CTK participating in 2025 class of Green Check Lexington!
The CTK Action Team recently got word that the Cathedral would be one of nine entities in Fayette County--and one of two parishes in the Catholic Diocese of Lexington (Holy Spirit Parish Newman Center being the other)—to participate in the 10th class of Green Check Lexington! Successful application to the program was one of the major activities CTK committed to in the Parish Laudato Si' Action Plan in pursuit of three of the Laudato Si’ goals.
The Green Check certification program, initiated as a pilot in 2016, is designed to provide local businesses and organizations of all types and sizes with resources to become more sustainable members of the community. The requirements for successful applicants are a willingness to evaluate current green efforts, identify new strategies with the help of city staff, and implement initiatives to increase sustainability over time.
Stay tuned for updates as CTK takes on this challenge!
Earth Day Walking Tour set for April 26!
Celebrate Earth Day 2025 with a stroll through beautiful Calvary Cemetery beginning at 10 a.m. on Saturday, April 26. Sponsored by the Diocesan Laudato Si' Commission in collaboration with Calvary, the walk will be led by Barry Duncil, certified arborist. CLICK HERE to download and share the event flyer. Have more questions? Contact Fran Borders or Peggy Gabriel.
CTK Laudato Si' Action Team participated in inaugural Diocesan Assembly -- Diocesan Action Plan published January 2025
On November 23, members of the CTK team joined Laudato Si' action groups from across the six Deaneries of the Lexington Diocese for a day of reflection, fellowship, presentations, prayerful songs, and, for the CTK team, a first chance to read and talk about the action plans developed by the other parishes in the Fayette Deanery. The assembly offered all of the teams a unique opportunity to share the joys and challenges.of the planning process; explore opportunities for future collaboration; and learn about potential assistance from the Diocese in implementing plan features.
Josh Van Cleef, director of the Diocesan Office of Peace & Justice and lead for the day's events, announced that each of the 59 parishes in the Lexington Diocese had submitted an action plan! Representatives from the six Deaneries participated in a blessing of the plans during the closing prayer for the day.
The Lexington Diocese is offering an Appalachian Immersion Experience through the Laudato Si'' Commission. The experience brings pilgrims into contact with the people and places of Appalachia who share their lived experiences of natural disaster, social division and disparity, single industry economics, and climate change. The remaining 2025 dates are: October 19-21. Space is limited. CLICK HERE for the announcement flyer.
Anniversary celebration of the launch of Laudato Si' Action Platform
The global community came together via Zoom on Nov. 14, 2024, for the third annual celebration of the launch of the Laudato Si' Action Platform. Highlights included congratulatory messages from notables around the globe, including a very special message from Pope Francis, and testimonies from the Diocese of Lexington's very own Bishop John Stowe and Josh Van Cleef. A recording of the webinar is available at the Platform's YouTube channel. CLICK HERE to learn more about this initiative of the Vatican's Dicastery for Promoting Integral Human Development and how it relates to the local Laudato Si' efforts.
We need your feedback!
CTK Ministry Leaders: You should have received an email with a special survey request for feedback on behalf of your ministry. For each of the seven Laudato Si' goals, the survey asks what practices your ministry is already doing, what your ministry might be able to do, and any concerns you might have. If you did not receive the original request, you can CLICK HERE to respond.
CTK Parishioners at large: If you missed the initial opportunity to respond to the Action Team's parish survey last summer, here's your chance to help us fill in even more of the information gaps! Please share your thoughts about the ways CTK is already practicing the Laudato Si' goals and how our parish might better practice them in the future. CLICK HERE to respond to the CTK parish survey.