To mark the Oct. 4 feast day of St. Francis of Assisi, the patron saint of caring for the environment, Pope Francis issued a document encouraging people to care for the Earth, our common home.
For the October Junior Saints, students were invited to draw pictures and write about caring for the environment, with drawings showing God’s creation or drawings showing how people can care for or protect the environment.
Little Flower School, Great Mills, Maryland
“It is important to respect and care for God’s creation. If we are not mindful of how we treat the Earth, it will be destroyed beyond repair. A way to help is to not waste by using reusable items instead of something that you throw away after one use. Another helpful thing you can do is recycle everything you can, buy plant-based and recycled materials. Doing even one of these things will make a difference, even if it’s a small one.” – Taylor Lee, seventh grade, Little Flower School, Great Mills, Maryland
“To me, caring for the environment is something that we as a community should do. It is a gift from God and one of his greatest gifts.” – Lucas Longmore, seventh grade, Little Flower School, Great Mills
“There are so many ways we can do our part to save the Earth. We can pick up trash at beaches and parks, and even at school. If we each do a little each day, it will make a difference. We can order only safely caught fish at restaurants or buy free-range chicken at stores. The world and our home depend on us to do something.” – Kaeli Beyer, seventh grade, Little Flower School, Great Mills
“We need to take care of the environment because it is our home, and we should cherish it. We should not trash it because God only made one Earth. Some things we can do to help save the planet are recycling, reducing waste and saving resources. Doing these things will make an impact and inspire others to help save the Earth. Lastly, we need to spread the word and make changes in our habits to save the Earth.” – Artwork and writing by Daniel Sebring, seventh grade, Little Flower School, Great Mills
“It is important to take care of the environment. I feel we need to take care of the forest, because if trees start to die, our oxygen will decrease, and they are the home to many animals. If we lose the forest, we could lose an animal species which impacts other animals and the environment. A way we could protect the environment is to stop littering and pick up any trash we see. This past weekend, I planted an evergreen tree in the forest behind my house to help our environment.” – Artwork and writing by Shelby Sohl, seventh grade, Little Flower School, Great Mills
“My school and I both think it is important to recycle and save the environment. I also think of recycling as helping save the turtles. It is important to keep the environment clean because God created it, and I love God’s creation.” – Artwork and writing by Reagan Hawkins, sixth grade, Little Flower School, Great Mills
“Taking care of our environment is really important, because it has an effect on people and animals. We can do our part by picking up trash and using paper straws instead of plastic ones. We can also help our world and environment to be safe by recycling all plastic and glass items.” – Artwork and writing by Bruno Campos, eighth grade, Little Flower School, Great Mills
“Caring for the environment is very important. If we do not care for the environment, the Earth will become polluted. Then plants will die, causing the animals to die, and then we will die. But if we care for the Earth, like throwing away any trash in the correct bins, recycling paper and cardboard, and composting, we have a chance. If we care for the environment, we care for ourselves.” – Artwork and writing by Aidan Beyer, seventh grade, Little Flower School, Great Mills
St. Elizabeth School, Rockville, Maryland
“The endearing ladybug provides many things to help our beloved Earth. Those things are natural ways to control pests in the soil. They keep the population of pests at a minimum… In some cultures, ladybugs mean good luck. Therefore, ladybugs are good for us, so we need to protect them!” – Artwork and writing by Isabella DeLucca Escarra, seventh grade, St. Elizabeth School, Rockville, Maryland
