exploring care
for God’s creation, team members discern how the parish can practice greater
environmental responsibility, along with creative and helpful ways for
parishioners to consider in their own lives, families and homes.

 
Initial activities have included:

-       publishing a parish “Green Pages” several times a year with helpful
spirituality, Catholic Social Teaching, lifestyle and household tips in the
spirit of care for God’s creation and embracing greater environmental awareness

-       selling organic cotton tote bags with the parish logo as an
alternative to plastic grocery bags

-       coordinating the 2011 parish Lenten Series on “Sacrificing for
God’s Creation: An Invitation to Abundance”

-       eco-spirituality as the 2009 parish retreat focus

-       helping the parish picnic “go green” with reusable items and an
environmental homily focus

...along with other upcoming plans for:

-       promoting “eco-spirituality” and care for creation

-       exploring a parish environmental audit

-       listing “green-living” tips in parish bulletin/website

-       parish celebrations of Earth Day and the Fall picnic

Click here for more information and resources about connecting our faith and
family life with a lifestyle of sustainability and voluntary simplicity.

Related links of interest:

-       Catholic Climate
Covenant (St. Francis Pledge for Creation and the Poor)

-       Catholic
Coalition on Climate Change

-       US Conference
of Catholic Bishops’ Care for God’s Creation campaign

-     Jesuit Special Report on Ecology

Simple
Lifestyle links of interest:

-       Advent Conspiracy.org
…simplifying Christmas by spending less, giving more, loving all

-       Center for a New American Dream
…simple lifestyle and consumer consciousness

-       Green Living Ideas.com
…helpful tips for sustainable, healthier, creative living

-       Simplicity Parenting,
promoting families desiring healthier living and less “stuff” 

For more information on the Bellarmine Environmental
Team, contact Liz Keuffer, team convener, at the parish main office, 745-3398
or keuffer@xavier.edu