Forum discusses role of young Catholics and the environment

WARWICK — On Wednesday, Oct. 23, the Social Action Committee at St. Gregory the Great Parish held a discussion entitled, “Catholic Youth and the Environment.” The evening brought together three panelists who shared their unique perspectives to the role that young Catholics are playing in promoting greater awareness about caring for creation and how the faith also plays a vital part.

The gathering began in prayer, as Father Alfred V. Ricci, pastor, asked for God’s blessing upon the event.

“Loving God you have entrusted so much to us, particularly this earth that has been given to be shared and to be nurtured. We are to be good stewards of all that you have given us. We ask your blessing upon our gathering that you may enlighten and that your Holy Spirit may move,” Father Ricci prayed.

Cole DeSantis was first to speak to those gathered in the parish hall. DeSantis, who is studying for his master’s degree in Theology at Providence College, laid the faith-filled foundation of his presentation by explaining how basic tenants of the Christian faith and the biblical world could be used to deal with the environmental crisis and to justify the notion that Catholics have a duty to protect the environment.

“If we are to save the planet, if we are to get involved in the fight against the environmental crisis, we need to have an accurate understanding of who we are as humans, how we relate to the rest of creation and ultimately how we relate to our creator. All of our actions presuppose a certain set of values and we need to make sure our values are rooted in an accurate set of metaphysical, moral and anthropological presuppositions,” explained DeSantis. “As a Catholic I would say that the biblical world view and the Catholic world view is the best articulation of this.”

He also took time to discuss natural revelation and how the created world reflects the majesty of God, looking to scriptures, including Isaiah 6:3 — “…Heaven and earth are full of your glory” — as an example.

“God created the universe and it is a majestic and beautiful thing because God is beautiful and good. We were given creation as a gift and we have a duty to preserve creation, and if we actually think about the metaphysical between God and creation and how creation reflects the beauty of God, that should be an overwhelming motivator to preserve and protect creation.”

Bill Patenaude, an engineer with the state’s Department of Environmental Management who also writes on issues of Catholicism and ecology, shared the improvements Rhode Island has seen over the years, particularly with its waters, when communities and government work together to promote positive change. He added that it is imperative that young people understand what the Church is saying about nature and how that relates to them as well as globally.

“So many of the issues that we are having today are environmental and also human nature issues,” said Patenaude. “We feel that we have dominion over our bodies and we can become anything we want to be. We can alter our bodies and decide who lives and who dies. Young people need to know what the Church is teaching because they need to protect the environment, but they also need to protect themselves.”

He added that creation has always been divinely intertwined with the mission of Jesus and his church.

“To be Catholic is to be pro-environment, whether we like it or not.” Patenaude said.

“Look to the incarnation of Jesus Christ, the very presence of divinity entering into human history as an embryo made up of water, proteins and minerals, taking on creation itself. The sacramental life of the Church using bread, wine, oil and water to help mediate God’s grace. Something that God instituted to bring his grace to the world so that we can then go out and change the world and make it better. This is what the Catholic Church has to offer.”

Patenaude welcomed the final speaker of the evening, Allen Ottaro, of Nairobi, Kenya. Ottaro, founder and executive director of Catholic Youth Network for Environmental Sustainability in Africa, has been speaking throughout the diocese this past week on a special visit to the United States, sharing the challenges and successes of his ministry. His work through CYNESA draws young Catholics from Kenya, Ethiopia, Zimbabwe, Tanzania, Zambia, Rwanda and South Africa who promote responsible stewardship of the environment.

Ottaro shared that there is a great need for the formation of young people adding that is also an opportunity for evangelization. He looked to ministry of Saint Pope John Paul II as an example of connecting with youth within the beauty of creation.

“He lived this out completely,” said Ottaro. “He would go out with young people to the Polish Mountains and to the rivers, using those as opportunities for evangelization. That contact with nature was an important way of forming youth, grounding them in their faith and experiencing the beauty of God in creation. If we are to help young people understand that the gift of youth is meant for the whole of humanity then we begin to open doors and opportunities for them to get engaged and take part in social justice concerns including care for our common creation.”

“What do we do now, where do we start?” Ottaro asked, before helping to answer those questions and sharing tangible ways to protect the gift of creation.

“Start where you are,” he said. “Look around you and just start somewhere. We are invited to think globally but act locally. Use what you have, resources are not unlimited. Every effort, no matter how little it seems, contributes to the broader effort that we are all making. That is part of our Christian faith. We are on a journey.”