By Tanya Connor | The Catholic Free Press
People were told some ways they can live out the message of St. Francis and Pope Francis in a celebration of the Season of Creation in the Worcester Diocese.
To observe the season, which runs from Sept. 1 through Oct. 4 (the feast of the great nature-lover St. Francis of Assisi) the diocese’s Environmental Stewardship Ministry sponsored a “green Mass” and a talk by local activist Claire Schaeffer-Duffy, on Oct. 3 at St. John Parish in Worcester.
The Mass was to celebrate Catholic social teaching “in regard to our care for creation,” explained Peter Dunbeck, Environmental Stewardship Ministry chairman. This city parish was chosen because of “the great work they do with the soup kitchen,” he said, noting that Pope Francis’ encyclical about the environment, “Laudato Si’,” also addresses economic inequalities.
Father Richard F. Reidy, vicar general of the diocese, preached about that encyclical. Four priests concelebrated the Mass with him, a deacon assisted, about 20 people attended and about 15 more watched online, Mr. Dunbeck said.
“Laudato Si’, mi’ Signore” (“Praise to You, my Lord”), St. Francis said in his canticle about creation, Father Reidy said. Pope Francis wrote that the entire material universe speaks of God’s love, he said.
We human beings depend on our common home and are responsible to protect the earth to ensure its fruitfulness for coming generations, he said.
But, he said, the pope says the earth looks more and more like a pile of filth. There are the problems of pollution, climate change, loss of biodiversity, greed, wasteful consumption and human beings’ indifference to their fellow human beings. The pope says that when we fail to recognize the work of the poor, the human embryo and the person with disabilities, it becomes harder for us to hear the cry of nature. There is a need for inner conversion, abandonment of materialism and being happy with less.
Father Reidy said he didn’t think either Pope Francis or St. Francis “would be lining up at midnight to buy the latest iPhone or iPad...” Instead of focusing virtual reality, take a look at reality - like a dewdrop or a poor person’s face - he said.
He spoke of a need for environmental education that facilitates a leap to transcendence, and of gaining a glimpse of the Creator and the next world, where with St. Francis and all the saints ... we will forever sing, “Laudato Si’, mi’ Signore.”
Prayers at the Mass included ones for church and world leaders, for all people to be attentive to the planet, for all God’s creatures to be blessed, for poor people and respect for human life. Father Reidy added prayers for the president, the first lady all afflicted with the coronavirus, and healthcare workers. The congregation read a “Pledge of Commitment to Protect and Heal God’s Creation.” It included pledges to work for an end to injustice and to stand together against all threats to life.
A Catholic in Louisiana who is trying to do that was the subject of the talk by Mrs. Schaeffer-Duffy, who, with her husband, Scott, founded the SS. Francis and Therese Catholic Worker House in Worcester.
Mrs. Schaeffer-Duffy told of interviewing Sharon Lavigne, who loves where she lives, between Baton Rouge and New Orleans.
But this Fifth District, about 90 percent black, was changed from a residential area to a residential and industrial area, a designation that ushered in environmental racism, Mrs. Schaeffer-Duffy said. She said the petro-chemical industry has inserted itself into residential areas and a multi-plant manufacturer of micropellets which are used to make plastics prepared to move in. Given the presence of carcinogens that make the human body more susceptible to cancer, the area is called “cancer alley.”
Mrs. Schaeffer-Duffy said Mrs. Lavine asked God, “What do you want me to do?” and heard God say clearly, “Fight.” Through an organization called “RISE St. James,” she has fought against the further poisoning her environment. Others too have protested it, living what Pope Francis says.
Mrs. Schaeffer-Duffy gave listeners a couple actions they can take: “Think about your use” of plastics “and try to migrate away from them” and contact legislators about a bill to make companies that produce plastic pay for its recycling.
Mr. Dunbeck said the Environmental Stewardship Minisry is encouraging all parishes to get involved with the ministry and is planning a virtual meeting.
Ministry member Dr. Madeline Colon-Usowicz, of Sacred Heart of Jesus Parish in Webster, told The Catholic Free Press, “We can all come together to be stewards of God’s earth.” She noted that while the talk was about efforts in Louisiana, ”here we are in Worcester thinking about how we can apply this in our communities and in our parishes.”
Something might seem insignificant but play a vital role, she said, using the following example of misplaced trash: “that one bottle or that one bag can end up in an animal’s system and that animal can die.”
Gail Hickey, a ministry member from St. Denis Parish in Douglas, said, ”I grow vegetables for the food pantry. This is right up my alley. We’re able to be co-creators with God” - a gift and a responsibility.