Earth Day is annually commemorated on April 22. For Catholic health ministries, this is an opportunity to reignite our commitment to stewardship of the resources entrusted to us and to more deeply consider the role of environmental responsibility in formation, operations, advocacy and community health efforts. For this event, CHA is pleased to provide resources each year, as well as highlight additional sources of inspiration and education on the topic of environmental stewardship and climate change.
Read about the history of Earth Day
An Invitation to Ecological Conversion for U.S. Catholics
The Committees on Domestic Justice and Human Development and International Justice and Peace issued a joint reflection for Lent on ecological conversion. Archbishop Shelton Fabre and Bishop A. Elias Zaidan write, "This Lent is an opportunity for discernment and action. May we quiet our hearts and enter the solitude of the desert, that we might hear the voice of God and listen to the cries of his children around the world whose livelihoods are impacted by our own actions and lifestyles."
Catholic Climate Covenant Earth Day Resource
The 2026 Earth Day program will focus on energy related issues, especially advancing needed action in energy efficiency, clean and renewable energy, electrification, reforestation, and net-zero planning in U.S. Catholic facilities, with special focus on diocesan wide actions.
The one-hour program will seek to answer:
- Why is this an important issue for the U.S. Catholic community?
- Why is this a faithful and just response to the climate crisis?
- How can the U.S. Catholic community best respond to the U.S. retrenchment on climate action?
- How can the NEW and IMPROVED Catholic Energies partner with your community in seeking climate justice and sustainability?
The 2026 Earth Day program will include prayers, readings, a short video, discussion questions, and suggested actions.
Prayer Cards
Earth Day Prayer Card - 2020
CHA wants to help you commemorate Earth Day by offering our 2020 Earth Day prayer card as one that CHA members can customize to include their organization logo along with the CHA logo. Please take advantage of this co-branding opportunity and share cards widely at hospitals, long-term care facilities, clinics as well as employee break areas and chapels. As in years past, the prayer card is also available to those who are not members of CHA, however, those cards are not able to be customized and are shipped as shown. The cards, with or without an added logo are offered with free shipping and come in packs of 50.
Earth Day Prayer Card - 2024
In honor of Earth Day and our continued commitment to caring for our common home, let us pray together using an excerpt from; "A Christian Prayer in Union with Creation," a prayer featured in Pope Francis's Laudato Si. As we cry out with the poor and the earth itself, let us pray with renewal vigor that we would become "channels of God's love for all the creatures of this earth."
Earth Day Prayer Card - 2019
This 5x7 prayer card features Job 12:7-10 on the front and a prayer on the backside. Perfect to share for Earth Day – or at any time where these is the need for an environmental stewardship reflection. It is available electronically and also for order in packs of 50. We hope that you will share them across your organization.
Earth Day Prayer Card - 2018
This 5x7 prayer card features a quote from Pope Francis on the front and a prayer on the backside. Perfect to share for Earth Day – or at any time where these is the need for an environmental stewardship reflection, since it does not reference Earth Day, it is available for order in packs of 50. We hope that you will share them across your organization.
Earth Day Reflection Card - 2017
This 8.5" x 4" card features a quote from Pope Francis on the front side and offers an A to Z listing of things every person can do to help care for creation on the backside.
Earth Day Prayer Card - 2016
This 5.5" x 8.5" prayer card highlights a quote from Pope Francis’ visit to the U.S. as well as a brief prayer on the backside. It is useful as a resource for opening a meeting and something you can share in break rooms and staff gathering areas, it is available for order in hardcopy. Available in Packs of 50 each.
Reflection Videos
CHA's series of short reflections featuring prayers from Sr. Beatrice Hernandez, OSF, Justice, Peace and Integrity of Creation Coordinator for the Wheaton Franciscans can be used in team huddles or meetings to reflect on our relationship with creation.