Another Small Step for Our Common Home – Social Justice & Peace Commission

Protecting the Environment: A Message from the Social Justice and Peace Commission:

Having recently witnessed so much devastation due to climate change, we are challenged by Pope Francis in his Encyclical, Laudato Si’, to do whatever we can to protect the earth, our common home. To quote from Pope Francis in Chapter Six, “There is a nobility in the duty to care for creation through daily actions”. He goes on to say, “Education in environmental responsibility can encourage ways of acting which directly affect the world around us, such as:
— avoiding the use of plastic and paper
— reducing water consumption
— separating refuse
— cooking only what can be reasonably consumed.”

In the spirit of this directive from the Pope, we urge you to be aware of decreasing the use of plastic whenever possible. Silicone covers are available in different sizes. Beeswax wraps and glass containers are good substitutes for those made of plastic. Also look for household products that are biodegradable. Small actions do make a difference, and help to keep us aware of our personal responsibility to our common home.

To support this effort Social Justice & Peace is taking orders for Food Grabbers, 6 silicone disks that will keep half portions of food fresh without plastic ( onions, tomatoes, lemons, etc.), and also serve as covers for small glass containers.

These can be purchased with cash or check payable to the parish with your name and phone number or email address, dropped in the basket $15/each set of six, before November 11. They will be here in time to be Christmas gifts. You can contact members of the Social Justice and Peace Commission at olhsjp@gmail.com.

Thank you for considering this initiative!