ASHEVILLE — The weekend of May 19-20 saw St. Eugene Parish provide an opportunity to look at itself and its parishioners regarding the challenge of “going green.” This annual Going Green weekend event was sponsored by the parish’s Care of Creation – One Earth, One Home ministry. After every Mass, parishioners were invited to visit multiple exhibits demonstrating the effects of good stewardship on the environment.
Pictured: Care of Creation volunteer JoAnne Gance displays local plants that were given out for free to attendees at St. Eugene Church’s recent “Going Green” event. (Photos provided by Tracey Barnes)
It was a local effort to respond to Pope Francis’ letter “Laudato Si’” (“Praise Be”), which addresses everyone’s responsibility to respect the planet.
St. Eugene’s Care of Creation ministry had booths on such things as honey gathering, caring for the habitats of native flora and fauna, energy conservation methods, recycling goals for the parish, and consumers’ efforts to reduce the use of disposable plastic bags.
There were activities for children, too. One of the favorites was creating a bird nesting bag, a mesh bag full of wonderful odds and ends that birds can use to build nests. This crafts table and the “Birds, Birds, Birds” booth were hosted by Tom Tribble and other volunteers from the National Audubon Society.
Free plants were also available to attendees to take home, thanks to the generosity of parishioners who brought them from their own gardens.
St. Eugene Parish has been at the forefront of environmental efforts in answer to the pope’s call, notably with the installation of solar panels on the roof of the church building. The parish has saved more than $13,800 in electricity costs over the past two years, and it has aided other churches in the Asheville area and throughout North Carolina who want to follow its example.
The parish has also eliminated Styrofoam cups and other single-use, disposable items in their events and “coffee and doughnuts” after all weekend Masses, and recycling of other items is encouraged.
An all-electric car was also on display during the “Going Green” weekend, thanks to the efforts of Phil Murphy. Parishioners listened to the benefits of buying a car similar to the Nissan electric car on their next purchase of a family automobile. Robert Sipes, vice president of Duke Energy, and Ned Doyle from the Energy Innovative Task Force told people about Duke’s Free Home Energy House Call. Alice Wyndham from Energy Savers Network signed up parishioners for a free “home weatherization” as well as volunteers to help with the work.
— Cynthia Gibbs, special to the Catholic News Herald. Cynthia Gibbs is a member of St. Eugene Parish in Asheville.