The Care for Creation Ministry at St. Mary’s seeks to protect people and the planet by living our faith in relationship with all of God’s creation.

The Catechism of the Catholic Church speaks of the human responsibility to act on behalf of creation by promoting creaturely “harmony” and exercising a proper role of stewardship (CCC #302). In regard to the gifts of creation at large, the Catechism warns that human beings have “moral obligations … including those toward generations to come” (CCC #2456).

Recycling Tour Update 

Many members of our parish visited the Ramsey/Washington County Recycling and Energy facility for a tour this past July 2024. These tours highlight how the facility works, how waste is managed in the East Metro, and how to better reduce, reuse and recycle. If you are interested in such tours, please visit https://recyclingandenergy.org/tours/.

Discussion Nights

On September 19, 2024, a group of parishioners gathered to discuss waste, plastics, and recycling. We also discussed how many cities are beginning to implement a food scraps program.

Food Scraps Pickup/Dropoff

Over 20% of household trash is food scraps, like fruit peels, eggshells, coffee grounds, bones and more. By separating your food scraps, you can help turn them into soil instead of waste. There is a new Food Scraps Pickup Program for residents of Ramsey and Washington counties to recycle food scraps from your home! The program is rolling out over multiple years and will eventually be available to all residents of the two counties. You can learn more and get started by visiting https://foodscrapspickup.com or calling 651-661-9393. Or you can search for organics recycling in your particular city.

How to participate:

  • Join the Care for Creation group.
  • Engage your whole family and find simple ways in your daily living to “care for creation” with this home inventory.
  • Most importantly, join us in prayer!

A Prayer for Creation from Laudato Si‘

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.

Check out Pope Francis’ recent documents Laudato Si or Laudate Deum

Take the Laudate Deum Action Pledge