MADISON — St. Dennis Parish in Madison is hosting its third Earth Day celebration the weekend of April 23-24 with activities and exhibits designed to demonstrate how individuals and families can take steps to reduce their carbon footprint and conserve natural resources.
At the Earth Day event, which is open to the public, participants will be able to:
- Have their carbon footprint calculated by members of the St. Dennis Care for Creation team
- Compare today’s carbon footprint to your 2019 carbon footprint (if you participated in 2019) to see how you are doing
- Learn about the parish’s solar panel electric systems installed in 2017 and 2019 to generate electricity for St. Dennis School, the church, and the convent
- Watch a five to 10-minute video about care for our common home
- Speak with individuals who have had solar panels installed on their homes
- Receive up-to-date information about recycling and composting
- Sign a pledge card making a commitment to at least one “Care for the Earth” action to conserve energy or other natural resources.
Activities and displays will be in the church fellowship area after the 4 p.m. Mass on Saturday, April 23, and from approximately 8:15 a.m. until 12:30 p.m. on Sunday, April 24.
The Earth Day celebration is sponsored by the St. Dennis Care for Creation team formed in December 2014 in response to Catholic social teaching about caring for God’s handiwork.
The group’s mission was reinforced by Pope Francis’ encyclical, Laudato Si’: On Care for Our Common Home, issued in 2015.
The long-term goal is for St. Dennis to become a carbon neutral parish.
St. Dennis Church is located at 413 Dempsey Rd. on Madison’s east side.