RESOURCE - National Public Lands Day - Living out Catholic Social Teaching! - September 26, 2009

Are you looking for a way to practice Catholic Social Teaching with your youth, families and parishioners?

Care for God’s Creation...
We show our respect for the Creator by our stewardship of creation. Care for the earth is not just an Earth Day slogan, it is a requirement of our faith. We are called to protect people and the planet, living our faith in relationship with all of God’s creation. This environmental challenge has fundamental moral and ethical dimensions that cannot be ignored.

Call to Family, Community, and Participation
The person is not only sacred but also social. How we organize our society in economics and politics, in law and policy directly affects human dignity and the capacity of individuals to grow in community. Marriage and the family are the central social institutions that must be supported and strengthened, not undermined. We believe people have a right and a duty to participate in society, seeking together the common good and well-being of all, especially the poor and vulnerable.

National Public Lands Day provides a great opportunity to practice stewardship of God's Creation and participate in the work of, and the connection to, the larger community.

It began in 1994 with three federal agencies and 700 volunteers. Last year 120,000 volunteers worked in over 1,800 locations and in every state. Now, 8 federal agencies and many state and local lands participate in this annual day of caring for shared lands.

National Public Lands Day keeps the promise of the Civilian Conservation Corps, the "tree army" that worked from 1933-42 to preserve and protect America's natural heritage.

This annual event:
1. Educates Americans about critical environmental and natural resources issues and the need for shared stewardship of these valued, irreplaceable lands;
2. Builds partnerships between the public sector and the local community based upon mutual interests in the enhancement and restoration of America's public lands;
3. Improves public lands for outdoor recreation, with volunteers assisting land managers in hands-on work.

There are sites all across Washington state including Mt. Rainier and Mt. St. Helens National Parks, Magnuson Park Wetlands, Ft. Lewis, Lakebay among others...

What better way to kick off your year of youth and family ministry and provide an outing for families and parishioners to grow closer to one another and Our Creator while serving the greater good!