Holy Week: Gratitude and Generosity

“To be grateful is to recognize the love of God in everything.” 
– Thomas Merton

“If the only prayer you say in your whole life is ‘thank you,’ that would suffice.” 
– Meister Eckhart

Gratitude flows when we recognize the gratuitousness of God’s gift of life. Gratitude is the natural response to the abundance of God’s love, which shines forth in the variety and beauty of all creation, from the tiny snail that clings to a rock on the beach to the life-giving energy of the sun that warms the earth from which green shoots emerge in spring. In the Eucharist we give thanks to God for the gift of Jesus Christ, who died for us and rose from the dead so that we might have new life.

Gratitude is essential to life as a Christian. It inspires us to fall on our knees in thanks, to bow our heads in reverence, to give of ourselves to our brothers and sisters because we recognize the wonder of what God has done for us. Water, food, the air we breathe – all are sacred gifts.

We are children of a God of abundance. Theologian Ronald Rolheiser notes that in Jesus’ parable of the sower, God scatters his seed indiscriminately – in the road, among thorns, and on rocks, not just in good soil. God does not calculate or hoard. Instead, he gives generously.  ”We see that same abundance in the parable of the vineyard owner, where the owner, God, gives a full day’s wage to everybody, whether he or she worked the full day or not,” Rolheiser says.

God’s generosity is evident in his willingness to forgive the prodigal son without reservation, as soon as he sees his son returning to him. “But while he was still far off, his father saw him and was filled with compassion; he ran and put his arms around him and kissed him” (Luke 15:20). And Jesus himself shows divine generosity in his forgiveness of the disciples who abandoned him and the crowds who put him to death.

What is the proper response to God’s gratuitous gifts of life and love? Each person will have a different response, depending on her gifts and the way is which God is calling her.

I spent some years away from the church. Yet I now see that God was calling to me all along. Even though I was a long way off, God was speaking to me in the moonrise over the bay, in the creeks that ripple through the Piedmont, in the tiny seeds that grow into mustard greens, and the birds that raise their young in the garden. The wonder and reverence I felt when moved by the beauty of nature were signs of God’s presence, though I did not know it then.

One reason Christians are called to care for creation is that nature is one way which God self-communicates his love. Early Christian theologians spoke of God’s revelation in two Scriptures, the Scripture of nature and the Scripture of the Bible. When we pollute the waters with toxic substances, allow topsoil to erode, clear-cut forests, choke the summer air with smog, we not only harm the ecosystems that support life, we introduce disharmony into God’s creation, silencing his music.

Pope John Paul II called for Christians to come to an “ecological conversion” of heart. One response to the gift of life is praise. St. Francis of Assisi praised God for all creation, including Brother Sun, Sister Moon and Mother Earth.

Taking time to appreciate creation restores us spiritually. “Today there is a great need to slow down the sometimes hectic pace of our days,” said Pope John Paul II. “Contact with nature, with its beauty and its peace, gives us new strength and it restores us.”

Another response to God’s gift of life is to live simply, so that others in future generations may live. Pope John Paul II wrote, “Every individual is called upon to play his or her part to … secure development in peace, in order to safeguard nature itself and the world about us….”

When we are handed a beautiful gift, entirely undeserved, our natural response is to give back. We often are moved to embrace the gift-giver. God gives us each breath we take. How can we give back to God in a spirit of love?

Jesus says, “Love one another as I have loved you.” As Easter approaches, take time to reflect on Christ’s call and how you can respond more generously.

Taking Action

Lent 4.5 suggests tips for cultivating generosity.

