Soil of God, You and I

It’s harvest time in Toronto after a long and beautiful growing season. At Eglinton St. George’s United Church, we’re reminded of all the growth that has taken place in our community garden with each tomato that we pick and each leaf of lettuce that we pluck.

St. Brigid’s Catholic Church has been cultivating a lighter ecological footprint for many years. 

Parishioners practice waste reduction, composting and conservation. They welcome diverse members of the neighborhood and take care of the hungry and homeless through their numerous programs. 

That’s why this inclusive, compassionate parish, situated in Toronto’s Danforth area since 1927, was selected by Faith & the Common Good (FCG) to receive a Green Sacred Spaces Award. This annual award recognizes faith groups that have achieved excellence in greening their places of worship as well as engaging the broader community in the care of the environment. 

FALL 2019: RAISE YOUR FAITHFUL VOICES TO PROTECT A LIFE SUPPORTING CLIMATE

“When I look around, the biggest way in which we are failing to care for those in need is through ignoring climate change and acting like it doesn't exist.”  Katharine Hayhoe, Canadian, Christian evangelical, Climate Scientist

Faith & the Common Good is mandated to support our network to work collectively to raise awareness and encourage action to ensure that all living beings, including future generations, have access to clean air and water, toxic-free living environments, and a life-supporting climate. With Federal elections in October, this Fall presents a unique time to work together to generate new political momentum in Canada on behalf of our shared Earth.  

We cannot remain silent nor isolated when the web of life which sustains us is declining as never before in human history.  More than ever, we have a responsibility to help create a national path forward by collectively witnessing both the destruction that we are complicit in as well as the positive, local actions being taken by diverse communities across Canada to walk more gently on the planet. 

Saskatoon, SK, 19 September 2019 -- As Christians worldwide celebrate the Season of Creation, and pray for care and renewal of our natural environment, the Catholic community in Canada is mobilizing to protect the planet by establishing a Canadian chapter of the Global Catholic Climate Movement (GCCM Canada).

The newly formed Canadian chapter will connect Canadian Catholics to a vibrant Global Catholic Climate Movement of 650+ Catholic member organizations, ranging from large international networks to local religious orders, plus parishes, grassroots leaders and thousands of lay Catholics, dedicated to responding to Pope Francis’ “Laudato Si’” call to take urgent action against the injustice of climate destabilization. 

“The launch of GCCM Canada is a big deal that we are proud to support,” said Lucy Cummings, Executive Director of Faith & the Common Good. “Roman Catholics are the largest religious denomination in Canada.  We need strong Canadian Catholic voices to be part of the climate conversation. We must link our faith communities together to care for and protect our common home.”

Season of Creation begins with a powerful message from Pope Francis.

"May we feel challenged to assume, with prayer and commitment, our responsibility for the care of creation. May God, “the lover of life” (Wis 11:26), grant us the courage to do good without waiting for someone else to begin, or until it is too late."

Pope Francis, Sept. 1, 2019

Check out many recently listed Toronto events inviting your participation in this Season of Creation.

Amending the Soil - Church of the Messiah Community Garden

“Amending the soil” is not a phrase I thought I’d ever repeat countless times. But at Church of the Messiah, in Toronto, we have made significant efforts to improve our soil, carrying out wheelbarrows full of gravel, garbage, and weeds, and digging in shovels full of rich organic material.

Improving the soil is one of the hardest jobs we undertake as urban gardeners. Access to our plots is restricted by stairs and busy streets, and high-quality organic soil has to be carried and dug in by hand. But the effort to improve our gardening soil is worth it because this is one of the most consequential chores we can do. Boosting the quality of the soil with organic material and better drainage helps everything we grow reach its strongest and most productive potential.

Vatican and Ecumenical Faith leaders support the Season of Creation

This year for the first time, the Vatican called on Church leaders to participate in the Season of Creation. They included an invitation to communities highlighting the Season of Creation, the Synod on the Amazon and resources available to implement Laudato Si’ and help “protect every creature in God’s beautifully complex web of creation”.

Christian faith leaders have signed a letter in support of the Season of Creation, calling for prayer and action to protect the web of life. This is an excerpt from the letter:

“Every species, indeed every being of every species, is precious because it is made by God. All reflect an aspect of God. “How many are your works, Lord! In wisdom you made them all; the earth is full of your creatures.” (Psalm 104:24)

Photo credit:  USFWS Midwest Region from United States [CC BY 2.0]

This summer, Care for our Common Home focuses on the ecumenical Season of Creation and its 2019 theme of protecting God’s web of life. The Season of Creation runs from September 1^st to October 4^th, the Feast of St. Francis of Assisi, and invites Christians around the world to pray and care for creation. Resources are suggested to help with planning a Season of Creation event. They can be adapted for other times as well.