From awareness to action: Diocesan team addresses ecology

By William T. Clew
The Catholic Free Press
Parishes around the diocese have embraced Pope Francis’ teaching on the environment in different ways. But now, at the urging of Peter Dunbeck of St. Luke the Evangelist Parish in Westborough, the diocese has established a ministry team to address ecological issues.
 The team has been instrumental in planning a diocesan conference Sept. 23 at the College of the Holy Cross to discuss Laudato Si’, the pope’s encyclical on the environment.
In advance of that, the diocese has added a new topic to its website titled Environmental Stewardship. It can be found under the “Departments” heading at www.worcesterdiocese.org. The information on the web pages, designed by Mr. Dunbeck, is to help parishes and the people of the diocese respond to the pope’s encyclical, Bishop McManus said in a recent letter to diocesan clergy.
Pope Francis issued the encyclical Laudato Si’: On Care of Our Common Home in June 2015 to encourage people to protect both the human and natural environment.
In the encyclical, the pope said that “the human environment and the natural environment deteriorate together; we cannot adequately combat environmental degradation unless we attend to causes related to human and social degradation.
“In fact, the deterioration of the environment and of society affects the most vulnerable people on the planet. Both everyday experience and scientific research show that the gravest effects of all attacks on the environment are suffered by the poorest.”
The conference is designed “to enrich and empower parish staff and lay leaders in all parishes about Catholic teaching about Care for Our Common Home,” the bishop wrote.
 It will run from 1 to 4:30 p.m., Sept. 23, in the Hogan Campus Center, 1 College St. After an opening prayer and comments by Bishop McManus, three speakers will address the conference.
Jesuit Father William Campbell, vice president of mission at Holy Cross, will answer the question “Why is this a Catholic Issue?” Katherine Kiel, Ph.D., professor of economics at Holy Cross, will speak on the “Scarcity and the Economics of Pollution.” And Matthew Beaton, Secretary of Energy and Environmental Affairs for the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, will talk about “Environment and the Role of Government.”
Parish leaders will take part in a panel discussion after the presentations, according to the diocesan website.
Mr. Dunbeck said St. Luke’s started an environmental stewardship program in the fall of 2016 with a blessing of the animals by Msgr. Michael G. Foley, pastor. The next year, the 500th anniversary of the Reformation, Msgr. Foley met with the pastor of Good Shepherd Lutheran Church in town and they set up a workshop to discuss Laudato Si’ and why the environment is a religious issue.
Mr. Dunbeck also met with a Boston group that was part of a Catholic Climate Covenant and began meeting with other parishes in the diocese to encourage awareness of the issue. He said St. Luke’s was the first to put together meetings with the bishop, won his endorsement and expanded the program into a diocesan movement with a ministry team.
Father Paul T. O’Connell, associate judicial vicar, has been instrumental in the establishment of the Environmental Stewardship team,  Mr. Dunbeck said. He said that at a Presbyteral Council meeting, Father O’Connell encouraged the bishop to develop a plan to put Laudato Si’ into action in the diocese. Father O’Connell learned of the work that St. Luke Parish was doing and  “has been instrumental in communicating our efforts to the Presbyteral Council and to the bishop.”
According to the diocesan website, “this ministry team was formed in 2017 with the sponsorship and support of the Diocese of Worcester to help increase awareness about Catholic social teaching concerning our relationship with the environment and the impact of environmental degradation on the poor of the world. The team made a presentation to diocesan departments last December.
 “Our work is guided by Pope Francis’ encyclical Laudato Si’: on Care for Our Common Home.  Through raising awareness, we are hoping to inspire action in all aspects of the Catholic community including the operations of the institutions such as parishes and schools as well as in the lives of every family and individual in the diocese.  Pope Francis challenges us to examine our lifestyle.  He urges us to work together and educate each other on these issues.”
Mr. Dunbeck learned that Holy Cross had done a video on the environment. After he and Professor Kiel talked about the program, the college agreed to host the September conference. A Holy Cross student intern also helped him build the new Environmental Stewardship pages on the diocesan website. Those who log on to the website can find the new topic under “Departments” or they can reach it directly at http://environment.worcesterdiocese.org/.
Under each of several categories - action overview, parish schools, family and personal, resources - are instructions, suggestions and courses of action for improving the environment.
The free conference will provide an opportunity for parish leaders and other attendees to learn more about Laudato Si’. People can register at the Environmental Stewardship online page.