• Buy Fair Trade products, supporting businesses that respect God’s creation and pay workers fairly.
• Plant a tree native to North Carolina. Native trees contribute to the health of local ecosystems.
• Volunteer with an organization working for social justice or environmental sustainability. At St. Francis, consider participating in one of the more than 25 Justice & Peace ministries, including Franciscan Care of Creation, Dignity of Life, JustFaith, or Committee for Immigration Justice. For more information, contact Sheila Read at 919-847-8205 or sheila.read@stfrancisraleigh.org.
• Give to a project you care about. Consider donating to one of St. Francis’ local partners: Catholic Parish Outreach, Passage Home,  Inter-Faith Food Shuttle and Witness for Peace Southeast.
• Make time to enjoy nature. Pray to God in thanksgiving.

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The Alabaster Jar

by Kathleen Owen, Coordinator of Care & Wellness

In reading the Gospel for this week, I experienced a real sense of chaos. Outside, the trees are blooming and there is a feeling of rebirth after the barren months of even a light winter, but the readings are dark – recounting feelings of resolve, betrayal and bleak prospects.  

This sense of chaos must have been apparent to Jesus as he entered Jerusalem. In Israel, the winter rains were over and the barley harvest had started. People were preparing to celebrate Passover. But Jesus was feeling betrayal and dread. One of His disciples is plotting to hand Him over to those who wished Him harm.  In the midst of this, one woman steps forward to show kindness to Jesus. She offers precious oil to anoint Him and He promises that “what she has done will be told in memory of her.”

So often in life we have that tension, when things seem good, but inside we feel afraid, betrayed and lost. Spouses leave, friends fall away, health erodes, and loved ones die. In the swirl of trying to keep going and “set my face like flint,” it’s hard to see past my own suffering. That’s why the image of the woman with the alabaster jar is poignant. She sacrificed the precious oil to comfort someone in need.

If you feel the chaos building in your life, you don’t have to face it alone. The ministries of Care & Wellness are here to share the walk with you and to offer the gifts of time and compassion. For more information, contact Kathleen Owen at 847-8205, ext 241.

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Sister Parish Delegates Have Returned!

Las Margaritas II, Guatemala

Feb 10-20 2012

Christina Freitag with her host family

By Christina Freitag

I was looking for a way to become involved at St Francis of Assisi for quite a long time. There are so many great ministries offered here and it can be labor intensive and a little overwhelming researching them all. When I received the email asking for more delegates to join the Sister Parish Ministry on a delegation to Guatemala, I knew that was a sign from God!

The entire preparation process was amazing! From attending the Sister Parish meetings, to participating on phone calls to the village, to going to the retreat with all the delegates, to the prep time in Guatemala City. But nothing touched me more than simply sharing each day with the people of Las Margaritas II in their humble village and the generosity that abounds by all.

What a totally awesome experience and I can say first hand, like we sing during Mass, that my heart has formed, my mind transformed, and my will conformed!  I can not wait to return to my friends in Las Margaritas II!

Mike Hutchinson with host family: Matilda, Romero and their children

By Mike Hutchinson

The anticipating was building as we touched down in Guatemala City.  I prayed to God that I would make it through the night, not knowing what to expect!  I felt the village calling to us from hundreds of miles away.  As we arrived in the village, we were enthusiastically welcomed.

I spent 5 days getting to know and love my host family, and it was the most transformative moment in my life.  I felt things that I didn’t know I could feel and saw things that I did not think could be real because of this trip.  This 11 day trip could put my whole 35 year life in perspective in a way that I never could have imagined.  Guatemala will always hold a special place in my heart and I will never forget the people that I met and came to love while I was there.  I’m hoping for a reunion!

Fr. Emmet and Mike Hutchinson with their host family at a goodbye gathering

By Fr. Emmet Murphy

Scripture reminds us of the “joys of simplicity.”  This was certainly true during our Sister Parish visit to Las Margaritas II, Guatemala.  I came home from a beautiful land and plece where I learned how close God is to his people.  Their joy, acceptance and reliance on the Lord have taught me a great lesson.  I shall always be grateful for having met these brothers and sisters of mine.

You can hear more stories, see great photos and enjoy delicious food at the Sister Parish Fiesta!  Come join us in celebrating our delegates in their return from a successful journey to our sister parish in Guatemala, Las Margaritas II. Saturday, March 31st following the 5:30 PM Mass in the Founders room. 

