CCN News & Events
Let Justice & Peace Flow
Saturday, March 16, 2024, 9am – 4pm PDT
Seattle University – Student Center
Recordings
- Let Justice and Peace Flow Summit: Welcome and Fireside Chat: https://vimeo.com/showcase/10460326/video/927226195
- Update on the Lower Snake River: https://vimeo.com/showcase/10460326/video/927250637
- Laudate Deum Deep Dive: https://vimeo.com/showcase/10460326/video/927723277 (Please note that the sound quality is poor, but the close captioning is fairly accurate)
- Responding to Climate Anxiety & Apathy: https://vimeo.com/showcase/10460326/video/927294021
IPJC Sacred Salmon Links:
Take the Carbon Offsets Questionnaire – HERE
US Forest Amendment Action:
The US Forest Service has recently proposed a plan to advance protections through a nationwide forest plan amendment, for the last remaining old growth and mature growth trees in the US in all 128 national forests. The challenge: there’s already 22 logging projects set for some of these trees, and we know the others will not be far behind.
As we know, these forests and trees are not only God’s beautiful creation, but also one of the best (and cheapest) ways we have right now to fight climate change, protect our ecosystems, and protect our health. The economic benefit from logging these would be miniscule in comparison to the cost of climate change impacts worsened by removing these carbon sinks. EarthBeat recently published this article from Anna Johnson, calling on our shared Catholic faith with Biden to ask him to make sure this amendment is strong in implementation.
We need Catholics to write to Biden, using this quick form, to ask him, on the basis of our shared faith, to “ensure the final U.S. Forest Service amendment is strong and protects old-growth trees and forests from logging.”
No on 1-2117 – Learn more and act here!
“In the Beginning Workshop” Workshop Creative Harvest – Attached PDF
CCN Summit Resource List – Attached PDF
Closing Prayer – from Laudate Deum
Turning the Tide for Ecology
Saturday, April 22, 2023
9am – 4pm PDT
Seattle University – Student Center
The Creation Care Network had its annual environmental justice summit! The day provided space to ground our collective work spiritually, discern how the Spirit is calling us to build reciprocity with the Earth, and act together for climate justice!
Download agenda and synodal discernment notes here.
Speakers:
Amy Gulick – Photographer and author Amy Gulick is the recipient of the Voice of the Wild Award from the Alaska Wilderness League, the Daniel Housberg Wilderness Image Award from the Alaska Conservation Foundation, and the Conservation Voices Award from Washington Wild. Her work has been published in Smithsonian, Audubon, Sierra, and National Wildlife. She is a fellow with The Safina Center and the International League of Conservation Photographers. Her award-winning books include The Salmon Way and Salmon in the Trees. Visit: www.amygulick.com
Annarose Jowenson (she/her) – Born in California and then raised from an early age in the Pacific Northwest, Annarose joined SU Campus Ministry in August of 2022. She earned her undergraduate degrees from Gonzaga University and then completed a year with the Jesuit Volunteer Corps in Los Angeles, CA before returning to the northwest and working as a parish youth minister in Bellevue, WA. Annarose went on to pursue two graduate degrees in Theology & Ministry and Social Work from Boston College, and is grateful for the ways in which this further training enhanced her ministry and her awareness of the ways in which faith and justice are inextricably linked. She is passionate about walking with students in their journeys to explore these intersections for themselves through community engagement and intentional reflection. Annarose loves reading, singing, camping, and spending quality time with family and friends (especially her spouse, Andy)!
Jay Julius – W’tot Lhem is the President of Se’Si’Le, a fisherman, the Former Chairman and Councilman at Lummi Nation, and a leader in the fight to protect Xwe’chi’eXen (Cherry Point). He has organized and executed Tribal, local, regional, and national campaigns. A bridge-builder, he uses empathy and storytelling to bring people together. Principal at Julius Consulting LLC.
