The Midwest Franciscan Justice Promoters have released a special calendar for April 2024, titled “Flowing Forward: A Water-Wise Earth Month Calendar.” Developed by Catholic sisters from six congregations spanning Minnesota, Wisconsin and Iowa, this calendar seeks to raise awareness about water conservation, justice and sustainability efforts.
The title “Flowing Forward” embodies the essence of progress and movement towards a more water-conscious future. As our Catholic heritage reminds us, we are in relationship with water, which sustains life throughout the world. With a central focus on water protection, the calendar serves as a timely reminder of the importance of safeguarding our planet’s most precious resource.
In line with Pope Francis’s teachings in “Laudato Si’,” the calendar underscores the universal right to safe drinking water, emphasizing its vital role in sustaining life and ensuring the exercise of other human rights. Through this initiative, the Midwest Franciscan Justice Promoters echo the call for a shared commitment to care for Creation by addressing environmental challenges.
Each day of the calendar has a short message on such diverse topics as bottled water, average length of showers, cruise ship water usage and how much water is required to make a T-shirt, followed by a link for more information, whether a poll, a YouTube video or article. In addition the emphasis on Pope Francis’s encyclical on “Laudato Si’,” the calendar contains a Prayer for Water. To see the calendar, visit Flowing Forward: A Water-Wise Earth Month Calendar.