Saint Anthony's Social Justice Committee has established an Environmental Justice activity to help maintain and improve the environment.

The following item is presented for your consideration this month:

Why is St. Anthony taking on this effort?

“Faced with the widespread destruction of the environment, people everywhere are coming to understand that we cannot continue to use the goods of the earth as we have in the past.” (The Ecological Crisis: A Common Responsibility, John Paul II)
“To commit oneself to the promotion of a sound and healthy environment for all is to follow God’s plan for creation, a plan entrusted to us from the beginning.” (Sister Marjorie Keenan)
We must cultivate and care for the Earth as God does, with love and wisdom.
As God’s children, we have a special responsibility toward each other and the rest of Creation.
Environmental concern needs to be an integral part of Christian faith.
“The key to the success of the Church’s efforts in advancing environmental justice is in the parish.” (U.S. Catholic Bishops)

It is the intention of the Environmental Justice effort to bring awareness to specific concerns that we, as Catholics, can act upon as individuals, families and/or within community.

Each month a single focus will be addressed, identifying the problem. Suggested actions and resource references will be available. Look for the updates under the Social Justice Corner of the weekly bulletin.

Sample focus issues that will be addressed:

Land – reducing waste from landfills, use reusable shopping bags
Energy – reducing carbon dioxide emissions, use compact fluorescent light bulbs
Air – decreasing carbon dioxide from the atmosphere, walk or ride your bike
Water – saving gallons of water each day, water your lawn early in the morning

Questions or interest in volunteering for this effort: Please contact Connie Koppes at 916-391-1810 or Donalee Hallenbeck at 916-429-7727