Dear friends in Christ,
On this Earth Day, we take a moment to thank our Creator for the beauty of the world around us.
In modern times, Pope St. John Paul II, Pope Benedict XVI, and Pope Francis have all encouraged us to examine how our behavior and actions have impacted the environment and the lives of others. “The environment is God’s gift to everyone, and in our use of it we have a responsibility towards the poor, towards future generations and towards humanity as a whole (Caritas in Veritate, 48)”. Where have we taken care of the world entrusted to us and where have we failed?
May we all take time today to appreciate God’s gift and adopt one action to help preserve our planet. “All of us can cooperate as instruments of God for the care of creation, each according to his or her own culture, experience, involvements and talents” (Laudato Si’, 14).
Sincerely yours in Christ,
Most Rev. David J. Walkowiak
Bishop of Grand Rapids
