“Jesus took a loaf of bread, and after blessing it, he broke it, gave it to the disciples, and said, 'Take, eat; this is my body.'” —Matthew 26:26

Jesus took bread, something made with the simplest of ingredients, and imbued it with much more. This week, choose at least one meal to eat using only simple, unprocessed foods that nourish the body. Choose whole foods common in your region instead of food grown, processed, packaged, and transported from far away. As you eat your simple meal, pray in thanksgiving for what you have and for those who don’t have enough to eat.
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Care for the Environment is a New Work of Mercy

Pope Francis tells us that “grateful contemplation of God’s creation” is a spiritual act of mercy. As a corporal work of mercy, care for our common home requires “simple daily gestures which break with the logic of violence and exploitation and selfishness and makes itself felt in every action that seeks to build a better world”.

Pope Francis’ encyclical, “Laudato Si” (May, 2015) is a good place to begin understanding how care for our environment is essential for care of our souls. In this letter our Holy Father explains how God is present in all His creation, and how mistreatment of the environment contributes to poverty, disease and political conflict. Most important, he guides us toward making a difference.

In this spirit, parishioners came together in 2015 to form the Care For Our Common Home Ministry of Our Lady of the Mountain Catholic Church.

Mission Statement:
Pope Francis calls us to listen to “the cry of the earth” and “the cry of the poor”. The Care for Our Common Home Ministry works to nurture the vision that leads to this ecological conversion. Our tools are study, provision of information, example, and works of ecological and social justice.

To join our efforts or attend a meeting, please contact John Burns at [email protected]