Sponsored by Care For Creation
Part of the SMOS Living Justice Ministries
St. Margaret of Scotland will celebrate the 4th Annual Earth Day Celebration during the weekend of April 26th and 27th. Walk, bike, or roll to mass with family and friends, or join Angela Wildermuth at 9:30am at the intersection of Flora & Klemm for the inaugural group pilgrimage to the 10am mass. The group will walk Flora Place median park stopping to reflect and pray together. When you arrive at the church, the Living Justice Ministry’s Creation Team will greet you near the corner of 39th & Flad with a pin, which you will place on a map of the parish to mark the location where you started your pilgrimage.
The team will cumulate the distance of all pilgrimage participants and report the quantitative impacts from the reduction in vehicle use. In 2024, 111 people of all ages participated resulting in 1,840 miles walked, a reduction of more than 14.6 pounds of CO2 emissions and 389,000 calories burned.
The event, however, is less about calculating impacts than transforming the way we relate with Creation and, by extension, relate with God through Creation. Find the most beautiful path to church, and stop to smell a flower, pet a dog, or greet your neighbor. St. Kateri Pilgrimage prayer cards are available in the back of the sanctuary to help guide your journey with prayer, meditation, and celebration of God’s glorious Creation.
Everyone is encouraged to participate. Even if you drive, just don’t drive as far. Park a little further away than normal, and your participation will be counted.
Please reach out to Aaron Defenbaugh to volunteer: adefenbaugh@gmail.com. A PDF of the Pilgrimage Guide is attached (copies are available in the back of Church).
