Sisters of Saint Joseph of Annecy

The first step our community took towards Ecology

Listening more and more to the talk on “Green Church” and following the publication of an article on this subject on the diocesan review “Catholique74” I asked the deacon responsible in the diocese, to speak to the community about it. This was the first step we took.

The title “Green Church” was created at the request of the Church in France to respond to the call of Pope Francis in the encyclical “Laudato Si”. We have been invited to respond, allowing us to look for answers in different places in order to take more positive action such as thermal insulation, less use of cars, use of natural manure etc. It is good to become aware of the need for us to use the already existing means/things we have and to awaken in us a need to respect our environment.

We have already sent our reflection to the “Green Church” Commission and asked for the subscription. In return, we received the “the small seed”, which is the first step of the ladder which has up to 7 steps to climb according to our work. Now, our community is registered on the French map, with 330 groups of Churches towards “Green Church”.

 Financial participation is requested to sustain the national team in charge of the project. To obtain the label “Green Church” we are asked for a concrete commitment which includes prayer:

“In religious life, praying is a way of living, interceding. To pray for the planet therefore has meaning; to look at the world which God offers, with joy, amazement and surprise. To allow oneself to be amazed, surprised and to let oneself be loved, is to encounter the way of the spiritual life which responds to the greatness of God.” (Spirituality and ecology)

Spiritual plan:

We decided to pray giving more attention to the psalms of Lauds and Vespers which speak to us of creation and to value them more.

We marked the Season of Creation (1st September to 4th November):

  • By reading one verse of the prayer of creation during the intercessory prayers of the Vespers each evening,
  • By saying the proposed Sunday prayer,
  • By having a time of community prayer for Creation.

Material plan:

We are trying daily to pay attention to reducing waste, to recycling and we have reorganized our garbage bins to improve our recycling. In this way we are safeguarding creation, which is the responsibility of each one.

We try to sensitize the communities in the Delegation by sending them a diagram (pattern) of celebration, and our parish, and by an editorial on the weekly newsletter.

Because of the few small steps we took these last months, we got the name: “Lys de champs”. We now have other steps to achieve: “cep de vigne-Figuier-Cedre du Liban”. 

Sacre Coeur Community, Annecy.The first step our community took towards Ecology

Listening more and more to the talk on “Green Church” and following the publication of an article on this subject on the diocesan review “Catholique74” I asked the deacon responsible in the diocese, to speak to the community about it. This was the first step we took.

The title “Green Church” was created at the request of the Church in France to respond to the call of Pope Francis in the encyclical “Laudato Si”. We have been invited to respond, allowing us to look for answers in different places in order to take more positive action such as thermal insulation, less use of cars, use of natural manure etc. It is good to become aware of the need for us to use the already existing means/things we have and to awaken in us a need to respect our environment. we have already sent our reflection to the “Green Church” Commission and asked for the subscription. In return, we received the “the small seed”, which is the first step of the ladder  Green Church”.Financial participation is requested to sustain the national team in charge of the project. To obtain the label “Green Church” we are asked for a concrete commitment which includes prayer:

“In religious life, praying is a way of living, interceding. To pray for the planet therefore has meaning; to look at the world which God offers, with joy, amazement and surprise. To allow oneself to be amazed, surprised and to let oneself be loved, is to encounter the way of the spiritual life which responds to the greatness of God.” (Spirituality and ecology)

Spiritual plan:We decided to pray giving more attention to the psalms of Lauds and Vespers which speak to us of creation and to value them more.We marked the Season of Creation (1st September to 4th November):

  • By reading one verse of the prayer of creation during the intercessory prayers of the Vespers each evening,
  • By saying the proposed Sunday prayer,
  • By having a time of community prayer for Creation.

Material plan:

We are trying daily to pay attention to reducing waste, to recycling and we have reorganized our garbage bins to improve our recycling. In this way we are safeguarding creation, which is the responsibility of each one.

We try to sensitize the communities in the Delegation by sending them a diagram (pattern) of celebration, and our parish, and by an editorial on the weekly newsletter.

Because of the few small steps we took these last months, we got the name: “Lys de champs”. We now have other steps to achieve: “cep de vigne-Figuier-Cedre du Liban”. 

 

Sacre Coeur Community, Annecyv