Marian Helper Fall 2015

M arian H elper • F all 2015 • marian.org 9 scale, it’s Pope Francis. We as Catholics — 1.2 billion worldwide — have the duty to take the lead.” So how do we take the lead? “It means we priests need to start preaching about the environ- ment,” Fr. Chris says. “In my whole life, I have only heard one homily focused on the environment. It means understanding that God intended us to be stewards of his creation, that the land, air, and sea are gifts to us all from a loving God. It means that just because we value human life above the life of other creatures doesn’t mean we are exempt from preserving, protecting, and valuing other creatures. Being pro-life and good stewards of the environment makes us pro-life to the fullest. “It means we Catholics —we Marians and Marian Helpers — need to answer the Holy Father’s challenge to rise above politics with regard to the environment,” Fr. Chris continues. “Many on the left see nature itself as identical with ‘divinity’ — a ‘god’ to be worshipped — and they refuse to see the hand of God in creation. And many on the right ridicule so-called ‘tree-huggers,’ and thus cast-off the notion that human activities are leading to our own self-destruction. Catholicism and environmentalism are not a contradiction in terms. This is what popes throughout the ages have taught, including St. John Paul II and Pope Benedict XVI.” An avid outdoorsman, Fr. Chris said he first drew close to God as a child while hiking, fishing, and hunting with his father in the backwoods of Michigan. (“Have you ever seen the markings of a Ring-necked Pheasant?” he asks. “Something this beautiful was not created by chance.”) “I saw God first in his creation,” Fr. Chris says, “and this was a beautiful preparation for me loving him— his Body, Blood, Soul, and Divinity — fully in the Eucharist.” The Farrells, who have been visiting the Shrine for eight years, say they have followed a similar route to God. “We saw an American Bittern here a couple years ago for the first time,” says Doug, referring to the endangered brown- streaked heron that’s an inhabitant of Kampoosa Bog. Kampoosa, by the way, is the largest, most unspoiled, and envi- ronmentally significant bog in Massachusetts. The Marians have placed their 115-acre portion of the 1,350-acre bog under per- manent conservation restriction. You can see the Shrine’s cross- topped bell tower from its banks. “How can you look at all of this natural beauty and not see God?” says Margaret, who has been following the news of the Holy Father’s environmental initiatives. Doug is still squinting to get a better look at the turtle on the log. “Definitely, it’s a Painted Turtle,” he says. “Incredible.” Visit TheDivineMercy.org/PraisedBe t o read Pope Francis’ encyclical. — Felix Carrol l T he Holy Father will visit the United States from Sept. 22-27. His trip was occasioned by the World Meeting of Families, but he’s got a lot more on his schedule than just that. We will be there! Visit TheDivineMercy.org for our full coverage of the trip. (All times listed are EDT.) Tuesday, Sept. 22 (Washington, D.C.) 4 p.m. — Arrival Wednesday, Sept. 23 (Washington, D.C.) 9:15 a.m. — Meeting with President Obama at the White House 11:30 a.m. — Midday Prayer with bishops 4:15 p.m. — Mass of Canonization of Junipero Serra, Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception Thursday, Sept. 24 (Washington, D.C., New York City) 9:20 a.m. — Address to Joint Session of the U.S. Congress 11:15 a.m. — Visit to St. Patrick in the City and Catholic Charities 6:45 p.m. — Evening Prayer at St. Patrick’s Cathedral Friday, Sept. 25 (New York City) 8:30 a.m. — Address to the United Nations General Assembly 11:30 a.m. — Multi-religious service at 9/11 Memorial and Museum 6 p.m. — Mass at Madison Square Garden Saturday, Sept. 26 (Philadelphia) 10:30 a.m. — Mass at Cathedral Basilica of Sts. Peter and Paul 7:30 p.m. — Visit to the Festival of Families Sunday, Sept. 27 (Philadelphia) 9:15 a.m. — Meeting with bishops 11 a.m. — Visit to Curran-Fromhold Correctional Facility 4 p.m. — Mass for the conclusion of the World Meeting of Families, Benjamin Franklin Parkway 8 p.m. — Departure for Rome Visit worldmeeting2015.org to learn more about the World Meeting of Families. MH Pope Francis Incoming!