Parishioner Part of Global Campaign

The campaign was announced July 14 at the second annual biennial conference of the Catholic Climate Covenant and its Catholic partners, said Stafford Wood, founder and president of Covalent Logic in Baton Rouge and a member of Our Lady of Mercy Church in Baton Rouge. Wood was selected by Catholic Climate Covenant to work with the organization in its mission of promoting the importance of being caretakers of God’s creation.

The campaign will call on the involvement of everyone: “(church) parishes,  dioceses, schools, universities, hospitals, businesses and farms, organizations, groups, movements and religious institutes,” Wood said.

She was approached by Catholic Climate Covenant based on projects her marketing firm has completed with Catholic agencies and churches such as “Banners of Peace.” After Baton Rouge law enforcement officers were fatally shot in July 2016 after the shooting of Alton Sterling, OLOM pastor Father Cleo Milano approached Wood about doing something to bring peace to the city. 

The banners were created using images taken by local photographer Marie Constatin of St. Teresa of Kolkata, who was newly canonized at that time. Constatin avidly works to address and create awareness of environmental problems, and her work is being featured as part of the “Laudato Si’” action initiative.

Wood received requests for the Banners of Peace from church parishes in the Diocese of Baton Rouge and then she reached out to other churches throughout the United States. Her work gained the attention of the Catholic Climate Covenant.

While Wood will be spreading the message of caring for creation on a national level, the local community has a “special place in her heart” in these efforts, and she envisions it becoming a leader for the rest of the nation.

“When you think about the flooding we’ve had, a lot of that has been caused by human development and not taking care of the earth and making sure it’s clean and beautiful,” said Wood. 

She emphasized the importance of doing construction development appropriately.

 “My part is creating that inspiration for those who are already doing care for creation and to inspire those who are not familiar with what the church is doing that we are called to care for creation,” Wood said. “When thinking  about the accomplishments you have made in your life and people you have known, you realize those people inspired you to accomplish those things.”

She applied this to stewardship of the earth.

She referred to the work of Constatin, a founding member of the Louisiana Stormwater Coalition. One morning as Constatin walked her dogs along the shores of Capital Lake in Baton Rouge, she saw a density of litter. Knowing it was too much for one person to clean up, she picked up the litter, posted pictures on social media and “put out a call” for other people to join her. Catholic groups and institutions joined her.

When the Laudato Si’ campaign comes into full force, there will be educational materials, T-shirts to wear when picking up trash and other inspirational nudges for people to “do their part,” said Wood.

“It’s a global mission that is centralized and localized. I see my job as bringing that global message to an American audience,” she said. 

While many know about Pope Francis’ efforts to create environmental awareness, it began with Pope Emeritus Pope Benedict XVI, according to Wood. Her favorite quote of the retired pontiff is one he gave during the celebration of the World Day of Peace in January 2010:  “The environment must be seen as God’s gift to all people, and the use we make of it entails a shared responsibility for all humanity, especially the poor and future generations.”

“Some think of this (the environment) as a liberal issue or a new issue, but it’s been a mission of the church for a long time,” said Wood.

She said it is also an important message for all Catholics.

“You think of young people today who are so environmentally conscious and they need to take care of the earth. With the church it’s a truly universal message which you reach everyone with, especially the youth,” she said.

Louisianans especially have a connection to the environment through gardening, fishing, hunting and other outdoor activities, Wood pointed out. This is a natural place to begin increasing knowledge about making a positive environmental impact.

“The idea is to start with what you know and then move to what you don’t know,” said Wood. “It’s not hard to do, it just takes a little bit of planning and implementation.”

 “Just imagine if a teenager came home and said, ‘Dad let’s do this.’ Imagine what it does to unite a family, to do something they believe in. It’s really powerful.”

The initiative is an opportunity for the U.S. to lead the world in a unique way of caring for people and the planet, Wood emphasized.

“This is where the United States really has an opportunity to change the world for the betterment of man and creation,” said Wood.

For more information, about the U.S. Laudato Si’ campaign website visit
godsplanet.us/.

Wood said on the Vatican’s Laudato Si’ action website, laudatosi
actionplatform.org, people can register and receive customized, practical suggestions to use at their home, church, hospital, work and other places.