Planting trees is an outdoor activity that gives the parish family the fun of working together, and the joy of making the world just a little better than we found it. It’s one small thing we can do to fight back against the climate change that is making the world uninhabitable.
Pope Francis challenges us to experience the nobility of caring for creation in little daily actions such as restraint in consumerism, reduction in the use of energy, and practicing a holistic form of love that includes care of the earth. Tree planting is a natural way of absorbing greenhouse gases from the air while providing oxygen, cooling, and beauty to refresh all God’s creatures.
Large scale change is absolutely essential to our survival including conservation and the electrification or elimination of all the elements of our lifestyle that are powered by the burning of fossil fuels. Tree planting by comparison is a small thing, but is a reminder that the steps toward what Pope Francis calls “ecological conversion” can be joyful and fulfilling. It is also a way of engaging our children and grandchildren in habits of life that incorporate service to others including generations yet unborn.
The Green Team is planning a tree planting parish activity for Saturday, September 30, 9 to 12 a.m. Greening of Detroit provides the trees, tools, instructions, coffee, and snacks. They also select and prepare the site.
Send a note to Rebecca at ParishLife@ssppjesuit.org for more information.