H.O.M.E. (Honoring Our Mother Earth) -
Ascension and St. Edmund Parish
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The H.O.M.E. (Honoring Our Mother Earth) Team for Creation Care is an action ministry committed to educating, advising, and working to answer the call of Pope Francis outlined in his inspiring encyclical, Laudato Si'. H.O.M.E. engages Ascension and St. Edmund parishioners, along with our wider community, in being loving, responsible stewards of God's gifts.
We typically meet on the fourth Monday (No Meeting in December 2025 - Next on January 26, 2026) of each month at 7:00 PM in Murphy Hall of St. Edmund Campus. All are welcome!
> Learn More about Laudato Si' Action PlatformHistory of our Group
The St. Edmund Green Team, as a subgroup of the Peace and Justice Committee, started in October 2014. St. Edmund was the first Catholic parish in Oak Park to do a comprehensive energy audit. The group advocated for Archdiocese divestment from fossil fuels and filed an annual report to the Human Concerns Commission.
Ascension's Creation Care Ministry was created at the launch of Laudato Si’ in 2015 and functioned under the umbrella of the long-standing and vibrant Ascension Peace and Justice Committee. Over 20 members, led by Gina Orlando, fostered parish support, an impressive Advisory Committee, and many successful and ongoing initiatives. The group is proud to associate with the Interfaith Green Network and won a state award from Faith in Place several years ago for its Green Team Creation Care.
The St. Edmund and Ascension team members have united in their common cause!Current Committees
- Chemical Reduction
- Community Garden
- Education and Publicity
- Environmental Book Club
- Native Garden Prayer
- School Green Club
- Solar
- Zero Waste
For more information, please contact Laura Kelley at [email protected].
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Have An Eco-Christmas
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Our two Parish Creation Care Ministries in Oak Park, H.O.M.E. (Ascension and St. Edmund) and Vine and Branches (St. Catherine of Siena-St. Lucy and St. Giles), offer the following suggestions to make your Holiday Season an Eco-Sustainable Christmas that will minimize its environmental impact through conscious choices in decorations, gifts, and food.
15 IDEAS FOR SUSTAINABLE HOLIDAYS- Purchase ingredients for holiday dishes from local farms.
- Gather up newspaper, old maps, funnies, etc. for wrapping paper.
- Find a sustainable Christmas tree farm near you.
- Set a timer on your Christmas lights.
- Purchase locally crafted Christmas gifts for everyone on your list.
- Make some sweet DIY Christmas decorations.
- Send an e-card instead of a physical one.
- Buy a gift certificate from a local business.
- Get crafty and make some awesome DIY Christmas gifts.
- Donate to an environmental charity in someone’s name.
- Host a virtual gift swap!
- Find out how to recycle your Christmas tree.
- Fill Christmas stockings with delicious holiday treats.
- Break out the Christmas PJs and turn down your thermostat.
- Spike the eggnog with some locally produced bourbon.
PRESENTS- Try making gifts yourself from knitting a scarf to baking a batch of cookies. There are lots of fantastic presents you can DIY.
- Buy presents from shops that make their products in an ethical and sustainable way… just like the Wildlife Trusts’ store.
- Think quality not quantity having a family Secret Santa means you don’t have to buy for everyone and helps to create less waste.
- Avoid non-recyclable wrapping paper by using brown paper and brown paper tape. Better yet, go for a reusable option like a bag or a box.
FOOD- Plan your meals so food doesn’t go to waste. Leftovers can make some of the tastiest meals.
- Shop local! Are there ingredients for your Christmas dinner that you can source from local farms or shops?
- Compost your vegetable waste.
- Try out some veggie and vegan alternatives to cut down on meat and dairy.
DECORATIONS- If you already have a cupboard full of sparkly Christmas decorations, make sure to reuse them.
- Instead of plastic tinsel, try using bunting, pinecones or popcorn tinsel instead.
- Avoid buying Christmas crackers that contain plastic tags. You might want to try making your own using toilet roll tubes instead.
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