Mission Statement
Earth Matters is a lay-led parish ministry, grounded in Pope Francis’ Laudato Si’ encyclical, whose purpose is to help create a more sustainable local environment through prayer, action and community collaboration. Earth Matters seeks, through education and practical actions, to inspire the St. Joan of Arc Church community to reflect upon and, where possible, make lifestyle changes that ensure that future generations will live in a more sustainable and equitable world.
Earth Matters began when a group of St. Joan of Arc parishioners participated in a Just Faith ecology module over a decade ago and chose to stay involved in efforts to protect the environment as stewards of God’s creation. After several meetings, the group decided to focus on promoting recycling efforts, advocating and educating themselves as well as making the St. Joan of Arc Church community aware of environmental concerns.
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Actions/Objectives
- Creating an on-campus vegetable garden whose produce is donated to the local food pantry
- Submitting periodic bulletin inserts to educate parishioners about recycling and environmental concerns
- Utilizing more ecofriendly products at campus events and increasing recycling efforts
- Collaborating with students, parishioners and local environmental organizations on clean-up of nearby parks, rivers and roads
- Sponsoring recycling efforts for shoes, Christmas tree lights, Styrofoam, and TerraCycle items
- Educating parishioners as well as students on steps that can be taken to reduce their carbon footprint
- Praying for positive climate actions during Prayers of the Faithful at Mass, school, ministry meetings and individually
- Working with the St. Joan of Arc Church community for implementing Pope Francis’ Laudato Si’ encyclical
Join Us
Earth Matters welcomes those parishioners who share Pope Francis’ vision that people are part of one family where the Earth is our common home, and which invites all people to protect God's creation for future generations; to embrace a lifestyle change for their own good; and to take care of people who are poor and vulnerable.
For more information, please feel free to contact Matt Zurek at MZurek@SJALisle.org