Across the Archdiocese of Atlanta, two Catholic parishes, Immaculate Heart of Mary (IHM) in North Decatur and Our Lady of the Assumption (OLA) in Brookhaven, are demonstrating how hospitality and stewardship can work hand in hand through a growing commitment to zero-waste events, composting, and responsible resource management.

When we stop ONLY looking at the immediate needs of OUR neighbors or OUR church or even OUR conference and instead look upstream and downstream, and see a more holistic approach to mission and ministry — acts of mercy plus works of justice — we will begin living more fully into the calling of Christ in Matthew 25.

As someone who has studied biomimicry and sought to learn from nature’s patterns, I am continually struck by what ecosystems like the Blake Plateau reveal about resilience. They illustrate that the most enduring systems are built from the bottom-up and develop through cooperation and adaptation.

As this Juneteenth approaches, the word “freedom” will echo across the United States at cookouts and celebrations. Juneteenth has always sat at the crossroads of faith, hope, and lament — a declaration of freedom and emancipation shadowed by the recognition that delay means freedom’s uneven reach. It’s a celebratory note that can ring hollower and hollower with each passing year. You’re likely familiar with the racist institutions (especially here in the South) that denied Black Americans rights long after the Emancipation Proclamation was signed. Not unlike Jim Crow segregation and redlined communities after it, another system continues to overburden Black Southerners today: our energy system.

If I could describe the conference in two words, it would be somber and hopeful. There was a keen awareness of how bleak our current political climate can feel for those passionate about environmental justice, but also an appreciation for the strength and resilience of our communities.