Resources to help plan a parish event on protecting biodiversity

Earth Day falls on Easter Monday this year so consider instead planning an event sometime during the Easter Season. Divine Mercy Sunday on April 28^th can be a meaningful day for hosting an event in response to Pope Francis’ call that “the works of mercy also include care for our common home”. The following resources can help with planning an event and can be adapted for use at any time that fits best with the parish.

Earth Day Network:  The international Earth Day Network campaign for 2019 is Protect Our Species. Explore their Faith Leader’s Toolkit here to find prayer resources, action ideas as well as lesson plans for engaging children, youth and adults. Along with Christian and Catholic resources, find out there what other faiths have to say about protecting the Earth. More detailed information about species can be found in the Protect our Species Primer and Action Toolkit here.

Catholic Climate Covenant: This U.S. Catholic organization has produced an Earth Day program which complements the Earth Day Network’s theme and is called All Creation Gives God Praise: Protecting Biodiversity in a Time of Climate Crisis. They provide a YouTube Video as well as a Webinar and Resource Sheet with resource suggestions to help faith communities learn, reflect and act on protecting biodiversity.                                                                             

Global Catholic Climate Movement (GCCM):  The GCCM Earth Day program “Coming Together for our Common Home” calls 

Catholics around the world to advocate for action on climate change to protect the Amazon forest and communities. Their resource page includes overview sheets on the Amazon and Synod on the Amazon.

Faith & the Common Good (FCG): FCG has numerous gardening resources to help support local biodiversity—community vegetable gardens, native plant gardens, pollinator or bird friendly gardens and more.

Upcoming Events and Dates

Saturday, April 27   St. Kateri Tekakwitha Feast Day

5:00 – 8:30 pm at St. Ann Church (Corner Gerrard Street East and Degrassi Street) 120 First Avenue, Toronto. Includes a Native Peoples' Mass, Keynote Address by Tom Dearhouse, followed by a Festive Indigenous Dinner at 7:15 pm. Dinner cost $20. For registration and more information go here…  

Wed. May 22          Decolonization and Climate Change

7:00 – 9:00 pm at the Mary Ward Centre, 70 St. Mary Street, Toronto. This public event is free but registration RSVP required. For registration and more information go here…