(L-R): Fr. Emmet Murphy, Jim Mong, Christina Freitag and Mike Hutchinson

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Lent Week 5: Transportation

By Sheila Read

“Our present crises – be they economic, food-related, environmental or social – are ultimately also moral crises, and all of them are interrelated. They require us to rethink the path which we are travelling together.” ~Pope Benedict XVI

During June of 2007, I tried to give up driving for a month. I lasted 14 days before I gave in and drove the car to an appointment. It was 97 degrees out, and I didn’t want to arrive drenched in sweat.

The experiment taught me many things, including how difficult it is to go without driving while living in the suburbs. I worked about four miles from home at the time and was able to ride my bike to work. But riding in summer over hills on roads without adequate room for bicycles is hot, tiring and dangerous.

I wanted to cut down on driving to reduce my carbon footprint. Along with the energy used to heat and cool homes, cars are a top producer of carbon emissions. They also contribute to air pollution, most noticeably in the summer, when car exhaust contributes to low-level ozone that degrades air quality.

Driving may the most difficult area of life to change for many Americans because of how our cities, residential areas, and shopping areas have been designed around use of the car. Even when we desire to drive less, life circumstances can make it difficult to put that into practice, especially when jobs or family members are further from home than we’d like. For example, I currently have a 26-mile commute.

Catholic Social Teaching

Changing our transportation habits will require major changes at a personal as well as structural level. The Catholic Church in recent decades has been more vocal in calling for people to make sacrifices to safeguard God’s creation for future generations. In 1990, Pope John Paul II said, “Modern society will find no solution to the ecological problem unless it takes a serious look at its life style. In many parts of the world, society is given to instant gratification and consumerism while remaining indifferent to the damage which these cause.”

The U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops also has called for Catholics to take responsibility for our choices and lifestyles. In the pastoral reflection Renewing the Earth, the bishops wrote: “… We invite Catholics and men and women of good will in every walk of life to consider with us the moral issues raised by the environmental crisis…. These are matters of powerful urgency and major consequence. They constitute an exceptional call to conversion.”

Pope Benedict XVI has also been calling Catholics, particularly in wealthy nations, to change lifestyles to ones that are more sustainable. Under his leadership, the Vatican is following what Benedict has been preaching on reducing energy use, installing solar panels on the Vatican’s audience hall and setting a goal to get 20 percent of energy from renewable sources by 2020. Last summer it was widely reported that the Vatican was looking at hybrid electric cars that could be modified for the next Popemobile.

Reducing Driving

Although we live in a car-based culture, there still are steps we can take to reduce driving. It wasn’t until I tried the experiment in giving up driving that I realized how many of my car trips were based on instant gratification. The idea of ice cream would pop into my head, and I would drive five miles round trip to get it.

It’s possible to avoid these kinds of unnecessary, spur-of-the-moment trips by better planning and more thoughtfulness about use of the car. But more significant, long-term changes to make our lives less dependent on cars will likely require public policies that promote public transportation and urban designs that make cities and residential areas more walkable.

Taking Action:

Lent 4.5 offers many tips for decreasing carbon emissions related to transportation, including the following:

• Before driving, ask yourself if the trip is necessary.  Can you combine errands or walk or bike? 40 percent of urban travel occurs within 2 miles of home, with 90 percent of those trips by car.
• Reduce travel by airplane. Two cross-country flights emit 2,000 pounds of CO2 per passenger.
• Start a neighborhood car pool to take kids to school. Consider car pooling to work.
• Avoid idling while waiting to pick up kids. Americans use 2.9 billion gallons of gas each year while idling.
• Consider making your next car purchase a fuel-efficient hybrid or electric car.

