“The environment is God’s gift to everyone, and in our use of it we have a responsibility towards the poor, towards future generations and towards humanity as a whole.”
–Pope Benedict XVI, Caritas in Veritate, nos. 48, 51
Earth Day, April 22, 2026
Each year on Earth Day, we are invited not only to celebrate the beauty of creation, but to renew our sacred responsibility to care for it. We recognize that the work of justice, peace and sustainability is inseparable from our relationship with Earth and with one another. We are called to “bring about peace, justice and sustainability” in right relationship with all of creation.
At the Motherhouse in Monroe, Michigan, we decided in the early 2000s to sustainably renovate rather than rebuild, creating one of the largest eco-conscious renovations of its kind in the Midwest. This project incorporated geothermal heating and cooling, graywater recycling, natural lighting and the reuse of building materials and reduced waste and energy consumption while modeling responsible stewardship.
Beyond the building itself, the land tells its own story of care. Our grounds include constructed wetlands that naturally purify water and divert nearly one million gallons annually from storm systems, as well as preserved green space recognized as a Certified Wildlife Habitat.
Earth Day calls us beyond awareness into action. Here are ways you can advocate for meaningful environmental change:
- Celebrate Earth Day with the Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy (EGLE) here;
- The Sierra Club’s Take Action page offers concrete ways to make a difference, from signing petitions and contacting elected officials to volunteering and supporting campaigns that protect clean air, water and communities;
- Sign the Faiths for a Fossil Free Future Multi-Faith letter as an individual here;
- Join us locally this Saturday, April 25, at the Earth Day Expo at Monroe County Community College, where we are one of the sponsors of the Monroe County Health Department’s annual Earth Day event. This free, family-friendly gathering, held from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Gerald Welch Health Education Building, will feature interactive exhibits, sustainability education, and opportunities to learn how to care for both personal and planetary health.
Did you know?
The first Earth Day in 1970 mobilized 20 million people (about 10% of the U.S. population at the time) and led directly to the creation of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). The EPA was tasked with a clear mission: to protect human health and safeguard the natural world. Since 1970, the EPA has been instrumental in enforcing landmark protections like the Clean Air Act and Clean Water Act, and dramatically reducing pollution, improving air and water quality, and overseeing the cleanup of hazardous waste sites across the country. The legacy of that first Earth Day is a powerful reminder that when people organize, speak out and demand change, they can shape policy and