Sights & Sounds: Archdiocesan students observe Earth Day
Last week, students in Catholic schools around the Archdiocese of Newark observed Earth Day with activities that showed their commitment to caring for our common home.
At Christ the Teacher Academy in Fort Lee, PreK students explored sustainability through STEM lessons, while students at St. Leo’s School in Elmwood Park created greenhouses. At St. Michael School in Union, students showcased creative projects made from recycled materials, and at Sacred Heart School in Lyndhurst, students took part in a nature scavenger hunt. Other schools, including St. Aloysius Elementary Academy in Jersey City and St. John’s Academy in Hillsdale, planted seeds and flowers, while students at the Academy of Our Lady in Glen Rock helped care for their environment through a campus cleanup.
Earth Day was proposed in 1970 by Christian peace activist John McConnell as a way of living the Biblical call to be good stewards of the planet. Originally celebrated mainly in the U.S., during the 1990s the event was embraced globally.
The April 22 event took on a special significance this year, as the next day marked the first anniversary of the death of Pope Francis, who emphasized the care for Creation as one of the hallmarks of his pontificate. In 2015, he devoted an entire encyclical, Laudato Si’ (Care for Our Common Home) to the topic.
For Pope Francis, caring for the environment was not an “add-on” to the faith, but was part of living an authentically Christian life.
At a meeting with young people in the Philippines in 2015, he said:
You are called to care for creation not only as responsible citizens but also as followers of Christ! Respect for the environment means more than simply using cleaner products or recycling what we use. These are important aspects, but not enough. We need to see, with the eyes of faith, the beauty of God’s saving plan, the link between the natural environment and the dignity of the human person.”
— Pope Francis, Jan. 18, 2015
Through these activities, students were reminded that caring for the Earth is not only an environmental responsibility, but a reflection of their faith and respect for God’s creation.
View our PHOTO GALLERY to see how archdiocesan schools observed Earth Day.
Each week, Jersey Catholic features the rich and inspiring “Sights & Sounds” of the Archdiocese of Newark. Visit us regularly to explore our vibrant parishes, sacred artworks, historic landmarks, and the faithful men, women and youth who bring our Catholic community to life.
Featured Image: Students at St. Michael Parish School in Union create small house projects and plant grass to celebrate Earth Day. (Photos courtesy of St. Michael Parish School, Union)