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Called Forth From the Tomb

 

Today’s Gospel account of Jesus, Mary, Martha, and Lazarus can be a difficult one to hear, as it spans the whole breadth of human emotion: From the mourning that comes from the loss of a loved one, to the frustration of feeling that something – anything – else could have been done, to the joy of a new reality emerging from the life-giving presence of Christ. It is good for us to ponder these realities, to be prepared to face them when they arrive, and the office of Care and Wellness Ministry here at St. Francis of As- sisi offers many opportunities to do so?

But focusing only on what happens outside of the tomb can obscure another reality pointed out by the Gospel account: that each of us will find ourselves on the other side of the stone; either figuratively or literally. I will not dwell much upon the literal, as I have little experience there. However, as pas- toral staff, we often hear and are invited to share in the strug- gles and challenges of those in our community. These stories invite me to consider how in my own life, I have been stuck in “tombs” of various kinds. Whether brought about by my own sin, or that of another, I can feel trapped – or trap myself – in habits, desires, self-deception, and pride. These can cut me off from living a life of wholeness from my sisters and brothers in Christ. In these times, I find that all too often I scramble against the stone, seeking that edge or crack where I might find a grip or way to shove wide the door, a fight that I cannot win alone.

Christ calls us forth from these tombs, and bids our brothers and sisters to loose the funeral wrappings that bind us. As we prepare for the easter season, I invite you to explore the Family Life communities of fellowship and faith formation that provide opportunities for meeting with other brothers and sisters in Christ. You can learn more at http://bit.ly/SFAFamLife, or give me a call at 919-847-8205×244. 

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Parish Ministry Recognized by Passage Home

Peg Cavender and Jeanne Tedrow

Parish ministry leader Peg Cavender gave a presentation and accepted an award on behalf of The Catholic Community of St. Francis of Assisi this past Wednesday.  The event was the annual 3C’s Breakfast sponsored by Passage Home—a time to honor congregations, corporations and community partners.  The parish was the recipient of the “Faith in Action” award.

Peg leads the way in mobilizing the time, talent and treasure of this parish community in meeting the needs and requests of the people served by Passage Home.  She is a consistent “go to” person.  Her reliability and ability to muster up resources help make this parish community a great collaborative partner for this organization.

Under Peg’s leadership, the parish provided gifts of clothing, toys and others essentials for 60 families this past December through the Advent Giving Tree.  There was recently a toiletries drive to serve the homeless.  Coming up is the annual Easter Egg Hunt, where the parish will help provide food and other supplies for this event.

Also recognized as an important partner is the St. Francis Feeds Ministry, led by parishioner Donna Mariani.  On the third Sunday of each month, parishioners serve a spaghetti dinner to residents in southeast Raleigh at Passage Home’s Safety Club.  Between 80-180 people are served at each meal.

Jeanne Tedrow, parishioner and co-founder, leads this organization as Executive Director serving over 1,000 people annually through its many diverse programs.  Highlights include a prison re-entry program, neighborhood revitalization projects, substance abuse recovery, and youth development initiatives over the 21-year history of this organization.

Jeanne Tedrow

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“You Get More Than You Give.”

by Frank Lesko, Coordinator of Justice and Peace

“You get more out of it than you give.”

This is one of the most common expressions we hear from ministry leaders and volunteers when they reflect on their outreach work.  People even laugh when they say it, because they know it has become cliché—but that is only because it is so consistently true.

We hear this echoed whether folks are delivering brown bag lunches to low-income seniors in Durham, transporting migrant workers to Mass on Sundays at Our Lady of the Rosary parish or spending a week serving the hungry and homeless in Philadelphia at St. Francis Inn, just to name a few active ministries at this parish.

The readings this week beckon us to look for wisdom in places where society is least likely to look.  David was the unlikely heir to the throne.  In his day, the firstborn symbolized a family’s inheritance.  Having seven older brothers, David was the furthest removed.  David was even left to care for the sheep while his older brothers were invited to an assembly gathered to select the new king.  No one thought that David had any chance at all, yet he was the one selected.  Society invested more in the eldest; God gave the kingdom to the youngest.

