International Earth Day is a global event celebrated annually on 22nd April.
The first-ever Earth Day took place in the USA in 1970 to raise awareness about environmental issues. Today over one billion people in 190 countries mark and participate in the event.
The theme this year is ‘Restore our Earth.’
There are many ways to focus our efforts each day on restoring the Earth by standing up for climate action, taking steps to end plastic pollution, supporting species restoration and improving our awareness about environmental issues.
Whilst taking practical action to care for our Earthly home is vital, as people of faith, we are called to go deeper.
As far back as 2000, Columban Fr Michael Gormly wrote in his paper, ‘Our Quest for Ecological Integrity: What is the Catholic Role in the Environment’: “Ecological conversion is not just feeling good in the natural world. Nor is it about recycling and the odd adjustment to our lifestyle…This is about conversion. It involves a change in consciousness about how we relate to ourselves, our world and our God.”
Elsewhere in the paper, Fr Gormly noted: “In the quest for ecological integrity, questions with deep cultural and religious roots arise. The issues today certainly call for ecumenical cooperation on a new scale, and widening inter-faith dialogue. People of faith have a role to play in clarifying different perspectives. This presumes openness to diversity and sensitivity to the experience and expertise of others. Being believers means that we live in a certain way – walking with the Lord, doing justice, gently loving and living peaceably on the earth.”
Here are some other quotes from that paper:
“Christian discipleship means practising what Jesus preached. It calls for a relationship with Christ and a commitment to his mission of bringing life and good news to the world. Christianity does not call us to withdraw or stand aside from the nitty-gritty world, but to help shape it. It does not mean avoiding worldly tasks and responsibilities, but transforming them. We all have unique talents, gifts from God that we are called on to develop and share. People who use their skills and expertise for the common good, the service of others and the protection of creation are good stewards of the gifts they have been given.”
“In our quest for ecological integrity, we soon discover that the terms ‘environment’, ‘ecology’ and ‘integrity of creation’ are complex. A clear message emerges: this is not just about feeling good in the natural world. Nor is it about recycling and making the odd adjustment to our lifestyle. It is more than an accommodation between the churches and the green movement. This is about conversion. It involves a change in consciousness about how we relate to ourselves, our world and our God.”
“We seek spiritual, intellectual and emotional support in discerning how we can both nourish the earth and be recipients of its bountiful goodness. It is encouraging when we find hope and viable ways of linking faith and ecology.31 Resources in scripture, theologies and spiritualities are emerging to provide a base for faith encompassing all living beings and all of creation.”
You can read Fr Michael Gormly’s paper, ‘Our Quest for Ecological Integrity: What is the Catholic Role in the Environment’ here: https://www.columban.org.au/catholic-mission-files/pdf/educational-resources/jpic/our-quest-for-ecological-integrity.pdf