From the introduction: April 22, 2016 marks the 46th anniversary of Earth Day, a secular celebration that many faith communities have incorporated into their annual calendars. This year, we join with the Earth Day Network to celebrate “Trees for the Earth.”
Why trees?
1. Trees help lessen the impact of climate change. They absorb carbon dioxide from our atmosphere. In fact, an acre of mature trees absorbs annually the same amount of carbon dioxide produced by driving the average car 26,000 miles.
2. Trees help us breathe clean air. Trees absorb pollutant gases (nitrogen oxides, ammonia, sulfur dioxide and ozone) and filter particulates out of the air by trapping them on their leaves and bark.
3. Trees help communities. Trees help communities achieve long-term economic and environmental sustainability and provide food, energy and income. This is especially beneficial for poor communities overseas.
And here are some ideas for related activities for Earth Day:
1. Plant a tree (or trees) on your church or school grounds, or in your community. For information about how to plant trees in your community contact your local parks department or check the information provided by a) National Wildlife Federation, b) National Tree Day, c) Arbor Day. The tree planting could be accompanied by a blessing from your pastor.
2. If tree planting in your community is not possible you may wish to consider donating to our partner Catholic Relief Services. Your donation will help mothers in Guatemala plant fruit trees to improve their soil, create more food for their families, and provide additional income. Simply indicate Climate Capable 1550 738 0224 in the Special Request line. You can also donate to TIST - the International Small Group and Tree Planting Program. This is the group featured in the Earth Day video. We are excited to partner with them to “grow clean air.”
3. Give away a packet of seeds or a tree seedling to parishioners to plant at home.
4. Include the bulletin insert and prayer during Mass on a Sunday near Earth Day.
5. If your pastor wishes to also include an Earth Day / Creation care message during a homily, time could be given after Mass for everyone to fill out a small index card saying what action they will take to be better caretakers of God’s Creation. The index cards could either be taken home as a reminder of their commitment or put in the offering basket and blessed at the altar.
6. If your parish or school has an active Creation Care Team, Earth Day might be the perfect time to give them a blessing. If you don’t have a Creation Care Team, offer a blessing to various other people, like the grounds keepers, the recyclers, the facilities managers, etc. who help make the parish or school more “green.”
7. For youth groups: Invite them to write and pray the prayers of petition focused on their greatest Earth concerns. Young children could draw pictures of trees and they could be displayed in the back of church or taped to the ends of the pews.
8. Visuals: If you wish to incorporate visuals into either during your Earth Day celebration or during Mass, you could include a statue of St. Francis; a globe or big picture of the Earth; the elements of earth, air, water, and fire; a banner; a display of sacred objects from the Earth brought by parishioners; or a mobile of Earth objects.
9. Art: If you have artists in your parish or school, you may wish to incorporate liturgical dance, the display of original Earth artwork or photographs, a special choir piece or solo relating to the glory of God’s creation, or a nature story/testimonial used somewhere in the liturgy (if you are having a special “Earth Day” Mass, or in your Earth Day celebration).
10. Advocacy: Set up a table for people to folks to sign a petition or write a letter to a member of Congress related to a Creation care issue.
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