Creation Care Parish Teams

Metro New York Catholic Climate Movement works with Catholic Climate Covenant to promote Creation Care teams (CCT). CCT enable parishes to organize committed Catholics in promoting sustainable development and solving climate change. CCT works to make a difference, create more sustainable facilities, and advocate for faith-informed climate policies. Creation Care teams help transform your community to be, in Pope Francis’s words, “protectors of God’s gifts.” Catholic Climate Covenant offers a link of resources for parishes who are interested in developing Creation Care Teams:

How can I start a Care for Creation Ministry in my parish?

Gather a few like-minded parishioners. Talk it up!
Work with your pastor, parish council, and DRE.
Work with groups that already exist: Social Justice Committee, Gardening Committee, Faith Formation, prayer group…
Link up with the Brooklyn Committee of the Metro New York Catholic Climate Movement by contacting Tom Hinchen at hinchen.thomas@gmail.com
Check out Creation Care Teams at Catholic Climate Covenant: https://catholicclimatecovenant.org/program/creation-care-teams Or contact Paz Artaza-Regan at CCC: paz@catholicclimatecovenant.org

Most of all, don’t be afraid to start small!

Care for Creation Ministry at St. Andrew the Apostle Parish.

The St. Andrew the Apostle Care for Creation Ministry began in the spring of 2020 as a capstone project for parishioner Tom Hinchen’s Laudato Si’ Animator Training.

With support from the Pastor, the Parish Council, and the Director of Religious Education, the core group of the ministry plans activities for the parish which align with Laudato Si’. We are affiliated with the Metro New York Catholic Climate Movement and with a working group whose aim is to promote Laudato Si’ in the entire diocese.

Our mission statement is as follows:

“The Care for Creation Ministry is inspired by Pope Francis’ encyclical Laudato Si’ (On Care for Our Common Home). Using the See-Judge-Act paradigm, this ministry provides resources for parishioners to reflect on God’s Creation; promotes discussion of Church teachings regarding the call to protect Earth and its living creatures; and works to make sure that St. Andrew the Apostle Parish observes ecologically-sound practices while bringing the message of Laudato Si’ to the larger community.”

The Care for Creation Ministry has helped St. Andrew’s parish by raising awareness of Catholic social teaching on the environment and educating the youth of our parish to know and care for creation. Our Laudato Si’ Action Plan brings together the efforts of various ministries and strives to reach out to the surrounding community.

Metro New York Catholic Climate Movement (MNYCCM) is affiliated with the global Laudato Si’ Movement. It unites the efforts of parishes in the Brooklyn Diocese and the Archdiocese of New York to put into action the teachings of Laudato Si’. Visit our Creation Care Team section for information and tips on starting your own Parish CCT.