environment Archives - Catechist's Journey

Caring for the Environment—A Family Faith-Sharing Guide

Care for God’s creation is a tenet of Catholic social teaching, a fact emphasized by Pope Francis in his encyclical Laudato Si’, “On Care for Our Common Home.” Help the families in your parish or school understand what the Church says about caring for the environment with this faith-sharing guide available for download here at Catechist’s Journey. Excerpted from 52 Simple Ways to Talk with Your Kids about Faith by Jim Campbell, the guide invites […]

Pop-Up Catechesis: Celebrating God’s Wonderful World

Joe Paprocki

Autumn is one of my favorite times! It is a season that just begs for outdoor activity—to get out into the crisp autumn air and to see the leaves changing spectacular colors. It is a season that reminds us of the beauty of God’s creation, as well as our responsibility to care for that creation. The new Directory for Catechesis reminds us that “Catechesis is to take care in the first place to help believers […]

St. Francis of Assisi and Care for Creation

The Feast of St. Francis of Assisi and Care for God’s Creation

Joe Paprocki

In just a few days (October 4), we will celebrate the Feast of St. Francis of Assisi, the patron saint of animals and ecology. This wonderful feast day provides us with a great opportunity to teach young people about the Catholic Social Teaching principle of Care for God’s Creation and the encyclical Laudato Si’, written by our Holy Father, who took the name of Francis upon becoming Pope. You can find some great resources to […]

World Day of Prayer for the Care of Creation: September 1

Joe Paprocki

Beginning last year, Pope Francis has called for Catholics to celebrate the World Day of Prayer for the Care of Creation on September 1. Here are a number of things you and those you teach can do to observe this day: Sign the Catholic Climate Petition. Join the World Day of Prayer for the Care of Creation Facebook event. Pray a prayer composed by Pope Francis for his encyclical, Laudato Si’. Pray the Rosary using […]

Summer Is a Good Time for Your Parish to “Go Green”

Joe Paprocki

Summer is a great time for your parish to “go green,” and going green can be a very effective way of inviting young adults to explore their faith. Caring for the planet is an issue of great importance to young people, who increasingly view institutional religion as irrelevant and out of touch with important issues. In an article for America magazine (June 18, 2015), author and speaker Kerry Weber laid out an argument for why Laudato […]

Teaching Care for Creation

Darcy Osby

One of the first things we teach children about God is that God is the creator of everything around us. One of the most accessible examples we use to talk about God’s presence in our world is the beauty of creation: the splendor of a sunset, the repetitive motion of ocean waves, the diversity of animals and plant life, the intricacy of the human body. Creation is one of the most tangible ways that we […]

Catholics are Environmentalists

Joe Paprocki

What does the environment have to do with being a Catholic catechist? Plenty! The Catholic Conservation Center reminds us that “long before the current ecological movement developed, saints taught respect for all of God’s Creation.” The Center goes on to say: Since its inception, the Church has instructed us on the proper dominion and stewardship of Creation. This wisdom is made known to us through sacred Scripture, the living Tradition of the Church, the message […]