Creation Care Team
Jeff Hitz
jeffhitz@gmail.com
847-721-5515
Carrie Crall
crallcarrie@gmail.com
The Creation Care Ministry exists to learn about and educate others of the importance to care for God’s creation, protecting our common home for the wellbeing of all, especially for future generations.
Our Values seek to address:
•Response to the Cry of the Earth is a call to protect our common home for the wellbeing of all, as we equitably address the climate crisis, biodiversity loss, and ecological sustainability.
•Response to the Cry of the Poor is a call to promote eco-justice, aware that we are called to defend human life from conception to death, and all forms of life on Earth.
•Ecological Economics acknowledges that the economy is a sub-system of human society, which itself is embedded within the biosphere – our common home.
•Adoption of Sustainable Lifestyles is grounded in the idea of sufficiency and promoting sobriety in the use of resources and energy.
•Ecological Education is about rethinking and redesigning curricular and institutional reform in the spirit of integral ecology in order to foster ecological awareness and transformative action.
•Ecological Spirituality springs from a profound ecological conversion and helps us “discover God in all things,” in the beauty of creation, in the sighs of the sick, and in the groans of the afflicted, aware that the life of the spirit is not dissociated from worldly realities.
•Community Resilience and Empowerment envisage a synodal journey of community engagement and participatory action at various levels.
Pope Francis wrote the encyclical Laudato Si’ (Praise Be to You) in 2015 to remind us of our common home and responsibilities shared to care for it and all who live on earth. In 2020, five years later, Pope Francis invited all Catholics and people of good will to action. The Laudato Si’ Action Platform (LSAP) was born.
LSAP is a tool that has been provided by the Vatican and supported by the Archdiocese of Chicago in an effort to amplify the great work already being done by our parishes. It provides a place for us to document what we have done/are doing and our plans going forward as we respond to the cry of the earth and the cry of the poor. “This is a watershed moment for the church, for humanity and for the planet which Pope Franics calls our common home. It’s time for the church to be bold-to speak about major issues-and to achieve a new level of relevance in people’s lives.” Cardinal Cupich
We are continually looking for new members to join us on this exciting journey. We meet on the 2nd Thursday of the month at 10:30am. Contact Jeff (information above) to learn more.
Season of Creation September 1 –October 4
“Taking action during the Season of Creation is living out our Catholic faith. The Church, following the teachings of Jesus, from the Social Doctrine, throughout time has exhorted believers to work for the common good, which requires dignifying life in all its forms, caring for the common home, committing to the construction of more just, supportive, fraternal and peaceful societies, among other fundamental aspects to achieve what Pope Francis calls integral ecology in Laudato Si’. In other words, he is not only a creator God, but a loving Father who tenderly cares for the work of his hands and has a vision of fraternity for all humanity.
Accordingly, the Season of Creation is a celebration that allows all people to recognize ourselves as “the work of the Lord’s creative act,” to contemplate nature and all that dwells in it, and to care for our Common Home.”
For more information visit https://laudatosimovement.org/news/what-is-the-season-of-creation/.