Seeking a Professional Facilitator

Seeking a Professional Facilitator

The Sustainability initiatives at St. Francis are off to a strong start and Fr. Jim has asked the team to move it to the next level.  We are preparing for a "2013 Sustainability planning session" in late January and are in need of a facilitator.  If you can help please contact Scott Wright    (734-821-2121)  swright@stfrancisa2.org

Better Buildings for Michigan Program Extended!

Better Buildings for Michigan Program Extended!

Are you considering improvements to make your home warm, comfortable, healthy and energy efficient this winter? Clean Energy Coalition and St. Francis have identified four local energy specialists that have met the high performance requirements of the Better Buildings program. The specialists are: Chelsea Lumber, Ms. Green Construction, Meadowlark Energy and Pro Energy. They are offering $50 assessments to show you ways you can make your home more energy efficient. Enrollment in the Better Buildings has been extended to March 31, 2013 or until funds run out.

Sustainability Team Accomplishments List

Sustainability Team Accomplishments List

written by Kelly Gauthier, Dec 12, 2012.

Our accomplishments in the past six months...

• Established a core team, and then added new members from the Time & Talent survey (I)
• Created a logo and tagline for Sustainability Project (I)
• Held individual meetings with some key parish and school staff to explain the project and see how their dept/area fits in (I)
• Announced the Sustainability Project to the parish in the July 8th Forum, including a highlight of the theological foundations (II)
• Added sustainability petitions to the mass, beginning in December (II)
• Produced 14 Forum articles between July and December (III)
• Learned about organic farming with a parish "field trip" to an organic farm (III)
• Scheduled a workshop at the parish Common Conference in January (II, III)
• "Greened" coffee and donuts by replacing Styrofoam and plastic with compostables -- and composting them (IV)
• "Greened" the school's 60th anniversary party by replacing Styrofoam and plastic with compostables (IV)
• Began "greening" the PAC kitchen (IV)
• Provided educational resources to the school, which are currently being reviewed (II, III)
• Scheduled a teachers' Professional Development day in March that will be dedicated to the topic of integrating sustainability into the curriculum (II, III)

Shopping Made Sustainable

Shopping Made Sustainable

We are called to be good and faithful stewards over all creation. The

connection to preserving air and water seems obvious. Stewardship over all creation however really does mean All Creation! Even those items shaped and produced by human hands through our God given talents are on the list. Take shopping for example. Its connection to sustainability is relevant all year long but particularly applicable right now.

There are only 9 days until Christmas. Many of us are still browsing, knowing we need that perfect gift for Uncle Pete or Aunt Rose. Does sustainability factor into our shopping decisions? In short, yes, it should be a consideration.

Ron Kramer from our Sustainability Team has compiled a wonderful list of questions for consideration by shoppers. They apply on Christmas Eve in the shop around the corner or on any other day of the year. Ron's list comes from the book Affluenza: The All-Consuming Epidemic.

Before you buy, commit to reviewing this checklist:

• Do I (or does my gift recipient) really need it?
  
• Can I really afford it?
  
• Will it enrich the quality of my life or of others?
  
• Is it worth the time and money to store, clean, and otherwise maintain?
  
• Could I borrow it from a friend, neighbor, or family member?
  
• Is there anything I already own, which I could possibly use instead?
  
• Are the resources that went into making it renewable?
  
• Is the product socially and environmentally friendly?   (Not made with
  
• sweatshop or child labor? or from virgin timber?)
  
• Can I recycle it?  Or, will it clog a landfill?
  

As an alternative, buy used items or ask that gifts given to you be donations to your favorite charity.

compostable and recyclable products - Canticle News

The St. Francis of Assisi community has made a major change toward sustainable practices. Sunday morning Coffee and Donuts launched the program by eliminating all Styrofoam coffee cups and replacing them with compostable cups. Additionally, juice cups that were previously disposed of as trash are now being recycled. Adding emphasis to the effort, the 60^th Anniversary Committee's celebration for St. Francis School featured compostable coffee, beverage and wine cups along with compostable plates. The most challenging part of this change was becoming accustomed to the new receptacles and knowing where to place the empty cups. All St. Francis ministries are pursuing the change to compostable and recyclable products wherever possible. Congratulations to everyone at St. Francis for joining in the effort to care for God's creation through the use of compostable and recyclable products!  

