One of the seven core principles of Catholic Social Teaching as identified by the U.S. bishops is “care for creation.” Click here to read more...

From Iowa Interfiath Power & Light 

Iowa Interfaith Power & Light is actively recruiting for our 2023 College Student Leadership Program, Called to Climate Action !

This is a fully remote, paid, 10-week program during the summer (late May to mid-August), requiring about 20 hours of both individual and team collaboration work per week.
For more information, please visit our Called To Climate Action webpage and forward this email to any students attending Iowa colleges that you may know. If you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to contact us via email at [email protected].

Our current Diocesan Laudato Si Intern Samantha Sancen has been part of this program.  Click here to read about her experience.
 

From Iowa Catholic Covenant:

Are you a young Catholic who wants to do something about the climate crisis? 

If you're passionate about our earth & our Catholic Church, we have an opportunity for you!
Catholic Climate Covenant, along with Loyola Chicago & Creighton University, is launching Common Home Corps, a program for those 18-35 to inspire climate action in their local communities.  For more information contact Diana Marin, Young Adult Mobilization Program Manager at [email protected]

Pope Francis released his message for the 2024 World Day of Prayer for the Care of Creation.  "Hope and Act with Creation" is this year's theme. Click here to read...

• USCCB statement: for World Day of Prayer for the Care of Creation Sept. 1. You can read that statement here.

Welcome to the Diocese of Davenport’s Care for Creation Page!

Bishop Zinkula inaugurated the diocesan program of efforts to honor our commitment to caring for the totality of creation (all of us are part of creation!) with his letter announcing the Season of Creation (http://www.catholicmessenger.net/2022/08/season-of-creation-begins-sept-1/).    The Season of Creation is an annual period of praise, prayer and action that is celebrated world-wide by Christians of many denominations to celebrate the wonder of how the world was made and to reclaim the theology of why it was made.  The Season begins each year on September 1 with the World Day of Prayer and extends through October 4, the Feast of St. Francis.  This year’s theme is the Burning Bush of Exodus 3 and asks us to “Listen to the Voice of Creation.”

While the Season of Creation is our annual celebration and renewal of our commitment to caring for all of creation, this page will be the home page of our diocesan work to honor and implement the restoration of relationships that the Holy Father, Pope Francis spoke of in his encyclical in 2015, Laudato Si, literally, Praise Be to You.  The relationship he speaks of are between God and humankind, between all of the peoples of humankind, and between humankind and our common home, the Earth.  Care for our Common Home is the subtitle of the Holy Father’s encyclical.

This page, like our efforts, is a work in progress.  It will grow in detail as we progress along the seven year path to a full Laudato Si plan, and as more of us participate in the work.  This is not a diocesan effort in the sense that it comes downward from the chancery building (although there are plans for the building too) but rather one that is shaped by our individual, family and parish involvement.  Some parishes and individuals are already active and the ripples created by them will spread and interact with those of others.  This page will chronicle the efforts of all, provide resources for the continuing efforts again, of individuals, families and parishes, and provide opportunities for everyone to impact the content and direction of the plan.
 

Please come back often to see what is going on, and to provide your comments and suggestions!

Your involvement, ideas, comments, and your questions

Friends, we need your involvement, ideas, comments, and your questions.  Please use the form below to indicate your interest in care for creation, any special skills or experience you have, and any questions you have.  We will get back to you, and we may ask you to become further involved with us in this effort to respond to the Holy Father.

Pope Francis released his follow up to Laudato Si' on October 4.  In the apostolic exhortation, Laudate Deum, the new document underscores the urgent reality that we are running out of time to reverse the environmental inertia that threatens our common home.

We strongly encourage you to read Laudate Deum  The document can be downloaded here:  www.vatican.va/content/francesco/en/apost_exhortations/documents/20231004-laudate-deum.html

• Pray with Laudate Deum 

• Resources

Resources provided by way of CRS (Catholic Relief Services)

• Urge Congress to support the Green Climate Fund and Development Assistance.

• Reflect on how we can be better caretakers of our environment by reading Pope Francis’ message for this year’s World Day of Prayer for the Care of Creation.

• As climate change drives global hunger, watch the latest video from the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization on the state of global food security and nutrition.

Our Diocese of Davenport has been recognized by Interfaith Power & Light as one of 125 congregations nationally, as a Cool Congregation for 2024.

IPL acknowledges the good work changemakers are doing to care for our Sacred Earth. We have been honored in the following categories:

"Cool Planner" for our Vertis audit and Laudato Si Action Plan
"Energy Saver" for our recent installation of energy efficient lighting in the chancery
"Sacred Grounds" for our gardens planted and maintained by our wonderful kitchen staff at the chancery

https://tinyurl.com/4ah34jb9

Read more about our efforts in these The Catholic Messenger

articles:
https://catholicmessenger.net/.../diocese-launches.../
https://catholicmessenger.net/.../diocesan-headquarters.../