The parish greens

Hundreds of families from the Focolare, local parishes and other Christian movements are
minimizing their ecological footprint

The environmental and economic crisis we live in, and the debt accumulating for future generations, is compelling a group of parishes in Milan, Italy, to minimize their ecological footprint. The initiative allows Catholics and Christians of other churches to share their concerns and efforts in safeguarding creation while fostering unity among associations, parishes and churches.

The 1,500 families initially participating in the project belong to the Focolare’s New Families Movement, to local parishes and to other Christian movements.

Greenaccord, a Christian cultural association aimed at spreading sound environmental information through a network of more than 150 environmental journalists worldwide, is organizing the project.

Hundreds of families are being asked to fill out simple questionnaires that will provide a baseline for their lifestyle, energy consumption and commuting. The goal is to make the families not only aware of the impact that their daily decisions have on the environment but also to show what small changes in their lifestyle can accomplish. They are instructed to journal and monitor their progress for 18 months.

After filling out the initial questionnaire, families are trained and introduced to sustainable practices in order to conserve energy and resources. Professional volunteers assist with decisions to maximize energy efficiency, economize transportation practices, reduce waste and increase recycling. Technical assistance to install solar panels, compact fluorescent light bulbs and more is provided via mail, e-mail and telephone.

As part of the activity, participating families share their acquired knowledge and motivation with other members of the parish, archdiocesan organizations and other Christian churches.

The information gathered will help generate awareness of the environmental problem and provide accurate data that can be offered to local governing authorities to influence future policy decisions."