The Risen Savior Environmental Concerns Committee is a group of parishioners dedicated to issues related to care for creation. This committee formed as a response to Pope Francis’ encyclical Laudato Si (On Care for Our Common Home). Contact Grace Koleczek or fill out the interest form at the bottom of this page if you would like to get involved.
Current Project: Lenten Parish Book Group on Saving Us: a Climate Change Scientist’s Case for Hope and Healing in a Divided World.
Most Recent Projects
Many of our Committee Members are certified through Dakota County as Master Recyclers. (For more information on this program, click here). Our committee members have partnered with the Apple Valley Knights of Columbus to staff their pancake breakfasts to help educate parishioners on which discarded items from breakfast go where (trash, recycling, or organics/compost). We are committed to continuing this education piece and looking for more ways to educate parishioners on the waste system and resources at our parish.
Our committee worked with parish leadership to approve and install a Bike Rack Memorial for Fr. Denny Dempsey. We are still working on the final steps, but are grateful to honor Fr. Denny’s vibrant spirit and legacy through this memorial. Thank you to all who volunteered their time and resources to work on the memorial!
Over Lent 2022, the committee focused on educating parishioners about household food waste. In Fall 2022, WCCO News did a story on local non-profit, Second Harvest, which reduces food waste in our area by “rescuing” good food from landfills and getting it to local food shelves who can make sure families in need have food on the table. Click here to view the 4-minute clip!
Past Projects
Earth Day 2021
The ECC did a great job spreading the word about Earth Day. You can find our entire Earth Day page by clicking the green button below. Some highlights of our work were creating an Earth Day video with prayer, reflections, tips to be a good steward of the Earth, and artwork from Faith Formation Students. We also dedicated our butterfly and shade gardens as a St. Kateri Habitat! Find our virtual tour on the Kateri Conservation Center’s page here.
Season of Creation Bulletin Series 2020
Annually from Sept. 1-Oct. 4, Christians around the world celebrate the Season of Creation. Risen Savior invited our parish community to engage a different celebratory prayer or action each week. Click here for those archives.
Posters for Sorting Waste
Risen Savior received a grant through Dakota County to reduce trash and instead promote recycling and organics disposal. The Environmental Concerns Committee created posters to help our parishioners and guests properly sort their waste while in our building.
Paris to Pittsburgh Film Showing
In collaboration with InterFaith Creation Care South Metro, in Fall 2019 Risen Savior was a host site for a free film showing of Paris to Pittsburgh, a documentary with inspiring stories of the local, private sector, and community leaders across the U.S. who are continuing to take action to transition to a clean energy economy – regardless of federal inaction.
If you are interested in learning more about how care for creation is part of our faith, check out the following resources!
Laudato Si’ (On Care For Our Common Home) by Pope Francis
Minnesota, Our Common Home by the Minnesota Catholic Conference
