Creation Care

A prayer for our earth

All-powerful God, you are present in the whole universe and in the smallest of your creatures. You embrace with your tenderness all that exists. Pour out upon us the power of your love, that we may protect life and beauty. Fill us with peace, that we may live as brothers and sisters, harming no one. O God of the poor, help us to rescue the abandoned and forgotten of this earth so precious in your eyes. Bring healing to our lives, that we may protect the world and not prey on it that we may sow beauty, not pollution and destruction. Touch the hearts of those who look only for gain at the expense of the poor and the earth. Teach us to discover the worth of each thing, to be filled with awe and contemplation, to recognize that we are profoundly united with every creature as we journey towards your infinite light. We thank you for being with us each day. Encourage us, we pray, in our struggle for justice, love and peace.

——Pope Francis, Laudato Si΄


Notre Dame Parish is committed to caring for God’s gift of creation.
As a parish we are:
~programing thermostats to energy efficient settings & turning off lights
~recycling
~using compostable plates & plastic ware
~encouraging electronic donations & using email where possible
~participating in the West Essex Ministerial Association Green Team
~utilizing new energy efficient air conditioning in the parish center
~installing energy efficient lighting throughout parish center and church
To involve our parishioners, we will be:
~adding a “Creation Care” section in the bulletin to educate & share practical tips we can implement in our daily lives
~sponsoring programs and speakers to educate and engage the parish and the community at large
~increasing awareness for Youth Ministry, all families and children
~creating a “Creation Care Team”
~continuing to look for new ways to help in the climate crisis
Pope Francis called upon all people of the earth to confront the environmental crisis
 in his Papal Letter: Laudato Si’ On Care for Our Common Home.
If you would like to read Pope Francis’ Papal Letter: Papal Letter Laudato Si' 
“If we approach nature and the environment without this openness to awe and wonder,
if we no longer speak the language of fraternity and beauty in our relationship with the world,
our attitude will be that of masters,consumers, ruthless exploiters, unable to set limits on their immediate needs.” Pope Francis