On September 24, Pope Francis addressed Congress during his first trip to the United States. He gave a speech that covered a variety of topics, from the immigration crisis in Europe to his environmental policy. It is no secret that Pope Francis feels strongly about environmental issues as he published an encyclical entitled Laudato Si on May 24, 2015. The encyclical focuses on how the environmental problems of the planet are linked to cycles of poverty across the globe. In his address to Congress, he mentioned Laudato Si and expanded on it. As the nation saw, Pope Francis’ address stirred Congress just as it stirred the nation.

Pope Francis spoke concisely on the topic of environmentalism and made his thoughts on what needs to be done clear. At one point he said,

“Now is the time for courageous actions and strategies, aimed at implementing a culture of care and an integrated approach to combating poverty, restoring dignity to the excluded, and at the same time protecting nature.”

He called for immediate action from the Church as well as from the American public. Many Americans do little to help the environment, and many politicians are still in denial that climate change and the eventual collapse of environmental systems is a real possibility.

Historically, Nerinx has made environmentally conscious choices that take it to the next level of terms of what schools are doing to help the environment. In order to cut back on waste, Nerinx installed dishwashers and switched to reusable silverware and dishes. This step, taken years ago, pushed Nerinx into the beginning of an environmental shift. After that initiative, distribution of plastic bottles declined, to the point where now there are almost none on campus. In fact, when this change was first implemented, many outsiders called the Nerinx community “Communists” for not selling bottled water, according to Physics teacher, Sister Eileen Fuchs. Thankfully, that rather uncreative name calling has not slowed down the school, and through the help of the environmental club, Planet Patrol, Nerinx Hall will continue to move forward and work to help the planet in any way it can.