In view of the concerns of so many throughout the world, the devastation caused by changes in patterns of life and natural disasters, it is time for our catholic communities to examine the teachings of our Church and develop plans of action for the enhancement of the earth and protection of all created beings.
On this web page, in the spirit of the Laudato Si’, we hope to share the teachings of our Church as they are acted upon in the Archdiocese, our parishes, and diverse ecclesial movements. It is a true human tragedy when few individuals look upon our times and see everything through the prism of politics. They forget the Divine Mandate given to us by God from the beginning in which He proclaimed all that was created was good and each person is a steward of the gift of Creation.
Season of Creation
September 1, 2024 – October 4, 2024
Mass for the Care of Creation
The Archdiocese of New York, together with Metro New York Catholic Climate Movement and the Church of St. Paul the apostle cordially invite all to celebrate a Mass for Creation.
Wednesday, September 25, 2024
6:30 PM
Church of St. Paul the Apostle
Columbus Ave between 59th and 60th Streets.
Celebrant is Rev. James DiLuzio, CSP
Concelebrants and Guests include Rev. Brian McWeeney and Rev. Benedict Ayodi, OFM Cap of the Laudato Si Movement.
This Mass is in observance of the 2024 Season of Creation.
RSVP to [email protected]
A Mass for Creation – Fr. Brian McWeeney
A Mass for Creation, September 25, 2024
St. Paul the Apostle Catholic Church
Fr. Brian McWeeney, Archdiocese of New York
Opening Remarks
Welcome to our Liturgical Celebration of The Season of Creation. I am pleased to be one with you as we commit ourselves to the vision of the Catholic Community to act as faithful stewards of what God has given us. In the Scripture we read in the Letter of James the Apostle: “Humbly welcome the word that has been planted in you and is able to save your souls. Be doers of the word and not hearers only, deluding yourselves. Religion that is pure and undefiled before God is this: to care for orphans and widows in their affliction and to keep oneself unstained by the world.” With great clarity our Holy Father Pope Francis has called the whole church to recognize the necessity of preservation of “Our Common Home” through our missionary discipleship. His message has been consistent. Through his Letters : Laudatio Si, Fratelli Tutti, and Laudatio Deum, he has challenged us to reflect on the ever lasting from the Scriptures and the Magisterial Teachings of the Church. Because of the universal abilities of communication, His words have not only been heard the churches but many secular areas of education, economics, and government. It would be an error to believe that he is the first to sound the clarion call. The judgements of the prophets, the words of Jesus and the disciples,, the saints of God Benedict, Francis, and Teresa of Calcutta have all changed their generations.
In our own modern era Pope Leo XIII condemned the social sins of injustice committed by individuals and governments against the poor. In our own times St, Pope Paul VI remembering his predecessors stated in his Populorum Progressio: “Our pred in their great encyclicals …did not fail in their office of shedding the light of the Gospel on the social questions of their times… John XXIII stated this in unambiguous terms and the Council echoed him in its Pastoral Constitution on the Church in the Modern World. The Teaching is important and its application urgent. Today the people in hunger are making a dramatic appeal to those blessed with abundance. The Church shudders at this cry of anguish and calls each one to give a loving response of charity to this brother’s cry for help.”
Saint Pope John Paul II in speaking out at Yankee Stadium about the poor man at the Gate who arrived in Paradise in Abraham’s stated that all must “ Give from your substance not from your excess.>” Years later in the post-synodal text: Ecclesia in America” he would call upon us to realize the modern dangers of urbanization and globalization as well as the misuse of technology and science there by caused greater dehumanization.
Carrying on this theme, Pope Benedict XVI wrote in his encyclical: Caritatis in Veritate: “Today the subject of development is also closely related to the duties arising from our relationship to the natural environment. The environment is God’s gift to everyone , and in our use of it we have a responsibility towards the poor, towards future generations and towards humanity as a whole. When nature including the human being, is viewed as the mere chance or evolutionary determinism, our sense of responsibility wanes. In nature, the believer recognizes the wonderful result of God’s creative activity, which we may use responsibly to satisfy our legitimate needs, material or otherwise, while respecting the intrinsic balance of creation. If this vision is lost, we end up either considering nature an untouchable taboo or, on the contrary, abusing it. Neither attitude is consonant with the Christian vision of nature as the fruit of God’s creation.”
