"We show our respect for the Creator by our stewardship of creation.
Care for the earth is not just an Earth Day slogan, it is a requirement
of our faith. We are called to protect people and the planet, living our
faith in relationship with all of God's creation. This environmental
challenge has fundamental moral and ethical dimensions that cannot
be ignored."

PRAY to reflect on our responsibility to care for God's creation and protect the poor and vulnerable;

LEARN about and educate others about climate change;

ASSESS how we contribute to climate change (in the chancery, our parishes and schools, and our families);

ACT to reduce our climate change impact;

ADVOCATE Catholic principles in climate change discussions and policy work.

What the Diocese of San Jose is doing:

• Green Bag Initiative: The Diocese of San Jose distribute 10,000 reusable grocery bags to parishioners, eliminating the need for plastic or paper bags.

• Solar Panel Project: Five San Jose parishes--Holy Spirit, Holy Family, St. Christopher, Queen of the Apostles and St. Lucy, plus Gate of Heaven Cemetery in Los Altos--have placed solar panels on rooftops, parking lots, and in unused acreage at the cemetery. “Over the life of the system, the six sites will eliminate approximately 19,000 tons of [carbon dioxide]. That is equivalent to planting 345 acres of trees or removing 4,740 cars from the road for one year,” explained Dustin Keele, executive vice president of Photon Energy Services, the vendor for the solar project.

• Other Activities/Events: Go to the Environmental Justice page of the DSJ Web site to learn more.

What you can do:

• Sign the St. Francis Pledge. Copies available in parish office, or sign online by clicking on http://catholicclimatecovenant.org/the-st-francis-pledge.  (Scroll down to the end of the page to sign.)

• Reduce, reuse, recycle: purchase and use a Catholic Green Initiative of Santa Clara County reusable grocery bag

• Keep informed about green activities being offered through Holy Family, other parishes in the area, and the Diocese.

• Read "It's Easy Being Green" each odd-numbered Sunday in the Holy Family bulletin, and put the suggestions into practice.

• Click on "How to Help the Environment" on this page under Forms and find specific actions you and your family can take.  (Copies of this are available in the Faith in Action literature rack in the vestibule.)

• Try some of the 25 individual actions the EPA suggests to take.  You can find them at  www.epa.gov/climatechange/wycd.

• Take the Eco-Savvy Quiz (in Forms on this page).

• Download a FREE copy of Green Riches: Help the Earth & Your Budget  at www.smashwords.com/books/view/7000

• Join Holy Family's Green Team and help formulate and carry out ways our parish can work toward caring for God's creation. For information, contact