“I like to care for the environment by cleaning up litter in the woods. You wouldn’t believe how much trash you can find. Last year when I was in the fifth grade, we did a project on picking up trash, and I found so much in my neighborhood. Picking up trash is good for the environment and good for yourself to calm down or feel more helpful.” – Harper Griffin, sixth grade, St. Elizabeth School, Rockville
“It is very important to care for the environment. Caring for the environment means doing things that will keep the Earth healthy. God made all these creations for us, and we have to protect them. God’s creations, such as forests, rivers, oceans and animals provide us with food we eat, air we breathe and water we use to irrigate our crops. Genesis 2:15 says ‘God took the man and put him in the Garden of Eden to work it and take care of it.’” – Andre Aharonian, sixth grade, St. Elizabeth School, Rockville
“The ocean deserves to be taken care of. We should treat the ocean and all the creatures that live in it how we would treat human beings. We have to remember that the ocean is not just water. There are living things in the ocean…”– Artwork and writing by Eleanor Finnegan, seventh grade, St. Elizabeth School, Rockville
“Since I was old enough to be aware of God’s powerful love and the gorgeous natural world around me, I always had a passionate drive to help any animals that I could. Whenever I am surrounded by God’s creatures, I feel a strong tie to nature, and I experience of few moments of deep faith and inner peace. As Christians, we can learn a lot from our animal friends. They are trusting, loyal, forgiving and completely innocent. Additionally, our pets have fun with us, relax us, and teach us about responsibility. When God created these wonderful animals, I firmly believe that He intended for humans to care for them and keep their environment clean.” – Artwork and writing by Sarah Marie Amjad, seventh grade, St. Elizabeth School, Rockville
“People can help the environment by cleaning up the beaches. By cleaning the beaches, you can save animals who mistake trash for food. People can also help injured animals by bringing them to a vet to get treated or by giving them shelter until they are better. You can spread signs to tell people to save the trees and help by replanting trees. Finally, you can reduce, reuse and recycle. These are ways you can protect the wonderful world God gave us.” – Artwork and writing by Daphne Kaczowka, seventh grade, St. Elizabeth School, Rockville
Artwork by Christina Festekjian, eighth grade, St. Elizabeth School, Rockville
“The environment is so important to us people and to the animals and plants. Since it is so important, it is our job to care for the environment. We can do this by picking up trash, recycling and doing our best not to waste natural resources like water, oil and even air… If humans don’t stop climate change, then our glaciers will melt, limiting our fresh water supply. Global warming can be stopped by lessening pollution.” – Alesandra Velasquez, eighth grade, St. Elizabeth School, Rockville
St. Bartholomew School, Bethesda, Maryland
“My drawing is about the stillness and beauty that God created.” – Sophia Delaney, eighth grade, St. Bartholomew School, Bethesda, Maryland
Artwork by Elena Millan Obregon, fifth grade, St. Bartholomew School, Bethesda
“In the 1890s, the western plains of the U.S. were mainly turned into farmlands and towns. The Industrial Age transformed America’s beauty. The one yarrow flower shows that it is standing as one in an open field where the heartland and dry West mix. Most horses were in our everyday lives, very few were left in the wild. I drew this to show the beauty of this native flower and that for decades to come, it will still be standing tall.” – Artwork and writing by Liam Raeder, seventh grade, St. Bartholomew School, Bethesda
“I enjoy painting landscapes. Here, I painted an ocean with a sunset. I love nature and I don’t like to see the Earth being destroyed. I think everyone needs to work harder to do their part to help save it. This work of art I made reminds me of my family's trip to Greece last summer. I had so much fun, and it was beautiful.” – Artwork and writing by Claire Andonyadis, fifth grade, St. Bartholomew School, Bethesda
St. Patrick’s Catholic School, Rockville, Maryland
Artwork by Aidan Stringer, third grade, St. Patrick’s School, Rockville, Maryland
“I love my home, Earth, because it has a lot of beautiful animals.” –Patrick Keown, third grade, St. Patrick’s School, Rockville