Did You Know? – CFLs, Mercury and Coal: The Big Picture

Did You Know? – CFLs, Mercury and Coal: The Big Picture

(written by Steve Lavender on behalf of the Sustainability Team for the Nov 18th FORUM.)

CFLs (Compact Fluorescent Lamps), the spiral lighting source that's rapidly replacing incandescent bulbs are a great way to reduce electrical costs in your home or office. Occasionally, concerns are voiced about the mercury contained in each CFL. To get the facts, I consulted a favorite technical publication, Popular Mechanics magazine. Here's what I discovered:

v       In order to generate light, each CFL is produced with an average of 5 milligrams of mercury. Five milligrams is just enough to cover a ballpoint pen tip.

v       By comparison, the traditional oral thermometer that may still be hiding in your medicine chest contains 500-600 milligrams of mercury.

v       Since CFLs use only about 25% as much energy as their incandescent counterparts, using CFLs reduces the amount of electricity you consume and therefore the amount of electricity our power plants must produce.

v       In Michigan, about 2/3 of our electricity is produced by coal-fired power plants. Mercury naturally contained in the coal is released when it burns. Reducing the demand for power through efficiencies such as CFLs means less coal is burned, reducing mercury emissions.

v       Replacing just one 75 watt incandescent bulb with a 20 watt CFL (they produce the same amount of light) will reduce mercury emissions over the CFLs' lifetime by almost 10 milligrams.

So what's the point behind these numbers? The emissions from coal fired power plants are a much greater hazard than any CFL. Incandescent bulbs prompt the release of almost 4 times as much mercury into the environment from coal fired power plants as do CFLs. That incandescent bulb is the "smoker" in the room and all of us are ingesting the toxins in the power plant produced second hand smoke. Look at the big picture. CFLs, with their minute level of mercury safely enclosed within the lighting tube actually reduce the level of mercury that all living objects, including humans continually ingest from power plant emissions. DTE's Monroe Power Plant, a coal fired facility, released 614 pounds of mercury into the environment in 2010. It's only 31 miles from St. Francis as the wind blows. Help reduce the emissions - use the CFLs!

Join your fellow parishioners as we build a Sustainability Project here at St. Francis.   Contact Scott Wright (734-821-2121).
www.stfrancisa2.com/sustainability

Power of 1 - Sustainability for November 11th FORUM

Power of One

(written by Kelly Gauthier on behalf of our Sustainability Team.)

Some people think that "one person can't do much" to help the earth.  But as people of faith, we are called to care for God's creation and its deep distresses.   We all make choices every day that have an impact – good or bad.  And small choices can make a big difference.  For example:  if all Americans replaced just one light bulb in their home with a compact fluorescent or LED bulb, it would save enough energy to power 3 million homes for a year! 

A recent Yale study found that 70% of Americans believe global warming is happening.  Climate scientists agree beyond a reasonable doubt that climate change is happening, it's primarily human caused, and it has serious consequences for this and future generations.  The Catholic Church agrees with these scientists.

Our most important job is to reduce green house gases, which come from burning fossil fuels (coal, oil, gas).  They trap heat in the atmosphere (like a blanket around the earth) and pollute.  Coal puts mercury into our water and food.  Here are some ways that you can help:

·         Reduce, reuse, recycle (visit earth911.com to find nearby recycling centers)

·         Drive less; slow down; inflate your car tires

·         Eat less meat – the international meat industry generates about 18% of the world's greenhouse gas (even more than transportation)

·         Use re-usable bags at the store

·         Dress for the weather so you can dial the thermostat down in the winter and up in the summer

·         Shop locally and look for items that don't travel as far to get to you

·         Turn off the lights when you leave the room/office; turn off computers at the end of the day

·         Set your printers at home and work to print 2-sided

·         Participate in programs like DTE Energy's BioGreen Gas – to get natural gas from the methane that occurs naturally in landfills, instead of using dangerous methods like fracking

·         Use recycled paper products (made with 60% less energy), and products made from earth-friendly bamboo or hemp

Use re-useable water bottles and travel coffee mugs at work and on the road·         

Eat seasonal foods and buy from local farmers

Plant native plants in your garden; use compost instead of fertilizer and a rain barrel for watering

Create a rain garden in low-lying areas to reduce flooding and filter pollution from the water

In short:  Consume less, share more, live more simply.

