Denver Catholic

15 DENVER CATHOLIC | AUGUST 8-21, 2015 devotion, enthusiasm from the Clergy, Staff and Parishioners of the Cathedral Basilica of the Immaculate Conception. Deacon Bob FINAN Deacon Rob RINNE Deacon Tim HATHAWAY With great appreciation to Deacon Patrick Whaley Congratulations on Fifteen Years of faithful service. We are so thankful for your service in our community. Parishioners and Staff of Good Shepherd Catholic Parish. With grateful appreciation for the ministry of DEACON JOSEPH BABISH DEACON TIMOTHY UNGER DEACON MARK SALVATO Priests, Staff and Parishioners of Risen Christ Catholic Parish Wish to express our gratitude to our Chaplains Deacon Ron Michieli & Deacon Jay Garland May our Lord watch over them and bless them always. ® Court St. Teresa #980 @ St. Anthony Catholic Church , 326 S. 3rd St., Sterling CO With Court Madonna of the Mountains #2035 @ St. Jude Church, 9405 W. Florida Ave., Lakewood CO T wo local deacons have developed a strategy for implementing° Lau- dato Si', including a study group at Christ on the Mountain Parish in Lakewood. Deacon Jerry Kotas is the president of the Colorado branch of Interfaith Power and Light (IPL). IPL is a national ecolog- ical organization that includes religious leaders from Christianity, Islam and Judaism. Deacon Kotas said there is a natural link between spirituality and ecology, and that he was excited to see Pope Francis explain this in°Laudato Si'. "How he talks about the integrated ecology approach, and how we are really called to see how we are tied to together in all of this, is really powerful.° We as human beings have an interconnection with one another, and with all other species, and with the earth itself. ... It's all gift. We're dust. Our connection is so integral," Deacon Kotas said. Deacon Kotas works with congre- gations to help them become more environmentally conscious. He said several congregations have established "caring for God's creation" teams. "Their work could range from running classes or sessions to working on energy e£ ciency upgrades to renewable energy upgrades," Deacon Kotas said. Deacon Kotas worked on pollution prevention for the Environmental Pro- tection Agency in Washington D.C. before transferring to the U.S. Department of Energy's laboratory in Golden. He has since retired to focus on his diaconate ministry, but continues to talk about environmental issues. Deacon Mike Fletcher heard Deacon Kotas present at a diaconate meeting, and was convicted that he, too, should spread the message of ecological responsibility. "We talk a lot about diŒ erent pro- life° positionings. But if we don't have clean air to breathe, clean water to drink, then we can't have life at all," Deacon Fletcher said. He said he was also thrilled to read the pope's encyclical, particularly when he saw that it was addressed to the entire world. "It's for all of us who share this common home," Deacon Fletcher said. Deacon Fletcher was so moved by the encyclical that he decided to start a study group at his parish, Christ on the Mountain. "It's going to be a large group/small group approach. We'll do some intro- ductory layouts and groundwork at the beginning, then break everyone into small groups to be able to discuss that chapter for the evening," Deacon Fletcher said. "Then we'll ask what we can do to address some of the issues he's raising, both as individuals and larger communities." Deacon Fletcher said that over 60 people have already signed up for the event. He said he thinks the pope's writ- ing style will help the groups have good discussion. "It's not going to be so°heavily°focused on catechism, as on the° encyclical. His writing style is just so readable," Deacon Fletcher said. The°Laudato Si'°discussion group is on Tuesdays from 7 p.m.-8:30 p.m. in Joe Downs Memorial Hall at Christ on the Mountain Parish. The group began on Aug. 4, but Deacon Fletcher has asked that people interested in registering con- tact him, so that he can make sure there is adequate space. He can be reached at deaconmike1@live.com. Deacons embrace Laudato Si' BY MELISSA KEATING 303-715-3123 | melissa.keating@archden.org www.twitter.com/mkeats42 DEACON KEVIN LEINER PHOTO BY DOLLAR PHOTO CLUB

• Cover