Earth Day: Fostering God’s Grace In Human Space

The Lord God took the man and put him in the Garden of Eden to till it and keep it” (Gen. 2:15)

We are called to be stewards, caretakers of God’s creation—our earth and its environs. As Catholics, beginning in our home, parish and communities, we foster the gift of life bristling all over us.

As Catholics, we are called to be good stewards of the earth and all its resources. As we celebrate Earth Day on April 22, 2023, we are reminded of our responsibility to care for our common home and to work towards a more sustainable future. Pope Francis’ encyclical, Laudato Si, provides us with a powerful framework for understanding the urgent need for environmental action and the role that we Catholics can play, in protecting our planet.

In Laudato Si, Pope Francis urges us to recognize the interconnectedness of all life and the need for an integrated approach to addressing environmental, social, and economic challenges. He reminds us that the earth is not just a resource to be exploited, but a precious gift that we must cherish and protect. We have a responsibility to care for the earth and to work towards a more just and sustainable world.

As we celebrate Earth Day, let us renew our commitment to caring for our common home. Let us take concrete steps to reduce our carbon footprint, conserve natural resources, and promote sustainable practices in our homes and communities. Let us also advocate for policies and initiatives that protect the environment and promote justice for all.

In our parishes, let us not just plant trees and clean our waterways but also offer our support in educating our neighbors and communities about the perils of wastage, neglect and irresponsible use of natural resources. Let us join advocacy groups that sustain and protect the use of natural resources for commercial use. Most importantly, we raise our collective concern for responsible utilization of environment to ensure their preservation for the future generation.