Furnace & Boiler Test & Tune program

Furnace & Boiler Test & Tune
Refrigerator Replacement

FREE - Funding is Limited!!   Apply Now!! 
This program ends in December.

The Test & Tune program is designed to reduce energy costs for income eligible residents of Washtenaw County by providing energy efficient measures & repairs. These measures may include:   •  Furnace or Boiler Tune-Up; •  Minor Furnace and Boiler Repairs; •  Programmable Thermostats; •  Showerhead Replacement; •  Bathroom Faucet Aerators; •  Perform other small repairs that will increase energy efficiency; •  Eligible applicants MAY qualify for a FREE furnace; •  Eligible applicants MAY qualify for a FREE refrigerator replacement.

All services are FREE of charge to the applicant.   We use licensed contractors to complete all work.  Must be a DTE gas customer.  Program is only available to single-unit home and rental properties.   Eligibility is income based;  any household falling below the income levels outlined below are eligible for Test and Tune program.   The income threshold for a family of: •  1 is $45,500 ;   •  2 is $52,000 ;   •  3 is $58,500 ;   •  4 is $65,000 ; •  5 is $70,200 ;   •  6 is $75,400 ;  •  7 is $80,600 ;   •  8 is $85,800 .

Test &Tune applications must be received by Dec. 10th .
Refrigerator replacements only covered thru Nov. 21st .

Visit: www.ewashtenaw.org/testandtune
Or call (734-622-9025) Washtenaw County Office of Community and Economic Development.

Energy Specialists from Better Buildings for Michigan

Energy Specialists from Better Buildings for Michigan Program,
here at St. Francis PAC on Sunday, October 14 &  21, available in the PAC during coffee and donuts after the 8:45 and 10:30 Masses.

We had an energy assessment done at the St. Francis Parish Rectory.
All parishioners are encouraged to consider similar energy saving efforts at their own homes.

Are you considering improvements to make your home warm, comfortable, healthy and energy efficient before winter?  

As Kim Peoples, (a St. Francis parishioner, and, a Realtor in Ann Arbor), said,  "We had them over to our home and it's been a good experience, we're taking advantage of some great rebates." 

It's only $50 for St. Francis parishioners who sign-up before the end of December. 

Please, contact one of these local energy specialists:
--  Chelsea Lumber (734-475-9126), 
--  Ms. Green Construction (877-466-7473), 
--  Meadowlark Energy (877-652-7578) and 
--  Pro Energy (734-827-1003). 

For a limited time they are offering $50 assessments to show you ways you can make your home more energy efficient. Enrollment in the Better Buildings program is available through ... 
Better Buildings for Michigan Program Extended!

Enrollment in the Better Buildings has been extended to March 31, 2013 or until funds run out.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~  ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

BetterBuildings for Michigan is a state government-backed program that identifies ways for homeowners to reduce energy consumption. The program’s home energy assessments (also called audits) are discounted from the typical price of $350 for such inspections.

The Certified Building Analysts who conduct the assessments can install energy-efficient lightbulbs, showerheads, faucets and programmable thermostats – at no extra cost – and suggest additional cost-effective, energy-saving improvements, such as insulation and energy-efficient appliances. Homeowners are under no obligation to act on the Certified Building Analyst report. However, BetterBuildings for Michigan offers financial assistance to those who choose to install additional energy-saving measures, including rebates totaling up to $5,000. 

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~  ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
As Catholic Christians here at St. Francis Parish we serve our less fortunate sisters and brothers with so many outreach programs, just to name a few… hot meals, food drives, home repairs, Christmas gifts, and shelter programs.   And, our St. Francis Parish sustainability efforts are rooted in this same belief and concern.  Here in Michigan we are blessed with an abundance of material goods like fuel-energy for our homes.  (Written by Scott Wright on behalf of St. Francis Parish Sustainability Team 2012-12-03.)

Our religious tradition has always urged restraint and moderation in the use of material goods.   “We must not allow our desire to possess more material things to overtake our concern for the basic needs of people and the environment.” (USSCB: “Faithful Stewards of God’s Creation: A Catholic Response for Environmental Justice and Climate Change”).

