Reaping the Rewards



Earth Day Stewardship

by Megan Burdolski, Director of Stewardship

Today, April 22nd, is Earth Day. The first Earth Day was observed fifty years ago, in 1970, to raise public awareness of pollution, vanishing wildlife and other concerns plaguing our environment. As Catholics, we believe that our environment is a gift from God and that it is our responsibility to show our gratitude by caring for and honoring His creation. Earth Day offers us a chance to renew our pledge to be good stewards of God’s creation.

Consider this story –

One day a young man went to visit his old grandfather. He was surprised to find his grandfather in the backyard planting a small peach tree.

The boy knew it would take many, many years for the peach tree to grow up big enough that it would produce fruit. If his grandfather wanted peaches, the boy wondered, why didn’t he just go to the store and buy some? That would be so much faster.

Finally, after watching his grandfather work for a long time planting the peach tree, the young man asked, “Grandfather why are you planting a peach tree?”

His grandfather answered, “Son, all of my life I have eaten the peaches off of trees that other people have planted. Now it is my turn to plant a tree that someone else can enjoy.”                                         (Author Unknown)

Take a few minutes to stop and think about it, each of us has enjoyed so many things because someone else planted a seed. It is the responsibility of each of us to do our part to care for the beautiful gift, our planet earth, which God has given us.

Back when I was a child in the 1970s, Earth Day was celebrated each spring by the student body of my elementary school gathering outside for an assembly during which a tree would be planted on school grounds. Planting trees is important but there are many, many other things that we can do to protect and nourish our planet in order to sustain its life for the generations to follow.

Click here for a list of 50 ways that we can be better stewards of God’s creation. What seeds can we plant or habits can we employ that will help our earth in the months or years to come? If we each try to do some of these things we will help insure that future humans will reap the rewards.

Below are links to other Earth Day resources. Remember, April 22 is not the only day to take care of our environment. If you cannot do these things today, you have 364 more days before the next Earth Day!

Earth Day website

Earth Day - U.S. Environmental Protection Agency

 Connect with Nature While in Isolation

 Earth Day Events You Can Join From Your Screen

Earth Day Ideas for Young Children

Earth Day 2020 Ideas

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