“The Lord gave me a wonderful home (the Earth), so it is my job to protect it by not littering, and by planting trees and remembering not to waste non-renewable natural resources. I love my home on Earth, because it provides everything I need to live.” –Emily Redderson, third grade, St. Patrick’s School, Rockville
Artwork by Ava Woodruff, third grade, St. Patrick's School, Rockville
“I love my home on Earth because I can sleep in it, play in it, and most importantly, because the Lord made it for me.” – Leykun Melaku, third grade, St. Patrick School, Rockville
Artwork by Caroline O’Neil, third grade, St. Patrick’s School, Rockville
“In the beginning, God created the entire universe from every little pebble to galaxies millions of light years in diameter. He made it all perfect, and with awe-inspiring beauty that astounds people to this day. He assigned us humans the job to preserve and protect his dazzling work… Nothing is more important than protecting the beauty of God’s creation.” – Austin Darke, seventh grade, St. Patrick’s School, Rockville
Artwork by Gabby Orellana, seventh grade, St. Patrick’s School, Rockville
Artwork by Auden Lombardo, seventh grade, St. Patrick’s School, Rockville
Artwork by J.J. Stringer, seventh grade, St. Patrick’s School, Rockville
“Earth is the most beautiful place in the solar system. It gives us life and everything with it. If I just take a moment to stare at the ocean, I am in awe. If I take a walk in the woods, I am filled with happiness. Although now, we are polluting the Earth with all our trash… We must try to make an effort at minimizing pollution… Hopefully before I die, I can still take a walk in the woods and take a good look at the ocean.” – Hieu Albright, seventh grade, St. Patrick’s School, Rockville
Artwork by Greta Veith, seventh grade, St. Patrick’s School, Rockville
Artwork by Andrea Figallo, seventh grade, St. Patrick’s School, Rockville
Father Andrew White, S.J. School, Leonardtown, Maryland
Artwork by Cecilia Hinkle, Father Andrew White, S.J. School, Leonardtown, Maryland
“St. Francis really loved nature; he protected and respected nature. He showed us that we can do this, too. We can protect our environment by saving water. A lot of people waste a whole lot of water. One average person uses 40 gallons of water each day. Only 1 percent of the world is freshwater, 85 percent of the world is sea water. We can save water by turning off the water when we brush our teeth and by checking for leaks and sealing them. We can also protect our environment by picking up trash and recycling cans and bottles, and also by reminding our parents that when they come to pick us up, to turn their car off when they are waiting in line. Those are great ways to protect our environment. The environment is important because we live there. That’s why it’s important to keep it safe and clean.” – Tarvon Nolan, Jr., fifth grade, Father Andrew White, S.J. School, Leonardtown
“Another thing that is ruining our environment is pollution. When you drive a car that uses gas, smoke comes into the air and animals start to breathe it. This is very bad for their health. When they breathe it, it goes into their lungs, and this is very bad for them. It is like smoking except the animals aren’t trying to do it. Here is how you can help. When looking for a new car, get an electric one. Both my parents have electric cars, and they don’t harm the environment.” – Juliette Guerre, fifth grade, Father Andrew White, S.J. School, Leonardtown
Artwork by Katherine Dyckman, fifth grade, Father Andrew White, S.J. School, Leonardtown
“Caring for the environment can be done in many ways. One way I would help the environment is by closing off an area of land like an animal sanctuary. The closed area would allow animals to grow and thrive. Many places in the world are covered in trash and garbage and I think we should do something about it!... St. Francis of Assisi befriended animals. I love helping the environment and the animals.” – Poppy Peacock, fifth grade, Father Andrew White, S.J. School, Leonardtown
Artwork by Abbey DeVorse, fifth grade, Father Andrew White, S.J. School, Leonardtown
