Creation Care Team Summary of Fiscal Year 2023-2024

Creation Care Team Summary for June 2023 – June 2024

The Creation Care Team continued its educational and awareness communications during the past fiscal year, including four editions of the Common Home newsletter which are posted on Epiphany's website, EccLou.org (Explore page). The team's archdiocese reputation resulted in two members, Mark Reilly and Joan Shanahan, being asked to join the newly formed Louisville Archdiocese Creation Care Team, formed by Fr. Jim Flynn in July of 2023.

In September, team members participated in an Environmental Justice tour of Louisville's west end. October brought the second battery recycling event of 2023 held after all Masses. During Advent, team members provided forms for parishioners to pledge specific lifestyle actions leading up to Christmas so as to prepare themselves and our planet for the coming of our Savior. Following Christmas, the forms were sent to Pope Francis informing him of our actions. His office responded with an encouraging thank you letter.

The team greeted the New Year with a special archdiocese-wide three-hour workshop (Acting Locally to Preserve Our Common Home) presented by John Mundell, the Vatican’s Global Director of the Laudato Si’ Action Platform, who was appointed by Pope Francis. One hundred and forty participants, representing 15 parishes plus Bellarmine University, the Archdiocese Office of Faith Formation, the Sisters of Charity Nazareth, and the Archdiocese of Louisville Creation Care Team attended.

In March, the Environmental Concerns Committee became the Creation Care Team. The name change is meant to emphasize that “creation care” reflects a more active approach to responding to climate change. In addition, Laudato Si’ has generated numerous committed similarly named teams intent on responding to the environmental crisis we are facing.

Earth Day was celebrated with an informational display after all Masses. It featured information on plastic-use alternatives, recycling how-to's, art projects using natural materials, and battery recycling. Attendees were also surveyed as to what plastic alternatives they currently use.

In May, team members made a trip to a native plant nursery and learned about avoiding invasive species and what plants are native to Kentucky.