It has been seven years since St. Mary’s Church in Colts Neck, New Jersey, started an environmental ministry. In that time, they have developed a number of projects, including a butterfly garden and a water-testing program. Every year, as a major educational effort, the parish sponsors an Environmental Expo in the parish hall and highlights the theme of God’s creation in all the liturgies of that day.

The Expo, set up like a science fair, draws on community resources and encourages interaction between parishioners and the exhibitors. Among the exhibits at this year’s Expo were booths to learn about composting, environment-friendly gardening, soil conservation, rescued, and rehabilitated wildlife, backyard birding, and energy conservation.
Click here for further descriptions of some exhibits.

Parishioners enjoying the Expo had already participated in the Eucharistic liturgy in which the spiritual dimension of caring for the environment was explored in the homily, in the Prayer of the Faithful, and in the Offertory procession.

At each liturgy the homilists, preaching from the lectionary readings of the day, made connections between the gospel and our obligation to care for the world around us. Such connections can be made with a variety of gospel readings.

Often we find Jesus outdoors pointing to the lilies of the field, sitting in fishing boats on the water, teaching crowds on the hills, or retreating alone to a mountain to pray. Moreover, we are told to follow Jesus wherever he goes.

The petitions of the Prayer of the Faithful, which were prepared by parishioner Maria Savoia, the founding chairperson of the Environmental Ministry, also highlighted the theme.
Click here for the text of the prayers.

At the time of the Offertory procession, the gifts of bread and wine and the collection were presented. Because St. Mary’s is located near the ocean, parishioners then placed a bowl of sand, some shells, and a bottle of water from the sea at the foot of the altar.
Click here to read the words a lector read at this time.

In our busy lives, our appreciation of God’s creation can become routine. By linking the spiritual dimension of the message with practical activities, St. Mary’s reminds its parishioners of the importance of gratitude to God and of caring for God’s creation. The benefits of the Environmental Expo, or Environmental Sunday, go far beyond the day and the place, lasting into the months that follow and rippling out into town, county, and state.

Click here for five steps for organizing an Environmental Expo in your parish.



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