“One big way to help take care of the environment as a kid is to help by maybe planting trees or other plants that can make a big difference. You could also help by picking up trash in rivers, oceans, lakes, riverbanks and the park. Last year and the year before we had so many people helping to pick up trash and planting trees. We had trash cleanup teams and people from all grades including my grade helping. Everyone does not realize how much of a difference one kid can make. I’m trying to help my school by doing those things to help the environment and you can, too.” – Sophia Cacko, fifth grade, Father Andrew White, S.J. School, Leonardtown
Academy of St. Matthias the Apostle, Lanham, Maryland
Drawing of St. Francis of Assisi, the patron saint of caring for the environment, with ways people can do that today, by Alexis Oye, a sixth grader at the Academy of St. Matthias the Apostle in Lanham
St. Columba School, Oxon Hill, Maryland
“We need to take care of the environment and the animals that live in it, because it is God’s creation.” – Artwork and writing by Lynne Gonzales, sixth grade, St. Columba School, Oxon Hill, Maryland
“Nature is our home. We need to take care of our home.” – Elizabeth Sebastian, sixth grade, St. Columba School, Oxon Hill
Artwork by Briana Umanzor, seventh grade, St. Columba School, Oxon Hill
“We should take care of God’s creation because we only have one Earth.” – Kayi Chau, sixth grade, St. Columba School
“God created the Earth because He loves us. We should take care of the Earth to show our love for Him.” – Artwork and writing by Leena Gonzales, sixth grade, St. Columba School, Oxon Hill
“We humans and Christians have a duty to protect and nurture the Earth as it does for us. But recently we have turned the Earth into our personal landfill, where we can dump our trash with no consequences. This planet was given to us by God, and we should treat it with the respect it deserves.” – Madison Pleta, eighth grade, St. Columba School,
“Let the waves crash… pick up the trash!” – Artwork and writing by Cortland Emerson Brown, seventh grade, St. Columba School, Oxon Hill
“We should care for the environment to protect the great creations that God made for every single one of us.” – Hayleigh Estrella, seventh grade, St. Columba School, Oxon Hill
Artwork by James Wills, seventh grade, St. Columba School, Oxon Hill
St. Mary’s School, Bryantown, Maryland
Artwork by Madison Dent, eighth grade, St. Mary’s School, Bryantown, Maryland
“God created such an amazing place for us to live, we should keep it clean.” – Camille White, sixth grade, St. Mary’s School, Bryantown
Artwork and writing by Everleigh Stoehr, first grade, St. Mary’s School, Bryantown
“I love helping the planet. Some ways I help the planet are by using reusable plastic containers. I also try to conserve water when I can. Another thing that my grandma started is whenever any of her grandkids could talk, they would help her plant a tree in her backyard, and while the tree grew up, she would eat the fruit and replant the seeds. I love how she gave back while still enjoying her backyard.” – Aniston Payne, seventh grade, St. Mary’s School, Bryantown
Artwork by Kensi Kehres, fourth grade, St. Mary’s School, Bryantown
“Sometimes when I pass by some trash, I will pick it up. So you should pick up litter, too. Be a hero and don’t litter.” – Nick Watts, fifth grade, St. Mary’s School, Bryantown
“I am thankful for the Earth and heaven.” – Bradley Smith, second grade, St. Mary’s School, Bryantown
Artwork and writing by Abigail Zarychta, third grade, St. Mary’s School, Bryantown
“I help the environment by going around my neighborhood and picking up trash. My family and I take our golf cart and take a five-gallon bucket and put the trash in that… Dad owns a company where he picks up trash. We added up all of the numbers of pounds of trash in the last year. We picked up 20,000 pounds of trash.” – Harper Lynch, fifth grade, St. Mary’s School, Bryantown
Artwork by Olyvia Felix, eighth grade, St. Mary’s School, Bryantown
St. Thomas More Catholic Academy, Washington, D.C.
“There are many things you can do to care for the environment. For example, recycling, reusing and reducing, conserving energy, planting trees, using eco-friendly products and reducing water usage, along with composting food waste, participating in community clean-ups and maybe just using reusable bags instead of plastic ones. These are all good ways you can care for the environment… St. Francis of Assisi emphasized the importance of living in harmony with nature and caring for God’s creation.” – Artwork and writing by Layla Conyers, eighth grade, St. Thomas More Catholic Academy, Washington, D.C.