The man born blind in today’s Gospel was a beggar and poorly regarded by society.  It was thought that physical illness was a sign of God’s disfavor, so people were wary of him.  Yet, he was able to see Jesus as the Son of Man most clearly.   The religious establishment of the day could not acknowledge that, since Jesus did not come by the parameters their tradition had laid out, despite evidence that something amazing and miraculous had happened.  The man born blind was thrown out for attempting to “teach” the teachers.

God’s Kingdom works differently than our earthly ones.  Scripture and Tradition consistently attest that it is the poor, the eclipsed, the throw-away people who see Jesus first and who lead us to God.  As Paul reminds, “try to learn what is pleasing to the Lord.”  In light of the other readings today, Paul seems to suggest that what is pleasing to the Lord is not always what pleases society, so it will take some effort on our part to discover this.  We must take the time to look closely and not judge from appearance, as the Lord told Samuel in the first reading.

It is not at all surprising that when we attempt to live out our baptismal call to ministry, that the tables are turned and we find ourselves just as much the receivers as the givers.

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Lent Week 4: Energy

Photo credit: Kasper Bennedsen

By Sheila Read

“The environment must be seen as God’s gift to all people, and the use we make of it entails a shared responsibility for all humanity, especially the poor and future generations.” ~ Pope Benedict XVI

My grandfather was an engineer who eventually founded a successful construction company. But despite his wealth, he could not tolerate waste of money or resources. He came of age during the Great Depression, and the hardship marked him for life. Waste of electricity particularly bothered him, and he often chided his grandchildren for leaving lights on when leaving a room or keeping the refrigerator door open while deciding what to eat.

It wasn’t until much later, when I began to learn about global warming, that I realized Grandpa had a point. He was concerned about wasting money with thoughtless use of electricity. But we were also wasting resources, paying a power plant to burn coal or oil or natural gas that were released as greenhouse gases that trap heat in the atmosphere. And the sad part was that the price paid in money and additional greenhouse gases wasn’t even contributing to improving our lives.

It has been 25 years since global warming first became a major public issue. In the last five years, an overwhelming scientific consensus has emerged that climate change is occurring and that we have a limited window of time to address it before the change becomes irreversible.

Catholic Teaching

Pope Benedict XVI has repeatedly emphasized the need to address consumption-oriented lifestyles that are contributing to degradation of God’s creation, including the phenomenon of climate change. “Can we remain indifferent before the problems associated with such realities as climate change, desertification, the deterioration and loss of productivity in vast agricultural areas, the pollution of rivers and aquifers, the loss of biodiversity… and the growing phenomenon of ‘environmental refugees?’” Pope Benedict asked in his 2010 World Day of Peace message.

In the same message, the Pope called for lifestyle changes to ensure the sustainability of energy use for future generations. “This means that technologically advanced societies must be prepared to encourage more sober lifestyles, while reducing their energy consumption and improving its efficiency,” the Pope said. “At the same time there is a need to encourage research into, and utilization of, forms of energy with lower impact on the environment.”

On Nov. 27, 2011, the day before the opening of international climate talks in Durban, South Africa, Benedict called for “a responsible, credible and supportive response to this worrying and complex phenomenon, taking into account the needs of the poorest populations and of the generations to come.”

Pope Benedict has also been leading by example. Under his leadership, the Vatican in 2007 because the first carbon-neutral state in Europe. It aims to get 20 percent of its power from renewable energy sources by 2020. The Vatican also installed 2,400 solar panels on the roof of its audience hall, saving an estimated 225 tons of carbon dioxide emissions annually.

The U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops also is promoting prudent action on global warming, founded on core values of Catholic Social Teaching that include stewardship of the Earth, concern for the common good, and special concern for the poor.

“In the case of global climate change, we know enough to understand that scientific arguments for action on the reduction of greenhouse gases cannot be easily dismissed,” the USCCB said. We have a duty to act, the bishops say. “Heat waves, droughts, and storms and consequent economic costs will fall most heavily upon the poor. Since the “least of these” are most at risk from the climate change, Christians have a particular duty to address the moral and human implications of climate change,” according to the USCCB.

