This Saturday, January 25th, the Franciscan Action Network (FAN) will once again team up with the Chesapeake Climate Action Network (CCAN) and take part in the Polar Bear Plunge at National Harbor just outside of Washington, D.C.
Inspired by youth activists as well as Reverend Barber’s Moral Mondays and Randall Robinson’s often daily anti-apartheid protests, actress and activist Jane Fonda has moved to Washington, D.C. and instituted weekly demonstrations she calls Fire Drill Fridays at the US Capitol to demand that political leaders take action to address the climate emergency we are in.
The Franciscan Action Network (FAN) holds at its core a deep care for creation which stems from our patron, St. Francis of Assisi. FAN sees the interconnectedness of all creation and the common origin of humanity as rooted in God’s loving design for the earth and all people. We believe in the power of building relationships among diverse people while connecting and sharing knowledge of best-practices.
In the nationwide migration to clean and renewable energy, there is great need to implement a just transition that attends to the social dimensions of economic change and to learn from our collective experience when designing policies around best practices. Just Transition forms a major part of the urgent need to transition away from fossil-fuels without leaving behind the poorest and most vulnerable communities.
FAN friend Carolyn Townes is the National Animator of Justice, Peace and Integrity of Creation for the U.S. Secular Franciscan Order. She has developed this resource for the Season of the Care for Creation, which begins September 1st and ends on the Feast of St Francis of Assisi, October 4th.
FAN's executive director, Patrick Carolan and former president, Sr. Margaret Magee, OSF recently co-authored the lead article in this quarter's publication of Franciscan Connections: The Cord titled, Green New Deal: A Franciscan Perspective. The article gives a basic understanding of the high points of the Green New Deal while offering reasoning behind why it is a very Franciscan piece of legislation.
Maryland Catholics Advocate in Annapolis
On Feb. 18th, in Annapolis, Maryland, Catholics from 19 parishes gathered (pictured, top) to march to the State House where they advocated with elected officials in support of the Maryland Clean Energy Jobs Act. Former FAN board member, Fr. Jacek Orzechowski, OFM and FAN intern and Holy Name Province postulant, Michael Specht were a part of the gathering.
Creation-centered activities to ponder and challenge you during Lent.
They did it! The FAN team of Patrick Carolan and Patrilie Hernandez took the plunge and raised over $5,000 for the Franciscan Action Network and the Chesapeake Climate Action Network.
Thank you for your support and prayers--we couldn't have done it without you!
If you needed to see proof of the plunge before donating, here it is! Donations are still being accepted. Click here to donate: https://www.keepwintercold.org/team/FAN
Help FAN Advocate for the Environment in 2019