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~  ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Home Energy Audit: We had a Better Buildings Home Energy Audit recently : to save energy and to save money.  It was very exciting until the night before the appointment.  I panicked.  What had I done?  We had just done many renovations to our home and I did not need a contractor to mess it all up.  My husband urged me to relax; it was a good thing to do.  As promised, the contractor arrived with a lot of equipment and checked our stove, furnace, water heater, faucets and insulation. He informed us that even new stoves and heating /air conditioning systems can have problems emitting carbon monoxide or may not be hooked up properly - so there was another reason for the evaluation - safety.  He did a door blower test to find leaks in the house and provided and installed energy efficient light bulbs (even cleaned some lamps that were out of my reach!) and noted that we had a programmable thermostat and lowflow faucets (renovation unharmed!).  He told us the results but also sent a report with estimates and available rebates.  It was a great experience that I highly recommend.    Kim Bonenberger, of St. Francis Sustainability Team 

Signs

Check this photo of our setup for Saturday's party. 

This was the setup in the gym. This setup was duplicated in the PAC. There was a sign for every serving item the guests would use during their evening. The signs also indicated where the used item should be discarded. In short, there was a general trend toward sorting but by the end of the night 5 of our 6 bags ended up in the trash. 

After the party Saturday evening one reasonably "good bag" was brought home to sort into compostables and trash. Lots of discarded cake, miscellaneous wrappers, beer bottles and other items mixed with the compostables. Saturday didn't work so well.  

For large events we might need "recycling officials" at each of our discard stations.

Sunday morning's coffee & donuts was a better experience of sorting recycling and compostables. The bins were perfect! Compostables in one, recyclables in a second and trash in the third. It literally could not have been better. Apparently, the moral of the story is people who are into recycling can pull this off with no issues.       - Steve 

Michigan Interfaith Power & Light's annual Sustainability Conference

Sustainability Conference Reflection 

(article written by Kelly Gauthier)

Members of the St. Francis Sustainability Team attended Michigan Interfaith Power & Light's annual Sustainability Conference, which was held at Madonna University on 10/4.  Workshop topics were diverse.  For example:  "greening" our homes and buildings, integrating sustainability into the school curriculum; using solar power for both on-grid and off-grid power solutions; creating rain gardens; and the ability for organic farming techniques to produce healthier soil and greater year-over-year yields in DTE's "urban farms".  We hope to apply what we learned in upcoming projects at St. Francis.

Most importantly, the afternoon keynote speaker, Dr. Thomas Gladwin from the UM Business School's Erb Institute, reminded attendees of our potential to create a better world.  Governments and the business community will not solve the earth's environmental problems, he said.  But education, science, and faith communities (who are called to protect God's creation) might.  He challenged all of us to ponder three critical moral questions:

·         What do we owe to future generations?

·         What do we owe to the currently deprived?

·         What do we owe to the rest of life on earth?

RECTORY ENERGY AUDIT by Dave Barera for October 7 Forum

 RECTORY ENERGY AUDIT

In participation with the St. Francis Sustainability Project and the Better Buildings For Michigan (BBFM) program, Fr. Jim recently requested an Energy Audit for his home.

In early September, Ms. Green Construction owner April Rue, a St. Francis parishioner, performed a detailed energy audit at the Rectory. A written report summarized her recommendations, with the most significant being:

(1)   The rectory is a well sealed building.  Reduced air leakage enhances heating and cooling efficiency. To facilitate circulation, reduce humidity and improve the building's overall thermal profile, a solar-powered fan (about $300 plus installation) was recommended for the attic.

(2)   All incandescent bulbs should be replaced with compact fluorescent lamps (CFLs).

(3)   Low-flow shower heads should be used in all applications and aerators installed on all rectory faucets.

(4)   Foam-rubber insulation should be installed on all basement water pipes, both hot and cold.

(5)   Foundation openings around outdoor spigots should be sealed with spray foam insulation.

That's it……nothing critical or overwhelming.  Our maintenance staff is already working on some recommendations and a contractor will install the solar vent fan this fall.  Replacing the aging furnace and air conditioning systems with higher efficiency models will result in further savings. The BBFM program provides financial incentives to facilitate such upgrades.  Ms. Green estimated that Rectory utility costs could effectively be reduced by as much as one-third with these changes. We will do all we can to realize these savings.  Stay tuned for future news as our efforts progress!

