"The great danger in today's world, pervaded as it is by consumerism, is the desolation and anguish born of a complacent yet covetous heart, the feverish pursuit of frivolous pleasures, and a blunted conscience."
-Pope Francis, Joy of the Gospel, November 2013
View the ten-minute YouTube "The Story of Stuff" (click here) and decide how you can buy less stuff. It will change the way you look at all the "stuff" in your life.
"A second key area where you are called to make a contribution is in showing concern for the environment." 
"We have, in a sense, lorded it over nature, over Sister Earth, over Mother Earth. I think man has gone too far. Thank God today there are voices that are speaking about this." 
"Custody of Creation is custody of God's gift to us and it is also a way of saying thank you to God." 
-Pope Francis, January 15, 2015
Recycle electronics. Electronics contain brominated flame retardants, lead, and PVC. When put into the trash, electronics such as cell phones, printers, monitors, keyboards, remote controls, and VCRs leach lead and other hazardous materials into the environment.
t to Sustain God's Creation
"Nurturing and cherishing creation is a command God gives not only at the beginning of history, but to each of us. It is part of his plan; it means causing the world to grow responsibly, transforming it so that it may be a garden, a habitable place for everyone."
-Pope Francis, June 5, 2013
Earth Hour - Earth Hour is observed globally March 28 from 8:30-9:30 p.m. local time. Individuals are invited to shut their lights off to raise awareness about climate change.
Click here for interfaith prayer resources on Care of the Earth.
"Please, I would like to ask all those who have positions of responsibility in economic, political and social life, and all men and women of goodwill: let us be "protectors" of creation, protectors of God's plan inscribed in nature, protectors of one another and of the environment."
-Pope Francis, March 19, 2013
The Global Catholic Climate Movement (GCCM) has organized a Lenten hunger fast as a response to our present climate crisis. Catholics and other Christians in a different country each day during Lent have committed to fast. The GCCM 40-day fast encourages participants to fast from food as well as the use of oil, electricity, plastic, paper, water, and toxins during Lent. For more information on the Global Catholic Climate Movement, please click here.
"I wish to mention another threat to peace, which arises from the greedy exploitation of environmental resources."
-Pope Francis, January 13, 2014
Every year, 2 million barrels of oil go to making plastic water bottles used in the United States and Canada.
Choose a reusable bottle, like the green Our Lady of Hope Felician Sister’s water bottle.
"Even if "nature is at our disposition", all too often we do not "respect it or consider it a gracious gift which we must care for and set at the service of our brothers and sisters, including future generations."
-Pope Francis, January 13, 2014
Choose tap water vs bottled water when possible.
Watch "The Story of Bottled Water" by clicking here.
"People occasionally forgive, but nature never does. If we don't take care of the environment, there's no way of getting around it." 
-Pope Francis, January 18, 2015
Recycle aluminum cans. The energy saved from one recycled aluminum can will operate a television set for three hours. If you do not recycle, the can will still litter the earth up to 500 years from now.
"In destroying Creation we are saying to God: 'I don't like it! This is not good!'"
-Pope Francis, May 21, 2014
Avoid buying products that have lots of packaging.
Choose loose products and buy refillable containers where possible.
"All the peoples of the earth, all men and women of good will, we must raise our voice in defense of these two precious gifts: peace and nature - Sister Mother Earth, as Saint Francis of Assisi called her."
-Pope Francis, October 28, 2014
Turn off water while brushing your teeth and save one gallon of water every minute.