The conference of bishops, along with the Franciscan Action Network, Catholic Charities and other organizations, sponsors the Catholic Climate Covenant, which asks Catholics to take the St. Francis Pledge to Care for Creation and the Poor. The pledge asks us to pray, learn, assess, act and advocate on behalf of Catholic principles in personal and social decisions on energy use and climate change.

Recent Evidence

Average global temperatures have increased by 1 degree Celsius (1.8 degrees Fahrenheit) since the mid-1950s, the Berkeley Earth Surface Temperature Study confirmed last fall. The decade of 2000-2009 was the warmest decade since recordkeeping began in 1880, a World Resources Institute review of scientific documentation showed. Mountain glaciers are melting and Antarctic ice sheets are shrinking.

Wildfires, extreme droughts, and extreme rainfalls resulting in flooding are becoming more common throughout the world. In the U.S. alone, 2011 had a record 14 weather-related disasters (floods, droughts, wildfires, hurricanes, tornadoes and winter storms) that each cost $1 billion or more in damages, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.

In the absence of effective action by countries worldwide to reduce carbon emissions from burning of fossil fuels, the level of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere is climbing rapidly. Recent statistics showed that worldwide emission of greenhouse gases increased by 6 percent in 2010, the largest single-year increase ever recorded.

The level of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere (392 parts per million) now is higher than that in the worst-case scenario predicted five years ago. In that worst-case projection, scientists predicted a rise in average global temperature of between 4.3 and 11.5 degrees Fahrenheit by the end of the century, with a 7.2 degree Fahrenheit increase the most likely, according to the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change.

Taking Action

How can we reduce our carbon footprint? Lent 4.5 offers tips on reducing energy use at home, including the following:

• Use compact fluorescent light bulbs. They use 25 percent of the energy of traditional incandescents.
• Adjust the thermostat. Heating and cooling accounts for 50-70 percent of home energy costs. For each degree below 68 in winter and above 78 in summer, you save 3-5 percent in energy.
• Reduce the need for water heating through thoughtful use of appliances. Heating water accounts for 13-25 percent of home energy use. Consider shorter washes with the dishwasher, shower, and laundry machines. Ninety percent of laundry loads can be done using cold water.
• Line dry clothes when possible. Dryers are the third largest consumer of energy in homes.
• For more information on what you can do to save energy, click here.
• To calculate your carbon footprint, click here.

More Reading

USCCB: Global Climate Change: A Plea for Dialogue, Prudence and the Common Good

USCCB: Why Does the Church Care About Global Climate Change?

USCCB fact sheet on climate change

 

 

 

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Young Adults on a Mission!

The Diocese of Raleigh Young Adult Mission trip has returned, having served the needs of the Catholic Community of San Juan Pueblo in northern Honduras. Two parishioners from St. Francis of Assisi – Elizabeth Henry and Clare O’Grady – joined with eleven others from parishes around the diocese on the mission trip. The Young Adults departed RDU on March 3^rd, and returned on March 10^th. While there, the young adults participated in construction projects, education projects, and provided medical assistance.

You can read the blog for the trip at http://youngadult-hondurasmission.blogspot.com/, and read the reflections of the young adults who participated in this experience. I encourage you to read the story of their experiences there, and to connect with them as they emerge changed from their experience of serving our brothers and sisters in faith.

To learn more about the St. Francis of Assisi Young Adults Group, visit http://bit.ly/SFAYAC.

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Lent Week 3: Water

Falls Lake at sunrise. Photo Credit: Greg Orcutt

By Sheila Read

“Praised be you, my Lord, through Sister Water, so useful, humble, precious and pure.”
~ St. Francis of Assisi

Water is essential to life.  In the Church, the water of baptism symbolizes the Holy Spirit bringing us to new life in Christ. Yet despite its importance, most Americans take access to clean water for granted.