Dave Montgomery is a professor in the college of Earth and Space Sciences at the University of Washington. He is a geomorphologist-that is, a scientist who studies the processes that shape the surface of the Earth, and how these processes shape ecosystems and human societies. His work has taken him to mountain ranges throughout the world, including the Cascades in Washington, the Andes in South America and the Himalaya in Tibet. David received his B.S. in Geology from Stanford University and his PhD from UC Berkeley. He has the gift of communicating in a clear, entertaining and motivating way to non-scientists. Professor Montgomery has written five highly acclaimed popular science books; three have won the Washington State Book Award and one, King of Fish-The Thousand-Year Run of Salmon has been acclaimed as the best single exploration of the decline of Salmon and recommendations for their recovery.
Mangesh PolMaher Ashram India – Youth Program Manager; Interfaith Association – Coordinator Head;
Peace Camp International – Head Counselor USA, Africa, and India
Agenda for Turning the Tide for Ecology – Catholic Earth Day summit here.
This free in-person event is open to all and includes a vegetarian lunch & parking.
Register at ipjc.org/turning-the-tide-for-ecology-registration by April 17th.
Archdiocese of Seattle Divestment Letter
Take Action Here and call for the Archdiocese of Seattle to divest from fossil fuels as a symbol of your commitment to care for creation.
Past Events
Caring for Our Common Home: A reading of Laudato Si’ through the lenses of Querida Amazonia with Dr. Cecilia Titizano
Director of Latina/o Theology and Ministry Leadership Network at Santa Clara University
Thursday, October 27, 2022, 4pm
Seattle University
Le Roux Room, Student Center 160
Remote attendance is available, indicate your preference on the registration page
St. Kateri Celebration
Saturday, October 22 2022, 11am
St. James Cathedral
Mass in honor of St. Kateri Tekakwitha, celebrating the 10th Anniversary of Canonization.
More details here! | printable pdf
Divestment 101: Investing in Our Common Home
Creation Care Network
Friday, September 9th 2022 – Watch the recording here!
CCN was joined by Joseph D’halluin, who serves as the divestment campaigner for the Laudato Si’ Movement as well as Alexis Fleming, the Western Region Finance Manager for the Congregation of the Sisters of St. Joseph of Peace, shared the congregation’s divestment story.
Season of Creation – Creation Care Network
The Season of Creation begins September 1st, extending through the Feast Day of Saint Francis, October 4th. We invite all to attend our events, please see our 2022 schedule of the collective efforts by the Creation Care Network to live into the Season of Creation, we hope you can join for one or all!
PDF of this schedule | Print-friendly PDF
Resource:
Season of Creation: Listen to the Voice of Creation – Dominican Center: Spirituality for Mission
Booklet for five Sundays of the Season of Creation for 2022
Laudato ’Si Action Platform – A journey towards full sustainability in the holistic spirit of integral ecology.
The Seven Goals and Three steps to Enroll and start your journey!
Click here for 8.5 x 11 flyer to download and post.
Easter – Earth Day Prayers
To share at your Easter/Earth Day Events
These prayers were sent in from CCN member Vince Stricherz, Co-Chair of the Care for Creation Ministry of Our Lady of Guadalupe and Holy Rosary, in West Seattle.
Easter Prayer for Earth Day | Easter Prayer for Earth Day (with response)
Earth Ministry/WAIPL – Totem Pole Journey – May 20, 2022
The staff of Earth Ministry/WAIPL (who network with CCN) are on the planning team for the Snake River to Salish Sea Spirit of the Waters Totem Pole Journey, being led by members of the Lummi Nation and the Indigenous nonprofit Se’Si’Le. EM/WAIPL is the lead nonprofit supporting the Tacoma event on May 20; they’re also supporting the Bellingham (May 3), Nez Perce (May 16), and Seattle (May 19) stops.
The presence of the faith community as witness has been explicitly requested so they’re doing a big push for turnout. Details here.