Drawing of St. Francis of Assisi by Daniel Uriefe, eighth grade, St. Thomas More Catholic Academy, Washington
“Protecting God’s creation is important because of how it will impact our future. If we don’t take care of it, it will perish and die. If we do take care of it, it will prosper and live on for God’s intention.” – Artwork and writing by Daniel Shuler, eighth grade, St. Thomas More Catholic Academy, Washington
Artwork by Cameron Anthony, eighth grade, St. Thomas More Catholic Academy, Washington
St. Francis International School, Silver Spring, Maryland
Artwork by Andrea Arriolo-Morales, fifth grade, St. Francis International School, Silver Spring, Maryland
Una Morris, fifth grade, St. Francis International School, Silver Spring, Maryland
Danny Vu, fifth grade, St. Francis International School, Silver Spring, Maryland
Jason Arevalo, fifth grade, St. Francis International School, Silver Spring, Maryland
Our Lady Star of the Sea School, Solomons
“Everybody should care about how God made the prettiest of creations, things like flowers, trees, animals and the water. God has given us the world to use, but it is up to us to protect and care for it. Caring for the planet is one way we can care for our neighbors, so we should be thankful for what we have and what we can do.” – Artwork and writing by Jack Bowen, fifth grade, Our Lady Star of the Sea School, Solomons
“Caring for God’s creation is very important, because if we don’t, we will not be able to live. You should love God’s creations such as animals, plants and even people! We can help save his creations by not littering and by keeping animals’ habitats healthy and clean.” – Lily Kreamer, fifth grade, Our Lady Star of the Sea School, Solomons
Artwork by Stella Bailey, sixth grade, Our Lady Star of the Sea School, Solomons
“We can stop dumping trash in oceans. Think of the animals that live in the water.” – Emerson Hughes, fifth grade, Our Lady Star of the Sea School, Solomons
Artwork by Elli Hummer, third grade, Our Lady Star of the Sea School, Solomons
“We can care for the environment by simply focusing on it… By saving endangered species, we can also save entire ecosystems that rely on those animal species… We can save ecosystems by planting trees in deforested areas… There are many ways to save the environment by doing little things.” – Kaleb Wingenter, eighth grade, Our Lady Star of the Sea School, Solomons
Artwork by Noah Gardiner, kindergarten, Our Lady Star of the Sea School, Solomons
St. Mary’s School, Landover Hills, Maryland
“Nature includes a variety of elements that make the planet what it is today. God’s creations are sacred and valuable. All plant and animal life are the world’s treasures. Taking care of the environment is important to keep the Earth safe and clean. It is imperative that the environment be kept clean so that we can live a peaceful life on Earth.” – Artwork and writing by Imanie Mayi, eighth grade, St. Mary’s School, Landover Hills
“I am going to save the Earth from getting polluted.” – Emmanuel Nwugo, first grade, St. Mary’s School, Landover Hills
Artwork showing a girl reminding someone to pick up the trash that they dropped. Drawing by Ivanna Unokesan, first grade, St. Mary’s School, Landover Hills
St. Pius X Regional School, Bowie, Maryland
Artwork by Jonathan Fanelli, seventh grade, St. Pius X Regional School, Bowie, Maryland
“‘You alone are the LORD. You made the heavens, even the highest heavens, and all their starry host, the earth and all that is on it, the seas and all that is in them. You give life to everything, and the multitudes of heaven worship you.’ (Nehemiah 9:6)
“This verse stands out to me, it takes us to the beginning of Earth’s creation. God made Earth beautiful and perfectly, and it is our responsibility and honor to keep it that way. Nature’s future depends on us, and we depend on nature. Nature gives us life so we need to preserve it… People should remember Earth is home. Earth is where we will live for the rest of our lifetime. God gave us all this wonderful Earth, but we have to take care of it. There are no steps too small to help keep the beauty of the Earth. God wants all of us to be the stewards of the Earth, so we should all unite in preserving the Earth’s nature.” – Samuel Banks, seventh grade, St. Pius X Regional School, Bowie
Artwork by Karson Nowlin, eighth grade, St. Pius X Regional School, Bowie
“There are many saints to look up to that cared for the environment. St. Kateri Tekakwitha (1656-1680) was raised in the Iroquois nation, she carefully managed the fields, forests, and wildlife of their homeland. Kateri herself would have intimately known the plants and animals around her, in a way that any botanist or biologist today would envy. For this reason, she is referred to as a ‘child of nature,’ who often went into the woods to make crosses out of sticks and to talk to God. It was in the silence of creation, far from the noise of the village, that she was able to commune with her Creator.
“St. Benedict of Nursia (480-5430) wasn’t an environmentalist in the modern sense, mostly because our damaged relationship with the Earth is a modern problem, but his outlook on life reflects a concern with ecology. Benedict believed that a spiritual person will, along with prayer, work to make the world a better, more harmonious place. The principles by which he lived his life are summarized in a book called the Rule of St. Benedict, and in it he recommends humility, commitment to improving your local neighborhood, and frugality. ‘Frugality should be the rule on all occasions,’ he writes, because taking more than your fair share and then wasting it throws off the ecological balance of both the soul and the environment. Benedict appreciated the beauty of the Earth and its ability to reflect the beauty of heaven, and he took every care to preserve and improve it.
