I recently realized I have fallen into the trap of focusing too much on how we are falling short of addressing climate change. It was becoming a distraction and an unconscious excuse to not explore the simple everyday actions I could take. God used my ministry experience during my year of candidacy to remind me that simple actions can have a great impact. For the 2022-2023 school year, I was a member of Albertus Magnus College’s Laudato Si’ Action Platform Committee. Membership consisted of students, faculty, and staff from various departments. I mistakenly thought that this first year would yield nominal tangible results. After all, we only met four times. I am grateful that God showed me the smallness of my thinking and the gift of communal discernment and action. “How good and pleasant it is when God’s people live together in unity!” (Psalm 133:1)

God showed me that we do not need to come up with the PERFECT plan. Nor do we need to have endless discussions. We can keep things simple. At Albertus, we were already doing some things that we could build upon, revamp, or celebrate. We had contact-free water refilling stations around campus so during Lent, we hosted a campaign to create a culture of bringing reusable coffee mugs/water bottles to meetings/campus to reduce the use of disposable cups. We had fantastic community partners who helped us implement new things like launching a bike share on campus. We launched Earth Fest, which centered around Earth Day and began with Service Day when we had 110+ students, faculty, and staff perform community service in the local New Haven area for 14 organizations.

We had students who care deeply about the environment and who led some of our efforts to review our recycling infrastructure and made recommendations that led to clearer signage and recycling bins in the residence hall. Our Dominican Mission office prints flyers in smaller sizes or only in black and white to minimize toner and paper usage while leveraging technology more (emails/social media) where appropriate. Simple changes can make a difference.

Our Mother Earth needs us to take immediate action to stop the destruction and heal and restore our common home. I know this audience is steeped heavily in sustainable living, thank you for all you do. Perhaps this is just a reminder for you as well to stop a few times and acknowledge the good results and progress you are seeing. Then let that positive energy feed you when you are overwhelmed with the task at hand and remember you have a community for collaboration. Doing nothing is not an option and we have to start somewhere. After all a waterfall begins with only one drop of water.

Who Are We, Really 

We are all kin from floating microbes to walking beings. That is the way God created us. Sir.42:24-5 We think we are good stewards, but we are not.  We ignore God’s weavings, the interplay of all the parts. The ecosystem is the interdependence of innumerable pieces—when in balance.  

 Yet, we construct worlds of opposites in our world—cement or grasses, water or chemicals, fish or plastics; anything perceived dangerous or not useful to us, exterminate—mosquitos, ticks, wolves, buffalo, possums, skunks. Yes, insects can carry harmful diseases but are also food for larger creatures such as birds, bats, lizards, and fish who in turn may be food for others. Others like beavers maintain thriving waters and wolves enable trees to grow while bison loosen up and fertilize the Plains for wild grasses and flowers for the bees so necessary for our fruits and vegetables.  

God has endowed humans with abilities to analyze and change our understandings if we listen, hear, and act.  It is a challenge to cleanse our waters and soils from the PFAS [forever chemicals] since these don’t break down as organics; these are the dangers to the health of us and all of Nature. Recycling reduces some of the huge quantity we produce [9-14 million tons annually into our oceans] but humans and creatures do consume plastics in our water and fish for what disintegrates becomes like pieces of pepper flakes. Chemicals of course are consumed in our food and present in our personal environment—stain-resistant clothing or furniture, food packaging, soil, and drinking water—all of which may upset our metabolic system to cause health issues.  

Currently, no easy answers exist. We know bacteria may be an ally in purifying our polluted environment but the need to stop plastic use is now. As urged by South African bishops in 1999, “Everyone’s talents and involvement are needed to redress the damage caused by human abuse of God’s Creation.”  And from Meister Eckhart, “God is creating the whole world now in this instant.” 

What can each of us discover, praise, and do today?