All St. Francis parishioners will have the opportunity to request energy audits and participate in the Better Buildings For Michigan program. Four local energy specialists will come to the PAC for meetings with interested parishioners after the 8:45 and 10:30 Masses on Sunday, October 14 and 21. All four energy contractors have met the high performance requirements of the Better Buildings program. Look for more details in today's and next week's Forum.

Dave Barera, Parish Business Manager

I Believe We're Ready

Here's a selection of posters in place for this morning's Coffee & Donuts.
Compost and Recycling Signs in PAC at Coffee & Doughnuts 2012-09-23.

Biodegradable Cups for 60th Anniversary Celebration 10/6/12

Mustang Re-Connect Party Supports Sustainability

Numerous events within the St. Francis community marked the 60^th anniversary of our school’s founding in 1952. The All School Mass, dedication of our Peace Garden, Bishop Boyea’s concelebrated Mass with many past and present St. Francis priests and the Mustang Re-Connect Party all served to mark such an important and happy occasion. The 60^th Anniversary Organizing Committee made the Mustang Re-Connect Party even more memorable by making it the first major St. Francis evening event to actively support sustainability. The Committee chose to provide compostable soft drink, wine and coffee cups as well as compostable plates for all guests. Their foresight and commitment to sustainability prevented hundreds of Styrofoam cups, conventional paper cups and plates from delivery to the local landfill. Adding a wonderful note of generosity to the evening, an anonymous donor contributed all compostable products used for the Re-Connect Party. Thank you anonymous donor and 60^th Anniversary Organizing Committee!