Pope Francis in his efforts of teaching and collaborating with other communities of faith has followed through the social doctrine of the Church as well as shown us how Synodolity is a valued tool to advance our goals for the future. Our celebration itself has shown us that in advancing the needs of Our Common Home requires the communion, participation, and mission of the continuing principles of the Synod.
Laudate Deum
“Praise God for all his creatures!”
This was the message that Saint Francis of Assisi proclaimed by his life, his canticles and all his actions.
In this way, he accepted the invitation of the biblical Psalms and reflected the sensitivity of Jesus before the creatures of his Father: “Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow; they neither toil nor spin, yet I tell you, even Solomon in all his glory was not clothed like one of these” (Mt 6:28-29). “Are not five sparrows sold for two pennies? Yet not one of them is forgotten in God’s sight” (Lk 12:6).
How can we not admire this tenderness of Jesus for all the beings that accompany us along the way!
Earth Day
We are all invited to be good stewards of the earth. Learn more about how you can participate in the care of God’s creation during this Season of Creation for Earth Day with these tips, courtesy of the Archdiocese of New York’s Department of Energy Management:
Events
The Spirituality of Soil
The Office of Peace, Justice, and the Integrity of Creation of the Sisters of Charity of New York and The Office of Peace, Justice, and Ecological Integrity of the Sisters of Charity of Saint Elizabeth invite you to a ZOOM webinar on composting.
Monday, May 6, 2024
6 – 7:30 PM
Free Webinar
Registration is not required. Click here to join the webinar.
Eric Anglada (St. Isidore Catholic Worker Farm, Cuba City, WI) and Peggy Linehan (NYC urban composter) will share the deep spirituality that calls us to a new relationship with the community of life under our feet and answer practical questions about how to compost as an individual, family, or community.
Care for Creation Fair
Sponsored by Holy Name of Jesus – St. Gregory the Great Parish Justice, Peace, and Integrity of Creation Committee. Learn ways to live Laudato Si’!
Saturday, April 20 – Sunday, April 21, 2024
After every weekend Mass.
Click here for more information.
Holy Name of Jesus School
202 Amsterdam Ave @ West 97th St.
New York, NY 10025
Refreshments and resources will be provided, as well as engaging activities for children to enjoy. All are welcome to join us!
The Journey from Homeless to Home
Join us for an eye-opening event where we explore the inspiring stories and resources for individuals who have successfully transitioned from homelessness to finding a place to call home in the bustling city of New York. Discover the various housing services available in NYC that have played a crucial role in this journey.
Thursday, February 8, 2024
7:30 PM – 9 PM
This in-person event will take place at the Church of Our Saviour (59 Park Ave New York, NY 10016), providing an intimate setting to connect with fellow attendees and learn from staff who serve the homeless firsthand. Don’t miss this opportunity to gain insights, ask questions, and be part of a supportive community. Together, let’s empower ourselves with knowledge and compassion to make a difference in the lives of those in need. Light refreshments will be provided at the reception.
STOP Human Trafficking: What We Need to Know; What We Can Do
Our Conversation will include:
- Welcome
- Opening Prayer
- Life Experiences – Josephine Crisostomo, LifeWay Network Director of Education, Sisters Kate O’Neill, RNDM and Claudia Stecker, RNDM (LifeWay Safe House host community) will begin the discussion.
- Q & A and Time for Sharing
- The Equality Model and Advocacy Opportunities – Josephine Crisostomo
Monday, February 12, 2024
7 PM – 8 PM
Register before Thursday, February 8, 2024 by clicking here.
For more information, email Ms. Maureen Reiser, SCNY Director of Associates at [email protected]
Hosted by Sisters of Charity of New York and LifeWay Network
GET INVOLVED
GREEN TEAM: Seeking Volunteers
The Archdiocese of New York’s Energy Department is currently seeking candidates for our newly established Green Team. This team of volunteers will help devise solutions for sustainable environmental goals for use at the parish or community or organizational levels. Green Team members will have access to a series of developmental training sessions that will build their knowledge.
