Dear Fellow Parishioners here at St. Francis of Assisi,

I am happy and excited to be a part of the new environmental ministry here at St. Francis. The Laudato Si Circle, as we are called, is a group of individuals who feel called to take action to address the climate crisis. Guided by principles outlined by Pope Francis in his 2015 encyclical “Laudato Si: On Care for Our Common Home” and further in his 2023 exhortation “Laudate Deum“, we believe that small actions taken every day can create change in ourselves, our church, our city, and our world.

We acknowledge that the topic is overwhelming and difficult to face but we find that by doing it together, we find hope and even joy. We are not experts or scientists. We are at different levels of awareness and each of us has room to learn and grow. Everyone’s unique talent is appreciated and needed. We welcome all ages, faiths, and affiliations. We meet in person on the last Thursday of every month from 6:30-8:00PM in the 1st Floor Conference Room. We just had our first meeting which we used to get organized and now we invite you to join us.

Our next meeting will be Thursday, December 28th at 6:30 and we’ll be brainstorming ideas for what we’d like to accomplish in the new year. In the meantime, keep an eye on the bulletin for our tip of the week. Keep the faith. Change is possible.

Beth Dzuricky