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A Climate-Conscious Lent: Arctic ice and permafrost
See:, Rising temperatures are transforming the Arctic, melting sea ice, thawing permafrost, greening the tundra and intensifying wildfires. The 12-month period between October 2019 and September 2020 — which scientists consider the Arctic meteorological year — was the second warmest on record , exceeded only by October 2015 to September 2016. In a 2017 interview with Christopher Joyce at NPR, Arctic…, Judge:, Oceans not only contain the bulk of our planet's water supply, but also most of the immense variety of living creatures. … [M]arine life in rivers, lakes, seas and oceans, which feeds a great part of the world's population, is affected by uncontrolled fishing, leading to a drastic depletion of certain species. ( Laudato Si' , 40) Christians cannot be indifferent to global warming, pollution,…, Act:, Ask an engineer or science teacher to explain how Arctic melting will affect us. Ask one of your elected representatives about their stance on global warming and about their climate action plan for your city or state. Find individuals interested in studying and working on climate change in your parish or community. Refuse to use plastic water bottles and have your own reusable mug.
Repentance
… you measure will in return be measured out to you” (Mark 6:38). Dan 9:4b-9; Mark 6:36-38 If Lent is a process rather than a good intention, part of that process is to acknowledge our need …
Redemptive love
… Pat Marrin … "This is my beloved Son. Listen to him” (Mark 9:7). … Second Sunday of Lent … Gen 22:1-2, 9a, 10-13, 15-18; Ps 116: Rom 8:31b-34; Mark 9:2-10 Today’s readings set up a … can God be both the source of our pain and the balm for its healing? These questions are why Lent is desert time and a place of desolation. Jesus went there for 40 days to be among the …
Second Sunday of Lent: Knowing God
How do you know?" Depending on the inflection, the emphasis one puts on you, how and know , this question could be part of a shouting match between 9-year-olds or an essay question on Ph.D. exams. Eventually, most of us struggle with this question, especially when considering a key decision or forming an important opinion. The subject may be profoundly serious, as in, "How do I know if I should…
EarthBeat Weekly: Lessons for Catholics from life of Hazel Johnson, 'mother of environmental justice'
… no one." … Here's what else is new on EarthBeat this week: … EarthBeat's "A Climate-Conscious Lent" series continues with reflections by Fr. Emmet Farrell on what our dependence on fossil … Several weeks ago, I asked readers to share the resources they are using for reflection during Lent. In response, Nancy Lorence of the Church of St. Francis Xavier, in New York City, wrote, … which you can download here , includes reflections for each day of the week throughout Lent, from "Sustenance Sundays" through "Simple Saturdays." I can't help looking forward to March …
A Climate-Conscious Lent: Global warming in 3 grim numbers
See:, In 2012, writer and climate activist Bill McKibben wrote of "three simple numbers that add up to global catastrophe." The first number, he says, is 2 degrees Celsius. In the 2009 Copenhagen Accord, the world's countries agreed that the average increase in global temperature should be kept below that limit to avoid disastrous impacts, but they failed to make binding commitments. Adds McKibben, "So…, Judge:, Never have we so hurt and mistreated our common home as we have in the last two hundred years ( Laudato Si' , 53). We see how environmental deterioration and human and ethical degradation are closely linked ( Laudato Si' , 56). Climate change is an issue of justice. The industrialized nations, representing less than 20 percent of the world's population, are responsible for 70 to 80 percent of the…, Act:, Investigate what causes global warming and how. Break the silence — talk to others about climate change. Devise your plan to fly and drive less in order to shrink your carbon footprint.
Your thoughts on Michael Sean Winters' latest columns
… current, politically correct manner of canceling him and his column — at least for the rest of Lent. … NANCY McGUNAGLE Kalispell, Montana … *** It's not just Donald Trump. The root of …
A Climate-Conscious Lent: No drilling in the Arctic
See, :, Big Oil has been fighting to open Alaska's Arctic National Wildlife Refuge to drilling for decades. Leases for oil drilling in the refuge were signed in January, before President Donald Trump left office. President Joe Biden declared a temporary moratorium on leasing, but the future is still uncertain. Turning this region of the Arctic over to the fossil fuel industry would destroy one of the…, Judge:, We know that technology based on the use of highly polluting fossil fuels — especially coal, but also oil and, to a lesser degree, gas — needs to be progressively replaced without delay (" Laudato Si' , On Care for Our Common Home ," 165). We need proposals that "limit exploration and exploitation of new fossil fuel supplies to parts of the nation where this can be done without adverse damage to…, Act:, Research how drilling for oil is harmful for living creation and why. Read and reflect on "A Christian Prayer in Union with Creation," found at the end of Pope Francis' encyclical " Laudato Si' , on Care for Our Common Home ." Research the relationship between Alaska's Native peoples and the caribou. If caribou herds were to disappear, what would that mean for the people and their culture?
For Lent, it's watermelon and large curd cottage cheese versus the Psalms
… on the far South Side of the very Catholic city of Chicago, one of our neighbors scoffed at Lent. "I always give up watermelon and large curd cottage cheese," he proclaimed every year as Lent rolled around. He was a faithful churchgoer, a member of the Holy Name Society and always attended the annual parish mission. But for him, Lent was a loser. I, too, didn't sacrifice anything of significance for Lent, even though the …
Deeley: Maine governor's new order on religious gatherings 'unacceptable'
… Deeley said an expansion of limits on gatherings would be appropriate as the season of Lent begins. "The commitment of the faithful and our parish staff members to ensure safety at … in addition to her other considerations." Meanwhile, as Catholics marked the beginning of Lent on Ash Wednesday, the bishop said the observance of the holy season will remain focused on … He said Ash Wednesday at its core is a recognition that death also is not the end and that Lent is a call to repentance and a call to work on becoming a better missionary disciple for …
Biden leads nation in mourning its 500,000 COVID-19 deaths
… of her own loss up against so many other losses. He said she and her family enter this Lent, "a season of reflection and renewal, with heavy hearts" since they were unable to properly …