Green Team members are encouraged to create sustainable initiatives of interest to themselves or their community -for example: Recycling, Composting, Community Gardens, Energy Efficiency, etc. Most of all we will join together our collective experiences and encourage and support one another as we Care for Our Common Home.
Please express your interest by filling out this form: GREEN TEAM Volunteer interest form
RESOURCES
Make the most of this Season of Creation. Read Pope Francis’ encyclical Laudato si’ on care for our common home, and learn more about Fratelli tutti here. Take action with the Laudato Si’ Movement, Catholic Climate Covenant, or the Ignatian Solidarity Network. Learn more about the Season of Creation here. Share the following graphics on your social platforms.
Care of God’s Creation Resources from Catholic Relief Services:
Learn about St. Francis Xavier Laudato Si’ 3-year Climate Action Plan unveiled in 2022.
CARE OF CREATION TIPS
There are many ways to make a difference in your life and your environment. Why not incorporate some of the suggestions below into your daily routine and see what changes you can make?
You are invited to download and share these graphics with your community, on your social media platforms. Thank you for your kind consideration!
NEWS
The movie The Letter about the Laudato Si’, Pope Francis’ encyclical on climate change and ecology, offers a transformative new vision of environmental protection. The film, made in cooperation with the Vatican is available for free through a partnership with YouTube.
The United Nations will convene their annual meeting on climate, COP28, on November 30, 2023, in Dubai
In advance of the meeting, Archbishop Borys Gudziak of the Ukrainian Catholic Archeparchy of Philadelphia, chairman of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops’ (USCCB) Committee on Domestic Justice and Human Development, and Bishop A. Elias Zaidan of the Maronite Eparchy of Our Lady of Lebanon, chairman of the USCCB’s Committee on International Justice and Peace, released the following statement:
“We pray for all leaders and participants of COP28 as they work to care for our climate. As Pope Francis emphasized in Laudate Deum, the climate crisis is an opportunity to reconfigure international relations toward the common good, ‘demonstrat[ing] the nobility of politics,’ where, as brothers and sisters all, we can achieve ‘a decisive acceleration of energy transition’ (nos. 60, 54).”
Read more via The Good Newsroom: COP 28: U.S. Bishops Call for International Climate Policies that Promote Justice
INSPIRATION
October 4th marked the close of the annual celebration of the Season of Creation at Iona University.
St. Francis Xavier Environment Ministry hosted a Clean Up Day at Glick Park next to the East River.
ABOUT
It might come as a surprise to some but religious leaders and theologians have been recognizing in our Catholic Social Teaching a clear direction with a common purpose. The United Nations took up issues of the environment declaring a worldwide celebration of a Day for the Environment in 1973. Two years previous, Saint Pope Paul VI noting the eightieth anniversary of the “Rerum Novarum” of Leo XIII wrote: “Man is suddenly becoming aware that by an ill-conceived considered exploitation of nature he risks destroying it…Not only is the material environment becoming a permanent menace—pollution and refuse, new illness and absolute destructive capacity—but the human framework is no longer under man’s control, thus creating an environment for tomorrow which may be intolerable.” (21)
This twentieth-century prophet was warning us about what we are now experiencing throughout many nations, including our own. Pandemics have plagued our societies, settled cities have suffered the ravages of “storms of the century”, wars are being fought over the lack of resources, and men, women, and children have had to flee violent uprisings and cease to exist where they have dwelt for millennia. The dignity of humanity is not seen as God’s gift but is defined on the basis of the amount of power possessed, the size of houses built, the value of material things possessed, and most recently the numbers of weapons had to defend those very signs of affluence.
What Pope Paul declared has been repeated time and again by his successors: Saint Pope John Paul II, Pope Benedict XVI, and most recently, Pope Francis. Each has defined for us a path back to righteousness which Jesus proclaimed again and again from the Sermon on the Mount to His vision of the final judgment as written in Matthew’s Gospel.