April 26, 2022 – Faith & Environment: Care for Creation
Sponsored by St. John the Baptist, Covington
An evening with Jeff Renner, former King 5 Chief Meteorologist
Facebook page recording here.
March 19th, 2022 – Planting Seeds of Hope-Taking Action for Our Common Home, Seattle University
Over 100 participants attended Planting the Seeds of Hope, Taking Action for Our Common Home, on March 19th, 2022 at Seattle University. Details here.
December 15, 2021 – COP 26 Through the Eyes of the Church
Brian Roewe, Environmental Correspondent for the National Catholic Reporter, and Jeff Renner, Emmy-award winning Meteorologist and CCN member, offered their reflections on this historic event. Patrick Barredo of St. James Cathedral and CCN coordinated registration.
Link of the recording here. Passcode: jVa8H**f
Resources for COP 26 event here.
SUBMITTED BY: Patrick Barredo
September 25th, 2021– “Restoring Our Relationship with God’s Creation – From Stewardship to Kinship.” | CCN’s first event
About 50 people gathered in Our Lady of Guadalupe Church on a crisp September Saturday to pray and reflect on creation, climate change, and what we can do as responsible and caring people. The prayer service was also streamed.
Ann Sager, Our Lady of Guadalupe soloist and pianist was accompanied by David Meza, opening the prayer service with the hymn Make Me a Channel of your Peace based on the prayer of St. Francis of Assisi, Patron of ecology and animals.
Father Kevin Duggan, Pastor of Our Lady of Guadalupe, welcomed those gathered and led them in a prayer attributed to Chief Sealth: “We belong to the earth. This we know. The earth does not belong to us. We belong to the earth. This we know. All things are connected like the blood which unites one family. All things are connected. Whatever befalls the earth befalls the sons and daughters of the earth, We did not weave the web of life. We are merely a strand in it. Whatever we do to the web, we do to ourselves.”
Helen Oesterle, Pastoral Associate of Our Lady of Guadalupe offered the Land Recognition and introduced Cecile Hansen, Chair of the Duwamish Tribe. Cecile, talked about the struggle of the Duwamish Tribe to gain federal recognition. She also spoke of her great great-great-great uncle, Chief Seattle was Roman Catholic and that his faith had meant a great deal to him. Anna Robertson of the Catholic Climate Covenant offered a faith reflection on climate change, its disproportionate impacts on indigenous communities, and the potential of mercy to help us move forward with grief and hope in the face of the ecological crisis and our varying levels of complicity in sustaining it. Her reflection incorporated her own experiences confronting the impacts of climate change in her life alongside those of young adults she has encountered in her work at the Covenant, including those of a Navajo woman whose community and way of life is threatened by severe drought.
Sister Judy Byron, OP, of the Intercommunity Peace and Justice Center spoke of the climate change and the need for justice and equity, especially for the poorest of the poor who contribute the least to the climate crisis and suffer the most because of it. Colorful paper leaves were distributed to the congregation to reflect and write down their personal and community commitments as a call to action.
Patrick Barredo, of St. James Cathedral, introduced the Creation Care Network, speaking of how it was formed to support the development of Laudato Si’ in the archdiocese and of Archbishop Etienne’s commitment to follow through.
Petitions were offered by three students of Our Lady of Guadalupe School.
Eleana Pawl, representing the Tacoma Kateri Circle, introduced our other Patron of ecology – Saint Kateri Tekakwitha – (who is also the patron of displaced people, and native Americans) and closed the prayer service with, “A Prayer for Our Earth” by Pope Francis from Laudato Si’.
The mood of the meeting was sincere and prayerful. The atmosphere was fresh and spontaneous. People commented that they were glad that they came, brought hope to the meeting, and left with a feeling of encouragement. Interfaith Prayer Service for the Season of Creation – recording here.
SUBMITTED BY: Eleana Pawl
April 22, 2021 – Earth Day Letter to Archbishop Etienne
