Stewardship of Earth:

• Thank God for our beautiful world and show your thankfulness in the way you live.
• Be an example of good earth care so others will be inspired to also care for creation.
• Learn as much as you can about the habitat, plants and animals in your area.
• Carry a reusable aluminum or BPA-free plastic bottle instead of using throwaway water bottles
• Recycle everything you can.
• Don’t; litter – ever.
• Before buying something new, think about whether you really need it.
• Clean out a room, and donate things you don’t need but are in good condition.
• Talk to your family about ways you can reduce, reuse or recycle in your home..
• Share your earth-care spiritual practices with others. 

Adapted from Pockets: For Kids Who Love God, June 2011 – The Upper Room

Commitment Facilitated by Parish:

• Recycle newspaper, paper, cardboard—benefit parish school; bin located in parish back Southwest lot.
• Recycle tin and aluminum—benefit parish school—bin located in parish back Southwest lot.
• Recycle clothes, toys and household goods-during St. Vincent de Paul specific clothing drives—watch for notices.
• Energy Conservation:
  • Parish staff goes the extra step to ensure that A/C units and lighting are either turned off and/or lower when not in use. 
  • Thermostats with timers have been installed.
  • As funds are available, A/C units are replaced with energy efficient units; parish has contracted with A/C maintenance service vendor who monthly, quarterly and annually inspects, calibrates, changes filters and maintains the many A/C units used throughout the facility. 
  • Efforts have been made to repair and install roofing that is more efficient.
  • Parish completed project that replaced 100+ light bulbs/spot lights with LED bulbs in the church. Completion of this project resulted in APS energy rebate and reduction in utility costs.
  • Have replaced light bulbs with energy efficient bulbs, and plan to initiate project to replace fluorescent lighting with energy-saving lighting.
  • Wherever possible, have put lighting on timers and/or added motion detectors; i.e. parking lot, walkways and sacristy.
• Energy Awards Received:
  • Interfaith Power & Light National 10% Challenge Certificate recepient - see website. There were several hundred faith-community entries!
  • Received APS Certificate of Recognition for completing our church lighting energy efficiency project.  The lifetime benefits kWh of electricity saved: 1,126,408; Tons of CO, emissions avoided: 516; and gallons of water saved: 262,453.
• Purchase Fair-trade coffee—on sale in parish courtyard 2nd and 4th weekends of each month. 

Projects with other Faith Communities:

• Watch for upcoming Stewardship of Earth Faith Days, when our parish will be partnering with neighboring faith communities and/or charitable organizations for:
  • St. Vincent de Paul clothing, household goods and/or food drives,
  • Shredding Documents,
  • Battery Collection,
  • Fluorescent Lights Collection,
  • Cell-phone Collection for Domestic Violence Victims and/or soldiers
  • Lenten alms-giving collection of gently used clothing, household goods etc for families in need - esp to support Catholic Charities and like non-profit organizations located with in the greater Phoenix area.

Want to know more?

• Check out Renewal Project  - a project that has been designed to make the documentary and its inspiring stories available to people and organizations who want to be a part of this growing movement to protect life on our planet and reverse the damage that humans have done to the environment. On this website, you can learn about how RENEWAL is being used by communities across America to help build the religious-environmental   movement. It is also a place for you to connect with others who are   doing this important work and for you to share stories about your own experience.

Click here for Parish Stewardship of Earth Brochure

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