February 8, 2008

Program examines carbon footprints

Five Indianapolis parishes are “going green” with a weekly environmental program during Lent to help people reduce their carbon footprints on the Earth.

“Low Carbon Diet—A 30-Day Program to Lose 5,000 Pounds” begins at 7 p.m. on Feb. 12 at Christ the King Parish, 1827 E. Kessler Blvd.

Program facilitators are Christ the King parishioner Patty Cortellini and St. Monica parishioner David Jordan. A $15 donation covers the cost of a book by that name.

The program continues at 7 p.m. on Feb. 19 at St. Thomas Aquinas Parish, 4600 N. Illinois St., and Feb. 26 at St. Luke the Evangelist Parish, 7575 Holliday Drive East. Immaculate Heart of Mary Parish, 5692 N. Central Ave., hosts the March 4 program and St. Monica Parish, 6131 N. Michigan Road, is the site of the March 11 session.

“Parishes united in spirituality, simplicity and sustainability for preserving God’s creation” is the mission statement adopted by the parishes for their “Green Deanery of Indianapolis.” Bill Scott and other members of St. Thomas Aquinas Parish’s green committee wrote the ­statement.

“Every household has a carbon ­footprint, which is the amount of carbon dioxide emissions that are put into the atmosphere,” Cortellini said. “We help ­people figure out what their footprint is, and figure out ways to lower that footprint by 5,000 pounds in 30 days.”

All of creation is our family, she said, and we have to treat the Earth like we are supposed to treat each other—with respect, love, care and concern.

Scott said “the Lord has given all that we have around us, and we have a ­responsibility to take care of that.

“It’s pretty well spoken about in many places in both the Hebrew Scripture and the New Testament,” Scott said. “I think one of the things that really influenced me has been the witness of St. Francis [of Assisi] and the idea that less is more.

“There are a lot of ways that we can lead our lives in a joyful way,” he said. “A lot of people have a sense that simplicity, sustainability and spirituality involve a lot of sacrifice, … but letting go of the ­physical objects around us … frees us to be in a closer relationship with God.”

(Registrations are required by contacting Immaculate Heart of Mary parishioner Karen Leone at kaleone@indy.rr.com.) †

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