Learning to be Agents of Change

St. Joseph Catholic Parish School in Athens, Georgia is nurturing a culture of environmental stewardship and inspiring action in their students. In December 2018, the school enrolled in GIPL’s Power Wise program and received an energy audit to learn more about how they could save on energy costs and reduce their carbon footprint on site.  St. Joseph is now part of GIPL’s Energy Efficiency Matching Grant Program and plans to use the funds to replace all of their fluorescent bulbs with LED lights to reduce energy consumption by a projected 53 percent.As a Catholic institution, they believe that the energy efficiency project is one way to support Pope Francis’ encyclical, Laudato Si. Principal Theresa Napoli says that the mission to be good stewards of God’s creation should not be looked at as a chore, but rather as a way to fulfill the obligations of the Catholic faith. Through recycling and composting on site, taking field trips a local water reclamation plant, and incorporating environmental education into lesson plans, teachers at St. Joseph use hands-on activities that relate to student’s lives to create a deeper understanding of environmental issues. Napoli says, “Our students are the future…it is important for them to learn to be agents of change. Often, our students take what they learn here home and create environmentally friendly habits in their families.”In summer 2019, the school, which shared a facility with St. Joseph Parish, replaced existing water fountains for both the parish and the school with bottle refill stations so that students, employees, and parishioners would be encouraged to use refillable water bottles. By making on-site improvements and inspiring students to be active stewards of creation, St. Joseph Catholic School is embracing Pope Francis’ call to make sure the earth stays healthy for generations to come._____________________________________________________________________About the Author:Hannah Shultz is GIPL's Program Associate. brings GIPL programs and workshops to communities of faith across Georgia to inspire faith-based responses to environmental concerns. Hannah manages GIPL’s signature programs, Power Wise and Water Wise, as well as GIPL’s Green Team Coaching program. She works directly with congregations to assist with developing sustainable spaces and practices, launching a Green Team, or taking environmental action in their communities.Ready to take the next step in your eco-faith journey? Contact Hannah at hannah@gipl.org.