Palm Beach Diocesan Council of Catholic Women at 6559 NW 32nd Av, Coconut Creek, FL 33073 US - CHILDREN and the ENVIRONMENT: Two of our Most Precious Resources
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CHILDREN and the ENVIRONMENT: Two of our Most Precious Resources |
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| Stewards of God's Creation and their proud Moms |
In a Review of the 7 themes of Catholic Social Teaching; the So Deanery CCW of Palm Beach Diocese has done a tremendous job raising awareness of these issues…but no direct focus has been put on GOD’S CREATION: This Southern Deanery President (2007-09) contacted NCCW for some resources and received none directly and a few indirectly. ALL the more reason our board felt the need and agreed to do a program and highlight this area
THE EARTH in our HANDS.
Is this just for the children?? No. OF COURSE NOT! Aren’t we all children of God, Do we not call God our Father? Did we not just pray the OUR FATHER?? Remember from FCCW? We are all princesses, because our Father is the KING. So This is OUR Program as well, all of US , and we should own it, each and every one of us!
FIRST:
Some HISTORY:
Some HISTORY:
The Environmental Justice Program (EJP) of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) began in the fall of 1993 and is located within the Department of Social Development and World Peace (SDWP).
Mission: EJP seeks to educate and motivate Catholics to a deeper reverence and respect for God’s creation, and to engage parishes and dioceses in activities aimed at dealing with environmental problems, particularly as they affect the poor. EJP acts as a resource for Catholic dioceses and state Catholic conferences, and through them Catholic parishes.
Foundation Its distinctively Catholic foundation lies in Pope John Paul II’s 1990 World Day of Peace message and the U.S. Catholic bishops’ statement, Renewing the Earth, issued in 1991
Catholic Responses:
In the face of these challenges, a new spirit of responsibility for the earth has begun to grow. Essential laws are being passed; vital anti-pollution efforts are underway; public concern is growing. American Catholics are an integral part of this new awareness and action. In many small ways, we are learning more, caring more, and doing more about the environment and the threats to it. As a community of faith, we are also seeking to understand more clearly the ethical and religious dimensions of this challenge. A distinctively Catholic contribution to contemporary environmental awareness arises from our understanding of human beings as part of nature, although not limited to it. Catholics look to nature for indications of God's existence and purpose. Pope John Paul II in Centesimus Annus urged that in addition to protecting natural systems and other species, we "safeguard the moral conditions for an authentic ‘human ecology'" in urban planning, work environments, and family life (Centesimus Annus [=CA], no. 38). Nature is not, in Catholic teaching, merely a field to exploit at will or a museum piece to be preserved at all costs.
WE are THE STEWARDS of the EARTH!
AND without further ado, Let me introduce to you a few other young stewards. These grade school children have stepped up to the plate, agreed to represent their Parish and participate in our Southern Deanery CCW Palm Beach Diocese Fall Program:
In the face of these challenges, a new spirit of responsibility for the earth has begun to grow. Essential laws are being passed; vital anti-pollution efforts are underway; public concern is growing. American Catholics are an integral part of this new awareness and action. In many small ways, we are learning more, caring more, and doing more about the environment and the threats to it. As a community of faith, we are also seeking to understand more clearly the ethical and religious dimensions of this challenge. A distinctively Catholic contribution to contemporary environmental awareness arises from our understanding of human beings as part of nature, although not limited to it. Catholics look to nature for indications of God's existence and purpose. Pope John Paul II in Centesimus Annus urged that in addition to protecting natural systems and other species, we "safeguard the moral conditions for an authentic ‘human ecology'" in urban planning, work environments, and family life (Centesimus Annus [=CA], no. 38). Nature is not, in Catholic teaching, merely a field to exploit at will or a museum piece to be preserved at all costs.
WE are THE STEWARDS of the EARTH!
AND without further ado, Let me introduce to you a few other young stewards. These grade school children have stepped up to the plate, agreed to represent their Parish and participate in our Southern Deanery CCW Palm Beach Diocese Fall Program:
THE EARTH IN OUR HANDS
Each child has agreed, with the help of an adult sponsor, to accept, plant and nourish a tree as an example of God’s Creation.
They can plant this Frangiapani tree on their respective school or parish grounds, and they are asked to keep a journal with pictures and / or a story about their progress.
Southern Deanery CCW of Palm Beach will provide a disposable camera and a notebook,
Each child can use any resources they choose to tell their story.
Each child can use any resources they choose to tell their story.
We, the Southern Deanery CCW of Palm Beach will invite them back with us before the end of the school year, to see their progress and hear their stories…but right now, let’s take a moment to what each of them has to say about
“God’s Creation: The Earth in Our Hands”
Project Coordinator: Dolores Hughes, Southern Deanery CCW President 2007-09
Student associate, advisor, and emcee: Kristina Porzenheim 6th grader ST. Jude School / Boca Raton FL
Participating Southern Deanery Affiliations and Student Stewards:
St. Luke Palm Springs FL Meghan Walsh
St Jude Boca Raton FL Kelsey Miller and Lisa Marie Lepore
St. Joan of Arc Boca Raton FL Mary Kate Silk
Ascension Boca Raton FL Larissa Anderson
St. Mark Boynton Beach FL Nicholas Bigerton
ST Mathew Lantana FL Fr Clem Hammerschmitt
This pilot program initiated and formulated by the Southern Deanery CCW of Palm Beach Diocese began with a purpose to involve children in caring for God's Creation and the importance of "GOING GREEN".
Please see some pictures and inserts from our students and their progress attached to this article .
The length of our full day program prevents total inclusion on this website.
The students returned in the Spring and presented to our audience their summaries, either vocally, visually, or pictorially. Some even memorialized a fellow classmate, turning a tragedy into joy. It was such a huge success, after seeing and hearing the kids' progress, the women of the Southern Deanery are heard asking...Who got more out of this program .. the children or the Women ???
This program has recently been submitted to NCCW for a $1000.00 grant application to be awarded to a woman or student who's making a difference in God's Creation. revisit the website for the results in the fall.
Please feel free to connect with the Southern Deanery for details or information on their projects thrrough this website, under the "CONTACT US" link or via your WebMaster Dolores Hughes @
hugs612@comcast.net