Creation Care Team

How to Garden, Landscape, and Use Your Land Sustainably
Saturday, November 15, 10:00 – 11:30 am
Ministry Hall

God’s wonderful creation reveals itself in amazing fall colors and the harvest of apples, nuts and pumpkins – and we give Him thanks! Would you like to learn about how you can improve the gardens and landscaping on “your own little slice of heaven here on Earth”? Do you wonder how to:
• Attract butterflies and help stop the decline of bee populations?
• Enjoy a beautiful yard and garden without frequent watering?
• Provide good habitats for rabbits, squirrels, frogs and God’s other creatures?
• Keep mosquitos out of your outdoor spaces without spraying pesticides?
• Grow healthy fruits and vegetables at your own home?

If so, please join us for an informative, practical and interactive presentation by Susan Varlamoff, the author of the popular book Sustainable Gardening for the Southeast. Susan is a biologist, author and lecturer who has spent the last 50 years protecting the environment. She is a member of the Archdiocesan Laudato Si’ Initiative team and co-author of the Atlanta Laudato Si’ Action Plan, the first-in-the-world reply to Pope Francis’s call for all of us to take better care of God’s planet and people. Please RSVP below.

Did you know that “Care for God’s Creation” is one of the seven principles of Catholic Social Teaching? In 2015 Pope Francis wrote his “Laudato Si’” letter to everyone in the world, asking us to make major improvements in how we care for God’s People and Planet. And in 2023, he wrote another letter urgently calling for us to build sustainable practices into our daily lives. Saint Jude is one of 40 parishes and schools across the Archdiocese that are actively answering his call.

If you believe that you and our parish can do a better job at taking care of God’s People and Planet, please join our ministry! 

We have begun with an initial focus on conserving energy, conserving water, and minimizing waste while building the ministry and engaging the parish community.  We are one of forty parishes and schools in the Archdiocese that comprise the Atlanta Laudato Si Initiative.  To grow the impact of this effort, we seek members who share a passion for caring for God’s planet and people. 

Examples of our Activities

• Create greater awareness of best practices for conserving energy, water, and waste
• Promote existing Parish sustainability initiatives and support new ones
• Advise on ways to reduce waste at parish events and support parish recycling initiatives
• Connect parishioners with community events and volunteer opportunities

Recent Wins

Our Parish has already made progress in conserving energy and minimizing waste.  For example, to conserve energy (and save money), the parish has converted to LED lighting and is installing WiFi thermostats in the Ministry Building. Additionally, the parish has taken initial steps to recycle more of what is used at parish events and in the parish offices, initiating a partnership with Conex to enable recycling of paper, plastics (1-7), and aluminum. Watch for more recent wins!

To learn more or to join the team, please contact our Creation Care Team co-leaders, Brian Savoie and Beth Paschetto.