The ram’s horn has been a religious symbol for centuries, but it now has a new meaning for this age and for Saint Francis of Assisi Church of North Carolina. The horn was used as a call to prayer but was also used to call a jubilee, a time to let things rest. Every five years or so in the ancient world, a jubilee was called to let the Earth rest from the hard work of producing food and so much more.
Five years after Pope Francis issued Laudato Si’, a letter asking all of humanity to preserve the Earth, a jubilee year has been called, and a season of creation has been declared. That jubilee is calling us to let the rotting plants and dinosaur carcasses that we call “oil” rest in the ground and be replaced with the healing power of the Sun.
The clarion call of the Pope’s letter has stirred our community of faith to act. The story is a groundswell of people of all faiths coming together yet acting separately on behalf of Mother Earth. The Pope’s letter highlights the need to protect our common home through the union of “the whole human family in search of sustainable and integral development.”
One lifelong environmentalist, then a small group, then a talk with the Community United Church of Christ pastor, then the inspiration of Laudato si’ has led the Roman Catholic Church of Saint Francis in Raleigh to make many environmental changes, crowned by a large solar panel array on Fellowship Hall. The installation produces electricity for part of our church campus.
Larry Petrovick is that lifelong conservationist and a member of St. Francis of Assisi Parish since 1983. In 2008, he had aplan for a solar hot water heater. He called the plan “Greening the Catholic Community of St. Francis of Assisi.” Although that plan did not work out, it planted seeds for water and energy conservation. Since that time, LED lighting, low-flow toilets, and water conserving taps have been installed throughout the campus. Programmable thermostats replaced the old ones. New energy-efficient HVAC systems replaced worn-out units. Soon, energy-certified buildings were being built. The people heard the Earth groaning and responded.
After Laudato si’ cried out for action, Larry knew that solar would “not only save us money, but would help exemplify our parish’s care for creation, our care for present and future generations and impoverished people, who are most affected by the climate emergency as Pope Francis described it.”
Energy begat energy. A small committee joined Larry: Director of Peace and Justice Trevor Thompson, the Director of Operations, the Director of Finance, and three others looked over the project. The Bishop approved the project, and it moved forward at Fellowship Hall.
Eagle Power and Light was chosen to install, maintain, and lease the solar panels back to the church, avoiding upfront costs. The net installation cost was zero after a Duke Energy rebate of $54,000. The monthly lease cost is $376, which includes maintenance. The end of the lease buyout will be $14,000. The net savings to the parish will be $130,807 if the 15-year lease purchase option is exercised.
The environmental awakening may have started on the roof, but it grew in the soil at St Francis. Feeding people in need was a long-term commitment at the parish, and a few good people decided to dedicate a garden to that mission. Vegetables and herbs were planted, harvested, and given to several Raleigh institutions. Eventually, 2,000 pounds of fresh food was distributed from just a few raised beds, although it was not all grown on the property. Members of the parish brought grocery store food to fill up the truck. Kids from the school were inspired to get their hands dirty. The school created its own recycling project. What started as a project became a passion, a project of love for the Earth and its people.
The solar cells at Saint Francis were blessed on the last day of the Season of Creation, October 4th, 2020. More than 60 churches in Wake County have met and are sharing information about the care of the Earth and how it fits into a new theology of ecology.
Pope Francis will again sound the ram’s horn by issuing a new call in a new letter. This new letter will talk again about the care of Earth and the care of each other in the time of a pandemic. The Pope says, “Creation is the fruit of God’s love: His love for each of His creatures and especially for man, to whom He has given the gift of creation, as a place in which we are invited to discover a presence.”
