top of page

EcoPhilly Blog
Search


Will We Let Logging Silence the Song of Our Forests?
"For almost 25 years, the Roadless Area Conservation Rule has protected millions of acres of wild forest from road construction, logging and mining."

Susan Tobia
2 days ago2 min read


COP30: Annual World Meeting on the Climate Crisis
STEWARDS OF OUR EARTH All of God’s Creation Social Justice Committee, Holy Cross Parish, Mt. Airy, December 7, 2025 At the United Nations’ 30th climate summit — COP30 (Council of Parties), held in Brazil from November 10-21 — world leaders from 190+ countries met to discuss action on the climate crisis. “These COPs are an important forum for world leaders to gather annually to advance action to address the global climate crisis, as they have committed to under internationa

Susan Tobia
Dec 73 min read


We Await a New Heaven and a New Earth
STEWARDS OF OUR EARTH All of God’s Creation Social Justice Committee, Holy Cross Parish, Mt. Airy, November 30, 2025 For this Advent, Catholic Climate Covenant* asked a diverse group of 26 U.S. Catholics, of all ages and from all walks of life, to reflect on Romans 8:19: “For creation awaits with eager expectation the revelation of the children of God…” The reflections provide an ecological Advent prayer resource to inspire us in our daily prayers as we anticipate the birth

Susan Tobia
Nov 302 min read


Shutdown is Over but the Hunger Crisis Continues
STEWARDS OF OUR EARTH All of God’s Creation Social Justice Committee, Holy Cross Parish, Mt. Airy, November 23, 2025 Recent legislation has ended the 43-day government shutdown. Resumption of funding includes “the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), the child nutrition programs, and the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) through fiscal year (FY) 2026 (September 30, 2026) in the event that there is another government s

Susan Tobia
Nov 232 min read


Native American Heritage Month
STEWARDS OF OUR EARTH All of God’s Creation Social Justice Committee, Holy Cross Parish, Mt. Airy, November 16, 2025 Native American Heritage month honors the histories, cultures, and contributions of Indigenous people and their ancestors who lived, and continue to live, on the land which is now known as North America. Although there have been proclamations to honor the contributions of Native Americans since 1916, “in 1990 Congress passed and President George H. W. Bush s

Susan Tobia
Nov 162 min read


Who Is My Neighbor?
STEWARDS OF OUR EARTH All of God’s Creation Social Justice Committee, Holy Cross Parish, Mt. Airy, November 9, 2025 The second greatest commandment is to love your neighbor as yourself. We learn from the story of the good Samaritan that we are called not only to love those who are like us or with whom we are comfortable, but all whom God places in our path. People who come to the U.S. without permission face numerous barriers in attempting to secure legal status. Accordin

Susan Tobia
Nov 93 min read


Rollbacks and Exemptions Mean Increased Pollution
STEWARDS OF OUR EARTH All of God’s Creation Social Justice Committee, Holy Cross Parish, Mt. Airy, November 2, 2025 “After years of fierce grassroots advocacy from communities harmed by chemical plants, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) enacted the 2024 HON rule—Hazardous Organic NESHAP (National Emission Standards for Hazardous Air Pollutants)—and projected that it would reduce air pollution-related risks for communities living near these facilities by about 96 per

Susan Tobia
Nov 13 min read


“Give them something to eat.” (Mk 6:37)
STEWARDS OF OUR EARTH All of God’s Creation Social Justice Committee, Holy Cross Parish, Mt. Airy, October 26, 2025 World Food Day is observed globally every year on October 16, marking the founding of the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) in 1945. The day raises awareness about global hunger, food insecurity, and sustainable food systems. It alerts us that hunger is an everyday challenge for many people in our local communities and across the globe. “W

Susan Tobia
Oct 252 min read


October is Respect Life Month
STEWARDS OF OUR EARTH All of God’s Creation Social Justice Committee, Holy Cross Parish, Mt. Airy, October 19, 2025 The Catholic Church proclaims that human life is sacred, and that the dignity of the person is at the core of a moral vision for society. Our belief in the sanctity of human life and the inherent dignity of the human person is the foundation of all the principles of our social teaching. ( Catholic Charities Office for Social Justice ) At the 2025 Warsaw Hum

