Professional Documents
Culture Documents
April 22
Resources
IN THIS BINDER:
United States Catholic Conference is a civil corporation formed by the United States
Catholic Bishops to address issues that concern the Church as part of the larger
society. It also has a publishing arm which publishes resources on current societal
issues, as well as materials for catechists, educators and those in ordained or lay
ministry. Address: 3211 Fourth Street NE. Washington, D. C.20017-1194. Phone:
202-541-3000 Publications Phone: 1-800-235-8722
Website: www.nccbuscc.org
Resources in this binder:
• The Best of Holy Days and Holidays: Prayer Celebrations with Children
“Earth Day Background Reflection” and “Earth Day Prayer Celebration”
(Used with permission from St. Anthony Messenger Press)
Please Note:
In this binder, Building God’s Kingdom: Implementing Catholic Social Teaching, you will
find appropriate Earth Day activities in the following areas.
• Suggested Activities for Primary Grades - Care for God’s Creation
• Suggested Activities for Intermediate Grades - Care for God’s Creation
• Suggested Activities for Junior High - Care for God’s Creation
www.educationplanet.com/search/Environment/Ecology/Earth_Day
Lists twelve different websites which provide resources for Earth Day
www.epa.gov
Go to the section marked “For Kids” to fiind activitites for studying the enviroment
earthday.wilderness.org
Offers background information on Earth Day as well as suggested activities for students
www.earthdaybags.org
Offers directions and ideas for the Earth Day Groceries Project as well as related links
to other sites addressing ecology and the environment
Earth Day
April 22
High School Resources
IN THIS BINDER:
United States Catholic Conference is a civil corporation formed by the United States
Catholic Bishops to address issues that concern the Church as part of the larger
society. It also has a publishing arm which publishes resources on current societal
issues, as well as materials for catechists, educators and those in ordained or lay
ministry. Address: 3211 Fourth Street NE. Washington, D. C.20017-1194. Phone:
202-541-3000 Publications Phone: 1-800-235-8722
Website: www.nccbuscc.org
Resources in this binder:
Web of Creation is a website designed to facilitate the movement for personal and
social transformation to a just and sustainable world - - from the religious perspective.
Address: 1100 E. 55th St., Chicago, Illinois 60615 Email: webofcreation@1stc.edu
These study guides offer resources and activities to help students to learn to respect,
protect and care for the earth.
www.educationplanet.com/search/Environment/Ecology/Earth_Day
Lists twelve different websites which provide resources for Earth Day
www.earthministry.org
Provides worship and meditation resources for Earth Day
earthday.wilderness.org
Go to “Teacher’s Lounge” and find background information on Earth Day as well as
suggested activities for students
www.earthdaybags.org
Offers directions and ideas for the Earth Day Groceries Project as well as related links
to other sites addressing ecology and the environment; a good “infusion project” for Art
classes
www.epa.gov
Go to the section marked “Audience Groups” and then to “Students” and “Teachers” to
find resources for studying the environment
www.nccbuscc.org/sdwp/ejp
Offers a variety of resources for use in schools and parishes to foster care and respect
for God’s creation
www.silk.net/RelEd/enviroment.htm
Provides a list of web sites on theological perspectives on the environment
Litany for Creation
Leader:
Praise to you, O God, source of all waters. For vast oceans, flowing rivers, and
gentle
rains we give you thanks.
Leader:
Help us cleanse, conserve, and share; teach us to care for the gift of water.
Response: Come and heal your people. Come and heal the waters.
Leader:
Praise to you, O God, creator of the dry land. For might mountains, rolling hills, and
fertile prairies we give you thanks.
Leader:
Help us to sow, till, and harvest with care; teach us to live gently on the land.
Response: Come and heal your people. Come and heal the land.
Leader:
Praise to you, O God, breath of life and maker of air. For wind and wave, breath and
breeze, light and life we give you thanks.
Leader:
Help us to live justly, simply, and wisely; teach us to care for the gift of air.
Response: Come and heal your people. Come and heal the air.
Leader:
Praise to you, O God, Lord and Giver of Life. Your love sustains planet earth and by
your hand all things living are fed.
Response: Help us care for your people. Help us care for the earth.
Prayer of Confession
Creator of the earth and all living things, maker of the sky and the air and the breath of
life, God of all that is: we are your servant people, created out of the clay of the earth
itself. We forget that we are your creatures and we play at being gods. We neglect the
work of stewardship that you have provided for our occupation and our joy. We have
used, abused, and abandoned those things that you have created for your delight.
You have created a fragile world in a perfect and delicate balance. Thinking too much
of our own importance, we have upset the balance.
We ask your forgiveness, Holy and Righteous God. we yearn to join with the mountains
and valleys, the rocks and birds of the wild ocean waters in singing your praises. Amen.
Enclosed you will find a packet of resource materials to assist your teachers in their
observance of Earth Day, which is celebrated annually on April 22. We are encouraged
to celebrate this event as part of our commitment to the seventh principle of Catholic
Social Teaching, “Care for God’s Creation.”
These packets can be placed in the binder, “Building God’s Kingdom: Implementing
Catholic Social Teaching,” in the section tabbed, “Earth Day--April 22.”