Greening Lent:
How to Make Your Parish EcoFriendly
Consider having an environmental group in your parish to
plan and implement ways that the parish can participate in
“Greening Lent”. Feel free to carry these ideas through
the year!
Listed below are some suggestions to get you started.
Use a programmable thermostat to set up the heat/air
conditioning just prior to mass or Parish gatherings.
In Washrooms:
Post a sign telling people to turn taps
off tightly
Consider low flow toilets
Use toilet paper and paper towels
made from recycled and unbleached
paper.
In Kitchens:
A leak of one drop of water per
second wastes about 10,000 litres of
water per year.
Keep a large jug of cooled water in
the refrigerator, so that running taps
for cooler water will not be
necessary.
If you have an automatic dishwasher,
wait till it is filled before someone
turns it on.
Make sure there are adequate
recycling bins in the kitchen and use
them properly. (Glass, paper, plastics,
cans, beverage containers, and
compostable wastes)
The 5 R’s:
Reverence:
Thank
God for all of creation.
“God saw that it was
good”
Reduce: Reduce the
amount of waste that is
produced
by
your
parish by choosing
carefully only what you
need. Buy durable and
lasting products. Buy
products with little or
no packaging.
Repair: Repair things
that no longer work if
possible, rather than
throwing them away
and getting new ones.
Reuse: Use things
again as much as
possible. Find other
uses for jars, cans,
cardboard
boxes,
string, paper clips, etc.
Recycle: Anything that
cannot be repaired or
reused can possibly be
handed on. Clothing,
books, magazines, etc
can be passed on to
others who can use
them.
Turn off appliances when not used.
* Consider inviting
students from local
Catholic schools to
talk about their
eco-teams to the
parish or parish
group.
Leftovers, egg shells, fruit and vegetables can be composted for the Church
flower gardens.
Do not compost meat, fats, oils, or dairy products. They attract animals.
Avoid the use of disposable dishes and cutlery whenever possible.
Instead of single serving sugars or creamers, use milk and sugar bowls instead.
Use Fair Trade and Organic products.
Buy food items in bulk to reduce packaging.
In the Office:
Use both sides of paper as much as possible.
On the bottom of bulletins or other church letters or documents, print a
notice asking people to recycle them.
Buy recycled and unbleached paper where possible.
Make sure there are recycling boxes in the office for paper, glass, beverage or
containers.
Start a “Zero Waste Program”
Recycle printer, copier and fax toner cartridges at Office Supply Stores.
On the Grounds:
Water grass only when necessary. Water during the coolest part of the day.
Avoid cutting grass too low. (Around 6cm 0r 7 cm tall grass holds ground
water better and reduces burning from the sun.)
Collect rainwater in a rain barrel if possible to water plants.
Select drought resistant plants and flowers.
Grow plants to attract birds and butterflies.
Plant trees for shade. This reduces levels of carbon Dioxide that contribute to
global warming.
Avoid chemical pesticides. Remove weeds by hand.
Put out bird feeders and bird baths. Birds are natural insect control workers.
Use boiling water to kill weeds between bricks or paving stones.
Use natural fertilizers. Composted kitchen waste is an excellent garden fertilizer.
Develop lawns and gardens for contemplation… consider benches, an outdoor
labyrinth, and/or picnic tables.
Visit www.coolcongregations.com to do a carbon footprint of your parish.
How YOU can contribute to environmental stewardship in your Parish & Community
Take Action at Home…



Use the “40 Day Lenten Activity Calendar for Families”, enclosed.
Instead of bottled water, use safe, reusable containers for water.
Then, to minimize your tracks, try out some wide-ranging practical ideas (Appendix A
has some great solutions) from the Anglican guide from October 2002: Renewing our
relationship with the earth: A guide to what you and your Church can do.
 Eat local food, support local farmers, and/or support the Good Food Box program.
 Invest in a programmable thermostat, to save energy (and money) when no one’s home
 Use Environmentally-friendly cleaning products.
 Start or participate in a community garden. Choose natural grass, flowers, and trees.
 Have pesticide-free lawns and gardens (homes, parishes, and cemeteries).
 Plant and care for young trees (this would be a great way to get children involved).
 As an act of reflecting on the environment, read the Canadian bishops pastoral letters:
- You love all that exists… all things are Yours, God, lover of life, 2003.
- Our relationship with the environment: The need for conversion, 2008.
These letters and all “Greening Lent” materials can be found at the Catholic Family Services
website (www.cfssc.ca)
Take the challenge…
 Try the David Suzuki Nature Challenge, at
http://www.davidsuzuki.org/NatureChallenge/Get_connected/Resources/
Mark your calendar & participate…
 Earth Hour: On Saturday March 28th, do your part by turning off all lights and energy-using
appliances from 8:30 to 9:30 p.m. (see www.wwf.ca for more info)
 Participate in Development and Peace’s campaign on agriculture sustainability (www.devp.org),
or, follow their suggestions from the Sharelife Lent 2010 lifestyle awareness calendar
Start Online…


Visit www.ottawa.anglican.ca/docs/renewing.pdf, a valuable environmental resource
previously mentioned in one of the Catholic bishops pastoral letters.
www.environmentnetwork.org – Environmental Network based in Collingwood.


Using resources from the KAIROS website (the Canadian ecumenical justice and
environmental coalition, at www.kairoscanada.org), organize an Energy Justice Workshop,
a Powerdown Energy Fast, or a 100 Mile Church Dinner.
Calculate your carbon footprint on the Nature Conservancy website ( www.nature.org)