Susan Tobia
Oct 192 min read


Vote and Encourage Others to Vote on November 4th
STEWARDS OF OUR EARTH All of God’s Creation Social Justice Committee, Holy Cross Parish, Mt. Airy, October 12, 2025 A key Catholic Social Teaching principle is Participation . All people have a right to participate in the economic, political, and cultural life of society. It is a fundamental demand of justice and a requirement for human dignity that all people be assured a minimum level of participation in the community. Conversely, it is wrong for a person or a group to

Susan Tobia
Oct 112 min read


St. Francis of Assisi Feast Day
STEWARDS OF OUR EARTH All of God’s Creation Social Justice Committee, Holy Cross Parish, Mt. Airy, October 5, 2025 This weekend we celebrate the Feast Day of St. Francis of Assisi. The following reflection and artwork are provided by Bill Stigliani, artist and parishioner at Old St. Joseph’s Parish in Philadelphia. Boy in Poverty Gazing in Wonder at Firefly Magic on a Starry Starry Night Pope Francis in his encyclical Laudato Si’: On Care of Our Common Home teaches us the

Susan Tobia
Oct 42 min read


Catholic Social Teaching Principle: Solidarity
STEWARDS OF OUR EARTH All of God’s Creation Social Justice Committee, Holy Cross Parish, Mt. Airy, September 28, 2025 Catholic social teaching proclaims that we are our brothers’ and sisters’ keepers, wherever they live. We are one human family, whatever our national, racial, ethnic, economic, and ideological differences. Solidarity means that “loving our neighbor” has global dimensions in an interdependent world. “We may all be one, but we’re not exactly experiencing the

Susan Tobia
Sep 272 min read


Options for the Poor and Vulnerable
STEWARDS OF OUR EARTH All of God’s Creation Social Justice Committee, Holy Cross Parish, Mt. Airy, September 21, 2025 Catholic teaching...

Emily Houck
Sep 212 min read


Clean Energy in Our Nation, State and City
STEWARDS OF OUR EARTH All of God’s Creation Social Justice Committee, Holy Cross Parish, Mt. Airy, September 14, 2025 “ Sun Day,...

Susan Tobia
Sep 142 min read


Celebrating the Season of Creation
STEWARDS OF OUR EARTH All of God’s Creation Social Justice Committee, Holy Cross Parish, Mt. Airy, September 7, 2025 Pope Leo XIV in...

Susan Tobia
Sep 72 min read


Statement of Most Reverend Nelson J. Pérez on the 10th World Day of Prayer for the Care of Creation
The Universal Church celebrates the 10th World Day of Prayer for the Care of Creation on September 1. That date marks the beginning of the Season of Creation, set aside by the Church until October 4, the feast of Saint Francis of Assisi, to reflect on the goodness of God’s creation and the responsibility for humanity to honor and protect it.
Most Reverend Nelson J. Pérez
Sep 32 min read


AI’s Sustainability and Climate Challenges: A Catholic Response
STEWARDS OF OUR EARTH All of God’s Creation Social Justice Committee, Holy Cross Parish, Mt. Airy, August 31, 2025 “Artificial...

Susan Tobia
Aug 302 min read


August is National Water Quality Month
STEWARDS OF OUR EARTH All of God’s Creation Social Justice Committee, Holy Cross Parish, Mt. Airy, August 24, 2025 “There are easily...

Susan Tobia
Aug 272 min read


Never Again … It’s Up To Us
STEWARDS OF OUR EARTH All of God’s Creation Social Justice Committee, Holy Cross Parish, Mt. Airy, August 17, 2025 “Eighty years ago,...

Susan Tobia
Aug 172 min read


A Healthy Environment is a Human Right
STEWARDS OF OUR EARTH All of God’s Creation Social Justice Committee, Holy Cross Parish, Mt. Airy, August 10, 2025 Last month, “the...

Susan Tobia
Aug 102 min read
bottom of page