“In 1971, Pope Paul VI labeled environmental degradation to be one of the most pressing problems facing humanity, at least partly linking our care for the environment to our own spiritual health. His words are a clear warning that are, unfortunately, proving to be prophetic: ‘Man is suddenly becoming aware that by an ill-considered exploitation of nature he risks destroying it and becoming in his turn the victim of this degradation.’ “Not only do we eventually become the victims of a destroyed Earth that can no longer sustain us, but there is also an effect on the human soul in the sense that an environment that no longer tolerates our presence creates a spiritual difficulty – we are no longer in harmony with the Earth, and the way we treat our environment is a reflection on how we treat other people. This is why Paul VI identifies damage to the environment as a major human crisis that affects all of us.” – John Tripp-McLane, eighth grade, St. Pius X Regional School, Bowie
Artwork by Hailey Reaves, eighth grade, St. Pius X Regional School, Bowie
Artwork by Anneliese Albright, sixth grade, St. Pius X Regional School, Bowie
“I believe in stewardship of the environment since it is the platform of all creation… One of the reasons God created us is to care and love our environment. God placed us in a position to be responsible over creation. Genesis 2:15 says ‘The Lord God took the man and put him in the Garden of Eden to work it and take care of it.’ It is important to remember that life is precious, we should take care and honor God’s environment as we respect our own bodies.
“We need to recognize that God has created a world in which humans have a special role as stewards of creation. The role includes reducing chemical and noise pollution, cleaning air and purifying water, producing food and medicine, using natural resources, buying local produce and clean energy. We must manage to take care of the environment not for our own benefit but for God’s glory. If we fail to care for the environment, God’s people may suffer from it.
“Nature is the pillar of our health and living a healthy life. It provides us with clean air, water, food, materials and recreation. And if we ignore doing the right thing by caring for the planet, its climate and ecosystems, we underestimate how our communities function, and that will worsen our lives and pose a huge danger to our lifestyles.
“The environment has its fundamental moral, ethical dimensions, and challenges that cannot be minimized. Taking care of the Earth is a requirement of the Catholic faith, as we are called to protect people and the environment, living our faith in relationship with all of God’s creation so that we can enter the golden gates of heaven.” – Abisola Orepitan, sixth grade, St. Pius X Regional School, Bowie
Artwork by Amara Iweanoge, eighth grade, St. Pius X Regional School, Bowie
Our Lady of Victory School, Washington
Artwork by Brady Murphy, seventh grade, Our Lady of Victory School, Washington, D.C.
Artwork by Cillian Donnell, sixth grade, Our Lady of Victory School, Washington
Blessed Sacrament School, Washington
Artwork by Mary Elizabeth Hauck, fifth grade, Blessed Sacrament School, Washington, D.C.
“There are many ways to help save the environment that God made for us. One way you can keep the environment safe is by not littering and by cleaning up if you ever do see any litter. You also should plant trees and plants, because they provide oxygen and fresh air. You can protect animals by not buying things made from endangered species, like ivory or fur. These are just some ways to protect our environment and to respect God because he made this wonderful planet for us.” – Charlotte Sowanick, fifth grade, Blessed Sacrament School, Washington
“People, plants and animals rely on clean air and water to survive and flourish. Pollution can destroy these essential elements for life on Earth and make life difficult. If we do not protect forests and waterways, we can hurt essentials for life, which God created. That is why you should help God’s creation.” – Artwork and writing by Hattie Morrison-Sherrett, fifth grade, Blessed Sacrament School, Washington
“God’s creation is wonderful, but we have to take care of it and use the environment wisely. Without the environment, there would not be any beauty in this world. First of all, polluting hurts the planet. Turtles sometimes get caught in harmful plastic bags, because it looks like jellyfishes to them. Birds get trapped by other trash that was misplaced. Another thing that is damaging our Earth is air pollution. