Put Your Money Where Your Heart Is

This is a tough one.  The financial industry’s involvement in the climate crisis is complicated.  Here is where you’ll want to do your own research and see what works for you while still taking even a small step in the right direction.  A recent report from https://www.bankingonclimatechaos.org/ shows that U.S. banks dominate fossil fuel financing.  JPMorgan Chase remains the world’s worst funder of climate chaos and Citi, Wells Fargo, and Bank of America are still among the top 5 fossil financiers.

If your money is with these banks, it might be time to move it to where your heart is.  Learn more and compare environmental banks at www.mightydeposits.com .

Start small.  Move only some money.  Start new accounts for babies and students with a new bank.  Switch your credit card(s).  The bottom line is that your money does talk.  Banks wield tremendous power.  So do you.

“All it takes is one good person to restore hope.”  Pope Francis (LS71)

For more information about the Laudato Si Circle here at St. Francis or to share your own tip of the week, email stfrancislaudatosi@gmail.com

Father Brian Jordan, OFM has been a Franciscan friar for forty-five years and ordained to the ministerial priesthood for forty-one years.  He was ordained by James Cardinal Hickey in St. Camillus Church on May 14, 1983.  Besides his Master of Divinity degree, he also holds a Doctor of Ministry degree from Andover Newton Theological School in Massachusetts and a Master of Professional Studies in industrial and labor relations from Cornell University, New York.  He has served in multicultural parishes in the Bronx and Manhattan, Boston, and Silver Springs, Maryland.  He also served as the Director of Campus Ministry at St. Francis College, Brooklyn.  Fr. Brian is also no stranger to the Church of St. Francis of Assisi.

He is the author of two books and has written numerous articles concerning pastoral ministry in the Church. He was a chaplain at the World Trade Center in the aftermath of September 11, 2001.  He is also a chaplain for many construction workers’ labor unions. He is a former marathoner who has completed 61 marathons and other competitive races.  After a double knee replacement two years ago, he now he just takes long, meaningful walks! He strives to live in good health. He has received many awards including the Maryland Governor’s Award for Social Services in Annapolis both in 1995 and 1999.

Father Brian is excited to return as pastor to the Church of St. Francis of Assisi.

1-800-Our-Home

It’s easy to stop unwanted catalogs from coming and cluttering up our common home.  Just call the 800 number and tell the agent that you love their product, that you know how to find them online, and that you are concerned about the environment.  Then ask them to please remove you from their mailing list.

Companies are getting more and more used to this idea and won’t bat an eye.  They’ve systematically begun to make this an option.  Some may make it a little more difficult.  You might have to actually go to their website and hunt for a way to cancel catalogs but it can be done and is worth the effort.  The tree outside will thank you.  Your mail carrier will thank you.
“The most important thing an individual can do right now is not be such an individual.”  Bill McKibben

For more information about the Laudato Si Circle here at St. Francis or to share your own tip of the week, email stfrancislaudatosi@gmail.com

Who Gives A Crap

From Flushing to Tanzania, we all do. That’s why switching your toilet paper is a small action that can have a profound impact. Choose from bamboo or recycled materials without sacrificing quality. Bamboo needs little water to grow very quickly and it produces lower carbon emissions. Recycled paper saves trees and reduces landfill waste. In addition, many of the companies producing these green alternatives go beyond the product itself and offer two and three ply benefits. For example, Who Gives A Crap commits to plastic-free packaging and they donate 50% of their profits to organizations that build toilets and ensure access to clean water.

”Living with latrines at home allows us to live with dignity and good health.” Araia Tamayo, Nigeria

If you have a tip for not wasting food or if you have an APP that helps you care for our common home, please tell us about it.  Email us at stfrancislaudatosi@gmail.com

Click here to go to our page on the website for St. Francis Church.

Our Journey to Baptism: A Mother’s Witness to her daughter’s entrance into the Church

Hello. My name is Claire Kramer Mills. Thank you to Fr. Joe and Joe Nuzzi for inviting me to reflect on being initiated into the Catholic faith—from the viewpoint of a parent. I’m a mom who, along with my husband Craig, supported our daughter Darcy through her RCIA preparation.

Darcy’s journey began over a decade ago, when my husband and I were married by Father Andrew Reitz, the former pastor of St. Francis. My husband is Jewish, and I remember the warmth of the friars when I told them about our engagement, a warmth that doesn’t always accompany interfaith marriage. We introduced Darcy to the Catholic faith from infancy and over time, as she attended Mass, prayed, and participated in service activities she expressed an interest in being baptized.

Darcy’s preparation for the sacraments here at St. Francis was a gift. Each week, we attended Mass as a group of 18 candidates. We broke open the Gospel together during small group discussions under the guidance of Joe Nuzzi, with frequent visits from Fr. Joe. These sessions and our Tuesday night classes enriched our understanding of the Old and New Testaments. We learned about the historical context of biblical writings, and the classes offered time for us, as a group and individually, to reflect on what it truly means to “love one another,” Jesus’ commandment to us all.

Darcy saw this commandment reflected in the way our group of catechumens supported each another. She was the only child in the group but felt warmly embraced and supported by the RCIA team and fellow candidates. They encouraged and answered her questions and were wholly inclusive. She also felt the incredible support of this faith community, as you prayed for us and cheered us on. Thank you! Both Darcy and I are looking forward to continuing our faith journey with the community at St. Francis, supporting others and sharing our gifts beyond these doors to put Jesus’ commandment into practice in our world.

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Too Good To Go

Food waste is a huge contributor to the climate crisis and we in the U.S. are the worst offenders.  An estimated one-third of our food goes uneaten.  What is also wasted is the land, water, labor, and energy it took to bring the food to us.  Although much waste occurs beyond our control, there are things we can do.  Preventing food waste is one of the easiest and most powerful actions you can take.

Pay attention to what food goes to waste on your watch.  What changes could you make?  Go food shopping with a list that includes only items and their amounts that you know you will eat.  Read up on the best way to store food, especially fruits and vegetables.  Start a freezer container of odds and ends that can be used later to make soup stock.

The Environmental Protection Agency www.epa.gov is an excellent resource.  You might also like the app Too Good To Go where you’ll find food establishments in your neighborhood who, rather than throw food away, will sell their surplus to you at the end of the day at a fraction of the cost.

“Never doubt that a group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world.  Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has.”  Margaret Mead

If you have a tip for not wasting food or if you have an APP that helps you care for our common home, please tell us about it.  Email us at stfrancislaudatosi@gmail.com

For more information about the Laudato Si Circle here at St. Francis or to share your own tip of the week, email: stfrancislaudatosi@gmail.com

Click here to go to our page on the website for St. Francis Church.

The First Language of God

Saint Benedict, whose feast we celebrate on July 11^th, was an early environmentalist.  He wrote his Rule of Saint Benedict but in this case the word rule doesn’t mean law.  It comes from the Latin regula or schedule so really it’s a little book for his monks about how they should spend their days and he recommends regular periods of silence.  For Benedict though, silence didn’t mean just not talking.  It meant not laughing at a joke aimed at hurting others.  It meant speaking thoughtfully and carefully when we did speak.  It meant listening.  In fact, the first word of the Rule is “Listen”.  This week, see if you can put some silence and listening into your regula.

“Listen to me; be silent, and I will teach you wisdom.”  Job 33:33

In the spirit of synodality and in anticipation of 2025, the 800^th Anniversary of St. Francis’ Canticle of the Creatures and the 10^th year of the Laudato Si Movement, we are listening, and we want to hear from you.  Spend some time with the questions below and tell us what you hear before July 25^th.  Email stfrancislaudatosi@gmail.com.  Laudato Si Circles around the world are doing exactly this.  When we say we’re a spirit-led movement, we mean it.

WHAT MOMENTS HAVE I DEEPLY FELT THAT I AM RESPONDING TO THE CALL TO CARE FOR CREATION?

WHAT DO I SENSE THE CREATOR IS CALLING ME TO, HERE AND NOW?

For more information about the Laudato Si Circle here at St. Francis or to share your own tip of the week, email: stfrancislaudatosi@gmail.com

Click here to go to our page on the website for St. Francis Church.

The friars and staff wish everyone a happy and safe Independence Day!

Holiday Schedule for Thursday, July 4, 2024:

Mass:  12 Noon

There are no confessions; the church offices and the St. Francis Adult Education Center will be closed.

Our regular schedule is in effect for Friday, July 5th.

Art for Our Sake

You still have time to catch the Coal + Ice exhibition at the Asia Society Museum on view through August 11^th.  This is a Photography and Video exhibition that brings together artists from around the world to help us visualize the climate crisis – causes, consequences, and creative solutions.

The Museum partnered with over 30 organizations to bring this to us and many of these organizations’ efforts are ongoing such as the Climate Wall at the American Museum of Natural History, the Billion Oyster Project, Brooklyn Grange, and WALTER which stands for Working And Learning Together Electronics Recycling.  To learn about all these organizations visit asiasociety.org/coalandice .

The Museum is located on 70^th Street and Park Avenue and is open Tue thru Sun 11-5.  Admission is Free on Fridays and otherwise $15 or less.

“These collaborations aim to inspire deeper engagement and meaningful dialogue on how the climate crisis affects our global and local communities.”  from the exhibition brochure

For more information about the Laudato Si Circle here at St. Francis or to share your own tip of the week, email: stfrancislaudatosi@gmail.com

Click here to go to our page on the website for St. Francis Church.