I lived in North Carolina for several years before I learned where my drinking water came from and the creeks and river into which the runoff from my property drained.  It was not until the drought of 2007-2008 that I began to think about how I used water. As I saw the local waterways dry up and the plants in my garden wither, I began to change habits such as lengthy showers or letting the faucet run while washing dishes.  During the drought, Falls Lake shrunk dramatically, leaving wide beaches and threatening the drinking water supply of 450,000 people in the Raleigh area.

Worldwide, lack of clean water is becoming a growing public health issue. More than 2.4 billion people, or one-third of the global population, live in areas chronically short of water, according to the Pacific Institute. And with a changing global climate, patterns of precipitation are changing, with extreme droughts and heavier rainfalls predicted to become more common.

Church Teaching

Pope Benedict XVI has emphasized that access to clean water is a “universal and inalienable right,” quoting the Compendium of the Social Doctrine of the Church. “Inadequate access to safe drinking water affects the well-being of a huge number of people and is often the cause of disease, suffering, conflicts, poverty and even death,” the Compendium states.

The U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops connects preserving the quality of water with Catholic Social Teaching on care of creation and caring for the poor. “To restore the purity of air and water, to halt the loss of farmland, to sustain ecological diversity in plant and animal life, concerted human action will be needed over many decades,” the bishops wrote in Renewing the Earth. 

Caring for the poor and caring for the Earth are directly related, as it is the most vulnerable among us that suffer the most from environmental degradation because they lack the means to move from areas that are overexploited or contaminated by pollution. “Christian love draws us to serve the weak and vulnerable among us. We are called to feed the hungry, to give drink to the thirsty, to clothe the naked, to shelter the homeless. We are also summoned to restore the land; to provide clean, safe water to drink and unpolluted air to breathe,” according to Renewing the Earth.

Local Water Issues – Quantity and Quality

The Raleigh area is facing increasing challenges in both the quantity and quality of water available, said Bill Holman, director of state policy for Duke University’s Nicholas School for Environmental Solutions. The Southeastern United States has historically been blessed with ample rainfall most years, though it also has been subject to fairly regular periods of drought. The region is in a moderate drought now.

In addition, the dramatic population growth in the Raleigh area in the last 20 to 30 years also places stresses on the local water supply. And if extremes of precipitation indeed become more frequent, North Carolina will be challenged to develop a more robust water storage capacity, Holman said.

“Climate change makes a tough problem tougher because what we expect with climate change is more intense droughts, and when rain comes, more intense storms,” Holman said. “My own experience is we seem to be having a ten-year storm not once every ten years, but two to three times a summer.”

The Falls Lake reservoir also faces problems from pollution, especially from nutrients from fertilizers that wash off lawns and farms and sediment from construction sites. The Neuse River in Eastern Wake County was rated in 2007 as the 8^th most endangered river in the United States. As a rough guide, properties north of Strickland Road drain into Falls Lake, while properties south of Strickland drain into Crabtree Creek and then the Neuse River, Holman said.

St. Francis’ Care of Creation ministry has participated in waterways cleanups of Falls Lake, the Neuse River and Ellerbe Creek.

Taking Action

How can we be more mindful this Lent about respecting God’s gift of water?

• Learn about your water footprint here.
• Learn about reducing stormwater runoff here and here.

Consider abstaining this week from wasting water by:

• Limiting showers to four minutes. A 10-minute shower can use 25 gallons of water.
• Avoiding letting water run during food preparation and dishwashing.
• Fixing leaky faucets and toilets.

Consider adopting practices in your yard to save water and/or avoid runoff of pollutants:

• Avoid or limit use of lawn fertilizers.
• Reduce the amount of lawn in your yard. Replace grass with drought-tolerant native trees, shrubs or perennials.
• Install rain barrels.

For more tips on water conservation, see the City of Raleigh’s Water Conservation Tips.

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