(Written by Steve Lavender)

~~~~~~~~~~~

St. Francis 60th anniversary effort team is the first to embrace the parish's efforts on sustainability.

Thanks to the anonymous donation from the "60th Team" for donating the Biodegradable Cups to the 60th anniversary event.

Hats off to the 60th anniversary team for supporting the sustainability initiative in the parish.   Sincerely,  -Colleen Pierce 

Ideally, your work will lead us to a place and time where sustainable actions become the norm for all St. Francis events. Thank you for demonstrating the parish's commitment to sustainability at such an important gathering.  -Steve Lavender

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Why BgreenToday?

St. Francis Parish shoppers, parishioners who are shopping for products to be used at St. Francis Parish events say: "I was quite pleased with Bgreen's customer service and pricing. The BGreen store's prices are not much more expensive than Gordon's or Sam's, etc. BGreen gives "St. Francis" (when purchasing products to be used for St Francis Parish events) a 5% discount. Of course, parishioners shopping for their personal use would not be entitled to the sales tax discount ..., but...

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

News 3 - Sustainability Conference

St. Francis is a member of Michigan Interfaith Power and Light (IPL) a non profit that promotes energy efficiency and sustainability across faith communities. IPL is hosting a conference on

“Faith Driven Sustainability – A Moral Calling”

on Thursday, October 4, 2012, at Madonna University in Livonia.  

There will be tracks on “greening” of faith communities, schools and homes.  The cost is $50.00. Early Bird Discounts end on Sept. 21, 2012. (Prices increase by $10.)  Register at:  www.miipl.org/conference2012/

Join your fellow parishioners as we build a Sustainability Project here at St. Francis.  

Contact Scott Wright (734-821-2121).

http://www.stfrancisa2.com/sustainability

News 2 - Sunday morning coffee & donuts is going Green!

Sunday morning coffee & donuts is going Green! Watch for updates as we strive to eliminate Styrofoam coffee cups and plastic juice cups. The team will need the help of each and every coffee and donuts family to make this earth friendly endeavor a reality (no worries, it's easy!). We'll have additional information in a couple weeks.

Join your fellow parishioners as we build a Sustainability Project here at St. Francis.  

Contact Scott Wright (734-821-2121).

http://www.stfrancisa2.com/sustainability

NCR News on Public policy

Public policy pathways to renewable energy

by Charles Morris on Aug. 28, 2012 

• Eco Catholic

There has been a change in much of Michigan's landscape in the last few years. From farm country in the Thumb on the east side of the state to the hill country near Ludington close to Michigan's west coast, majestic wind turbines dot the countryside. Gratiot County, among the poorest counties in the state, has been infused with ...   http://ncronline.org/blogs/eco-catholic/public-policy-pathways-renewable-energy ... 

NEWS - BetterBuildings for Michigan Program:

BetterBuildings for Michigan Program:

Are you considering improvements to make your home warm, comfortable and healthy and energy efficient before winter? Clean Energy Coalition and St. Francis identified local energy specialists that have met the high performance requirements of the Better Buildings program. For a limited time they are offering $50 assessments to show you ways you can make your home more energy efficient. To initiate this program the St. Francis rectory has undergone an energy assessment with results due soon. Enrollment in the BetterBuildings program is available through December 31, 2012 or until funds run out. Watch for additional information and sign up details in next week's Forum.

Join your fellow parishioners as we build a Sustainability Project here at St. Francis.  
Contact Scott Wright (734-821-2121).
http://www.stfrancisa2.com/sustainability

NEWS 1 - Bill McKibben September 14

The Center for Faith & Scholarship at the University of Michigan will host Bill McKibben at Rackham Auditorium on FRIDAY, September 14 at 4:30pm. The CFS describes Bill as "one of the preeminent environmental voices of our generation and one whose religious faith informs his vision of the world and nature." His presentation is entitled "350: The Most Important Number in the World". "350" references our atmosphere's maximum desirable carbon dioxide level. Bill will discuss the human generated increase in carbon dioxide and the critical need to return to 350. As background, July's level was 394. We haven't seen 350 since October, 1989.  

The official announcement is here at The Center for Faith & Scholarship at the University of Michigan:   http://cfs-aa.org/?page_id=644

Join your fellow parishioners as we build a Sustainability Project here at St. Francis.  

Contact Scott Wright (734-821-2121).

http://www.stfrancisa2.com/sustainability

Organic Farming and Food - Why Bother?

Organic Farming and Food - Why Bother?

                I want to begin answering this great question by starting with a quote from Pope Benedict on subsidiarity, which deals with keeping responsibility local.  The Pope writes, “We are all responsible for the protection and care of the environment … it is important for everyone to be committed at his or her proper level.”

                How then can we be committed to helping protect the environment on our proper level?  I want to share the story of my family’s organic farm as an example.

                My parents stopped using agricultural chemicals early into their farming career.  Their decision arose from this very simple consideration.  If a corn plant is surrounded by dead weeds that have just been sprayed with herbicide, do I think that corn plant has not been affected in some way? 

While none of us want to directly ingest herbicides or other chemicals, we do eat plants that have been directly exposed to such chemicals.  This is the concern of organic farming and food – what we do to the soil impacts us, our children, and future generations.

How then can we at St. Francis shoulder our share of the responsibility? Here are some helpful questions to ask ourselves.

Do I take responsibility for the foods that I eat and how they are produced?

How do I care for my lawn and garden?

                - Lawn-care typically applies chemicals at 3 times the rate of agricultural use.[1]

Do I take responsibility for my own body and health (the most immediate gift God gives any of us) for His greater glory and service?

Gary Koenigsknecht on behalf of the Sustainability Team

1.  “Turfgrass revolution: measuring the expansion of the American lawn.” Paul Robbins, Trevor Birkenholtz. <http://www.turfcare.cn/info/TurfgrassrevolutionmeasuringtheexpansionoftheAmericanlawn.pdf>.

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Sustainability – Where to Begin?

Beyond a reasonable doubt scientists have found that climate change is occurring, it’s due to human causes, and it poses significant risks to our well-being.  They agree that it can be addressed by changes in energy technologies, public policies, and our individual actions.  The Catholic Church accepts the science and takes the same position.

The connection between sustainability and the moral imperative to care for God’s creation has been made very clear by Pope Benedict XVI:  "Preservation of the environment, promotion of sustainable development and particular attention to climate change are matters of grave concern for the entire human family."  How do we make that connection to life at St. Francis?

First we need to define the word 'sustainability'.  The United Nations defines sustainable development as:  “development that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs.”

Consider this definition in relation to the following:

1)      9 of the 10 warmest years in the modern meteorological record happened since 2000

2)      3,215 daily high-temperature records were set across the U.S. in June

It takes intensive study to link the climate science with daily weather events.  But the Nobel Prize-winning Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change released a special report in March that said we will see “unprecedented extreme weather and climate events.”  This will continue unless we make changes.  Our planet is getting warmer.  As a result, we see many strong storms and more severe weather.  

There is strong scientific consensus on climate change, but we lack social consensus.  The social debate will continue – just as it did when the tobacco industry resisted the health warnings about smoking back in the 1960’s. 

As a parish, this is where we begin our effort to integrate sustainability into our lives, as our faith calls us to do.  Please join us for the journey.

Here’s what you can do:

1.         Educate yourself.  Go to the Sustainability page on the Parish website [stfrancisa2.com/sustainability] and read “Holy Cross Abbey: Reinhabiting Place”, which a group of Masters students at the U of M’s School of Natural Resources and Environment wrote in  2010.  [Holy Cross Abbey masters project  http://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/handle/2027.42/69209].  In this coming year we hope to engage a group of current Masters students to help us with the Sustainability Projects beginning at St. Francis and St. Marys.

2.   Join your fellow parishioners as we build a Sustainability Project here at St. Francis.  Contact Scott Wright (734-821-2121).   We are borrowing a model currently being implemented at across the U of M campus:

Steve Lavender and Jane Vogel on behalf of the Sustainability Team 

CLIMATE NEWS from Catholic Coalition on Climate Change

From: Catholic Coalition on Climate Change, Wednesday, July 18, 2012, Responses to Severe Weather...

CLIMATE NEWS SEVERE WEATHER I: 2011 A story from Yahoo! News reports that Last year in the continental United States has been recorded as the country's hottest year since 1895, government scientists have said.  The article quotes Jake Crouch, a scientist at the National Climatic Data Center, who says It's hard to pinpoint climate change as the driving factor, but it appears that it is playing a role.  Dr. Crouch also said that What's going on for 2012 [referring to the record-breaking heat and extreme drought] is exactly what we would expect from climate change. A separate story from Reuters reports that Climate change increased the odds for the kind of extreme weather that prevailed in 2011, a year that saw severe drought in Texas, unusual heat in England and was one of the 15 warmest years on record, scientists reported on Tuesday . . . In the 22nd annual "State of the Climate" report, experts also found the Arctic was warming about twice as fast as the rest of the planet, on average, with Arctic sea ice shrinking to its second-smallest recorded size. Read the full State of the Climate in 2011 report from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.  SEVERE WEATHER II: Drought is Largest Disaster in History of U.S. Amidst record-setting heat across the country, the United States is currently experiencing the worst drought in 25 years.  CNN reports that Authorities have declared more than 1,000 counties in 26 states as natural disaster areas as 61% of land in the lower 48 states [is] experiencing drought conditions. View pictures here.  Yahoo! News reports that this makes the current drought the largest natural disaster in America ever. The article notes that In America's Corn Belt, the prognosis for farmers is grim as fields and pastures become drier by the day.  The Weather Channel reports that Almost a third of the nation's corn crop is already showing signs of damage, and on Wednesday, the U.S. Department of Agriculture released yet another report predicting that farmers will get only a fraction of the corn anticipated last spring when they planted 96.4 million acres, the most since 1937.

CLIMATE ADVOCACY More on the EPA Rule to Limit Power Plant Pollution The National Catholic Rural Life Conference (NCRLC), a Coalition partner, is encouraging its members to advocate and support the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)’s new source performance standards for carbon dioxide emissions from new power plants (Docket number EPA–HQ–OAR–2011–0660).  NCRLC believes this the proposal is a standard that would mean cleaner air and a cleaner Creation by limiting carbon dioxide emissions from new power plants.  To lend your voice in support, take action here by sending a comment on the rule to the EPA.   Australian Bishops Provide Guidance on Carbon Tax Reuters reports that Australia unveiled its most sweeping economic reform in decades on Sunday with a plan to tax carbon emissions from the nation's worst polluters, reviving hopes of stronger global climate action with the largest emissions trade scheme outside Europe . . . "It's time to get on with this, we are going to get this done," said Prime Minister Julia Gillard. In order to help Catholics faithfully reflect on a carbon tax, the Catholic Education Office of Melbourne, Australia has published an excellent summary in very short and clear paragraphs on this issue.

Articles published on Sustainability in our weekly bulletin...

On this blog you can see the full text of all articles published on Sustainability in our weekly bulletin.  If you want to see them as they were printed and published in the paper edition of our bulletin follow these links to the PDF...

See the front cover page of our July 8th bulletin at:

What does Sustainability mean for you?

http://www.stfrancisa2.com/sites/all/files/users/user28/120708.pdf

And, see page 8 of our Aug 5th bulletin at:

Sustainability Where to Begin?

http://www.stfrancisa2.com/sites/all/files/users/user28/120805.pdf

Prayers of the Faithful

Sustainability Prayers and Prayers of the Faithful ...  See:

https://docs.google.com/document/d/1RSvhH-q7moGAlAk76-iOTPAdwd00oSWeFke_uOH0Q58/edit

Sustainability Partnership

What does Sustainability mean for you? 


What connections do you see between energy use in your home and your relationship with God?  How can we, as a Parish, be better stewards of the creation God has given us?  As people of Faith, we have a moral imperative to care for God's creation and its deep distresses.

Pope Benedict XVI tells us: "Preservation of the environment, promotion of sustainable development and particular attention to climate change are matters of grave concern for the entire human family."

Sustainability Partnership

There is mutual interest at St. Francis and St. Mary's in Ann Arbor in "greening" our Parishes. We are forming a team with several significant partners and we invite you to consider joining us. Our first focus is to understand what our Catholic faith tells us about caring for God's creation.

Gary Koenigsknecht, our resident Seminarian, did some great research. Here are a few excerpts from the Pope and the US Conference of Catholic Bishops that tell us why this work is so important. 
"Catholic Theological Foundations for addressing Climate Change"

"Our Creator has given us the gift of creation: the air we breathe, the water that sustains life, the fruits of the land that nourish us, and the entire web of life without which human life cannot flourish."

"Can we remain indifferent before the problems associated with such realities as climate change, desertification, the deterioration and loss of productivity in vast agricultural areas, the pollution of rivers and aquifers, the loss of biodiversity, the increase of natural catastrophes and the deforestation of equatorial and tropical regions?  Can we disregard the growing phenomenon of 'environmental refugees', who are forced by the degradation of their natural habitat to forsake it?"

 "This responsibility is a global one, for it is concerned not just with energy but with the whole of creation, which must not be bequeathed to future generations depleted of its resources."

 "… the issue of environmental degradation challenges us to examine our life-style and the prevailing models of consumption and production, which are often unsustainable from a social, environmental and even economic point of view.  We can no longer do without a real change of outlook which will result in new life-style."

This is our faith and we are called to action.  The purpose of the emerging Sustainability Project at St. Francis is to educate parishioners on the effects of warming trends globally that have the greatest impact on the poorest among us and on future generations so that we can:

• work together to build up the capacity of our Parish and parishioners to be good stewards of creation
• make the needed changes in our parishes and in our homes and lifestyles to improve our stewardship of God's creation and reduce our carbon footprints.

Look for the new "Sustainability Corner" in the Forum, as well as, our Parish Sustainability web page for updates and ways you can engage and contact Scott Wright at 734-821-2121 to join our emerging Sustainability Team.

Jane Vogel & Steve Lavender
on behalf of the St. Francis Sustainability Team

St. Francis Parish Sustainability Project PURPOSE STATEMENT and OVERVIEW

St. Francis of Assisi Parish Sustainability Project PURPOSE STATEMENT and OVERVIEW (PDF) The purpose of the Sustainability Project at St. Francis is to educate parishioners on the effects of warming trends globally that have the greatest impact on the poorest among us and on future generations so that we can: · work together to build up the capacity of our Parish and parishioners to be good environmental stewards · make the needed changes in our parish and in our homes to improve our stewardship of God’s creation and reduce our carbon footprints.

St. Francis Parish Sustainability Project FRAME WORK

St. Francis of Assisi Parish Sustainability Project FRAME WORK ~ faith foundation: liturgy & sermons - prayer & spirituality ~ communication & education: school, religious education (youth), faith formation (adult) ~ stewardship action: 'greening' our parish, homes & lifestyles - energy, bulidings, transportation - purchasing, recycling, waste - food, land, water - culture change. ~ environmental justice & advocacy: justice actions local & global - advocacy

Big Ten Scientists Explain Climate Change and Probability of Extreme Weather

Big Ten Scientists Explain Climate Change and Probability of Extreme Weather

ELPC reached out to climate scientists at all 12 Big Ten schools to ask them this question: How does our extreme-weather summer relate to climate change? The result was a compelling op-ed co-authored by a group of Big Ten scientists and published in papers of note throughout the region.   Read what your local scientist had to say in the Detroit Free Press.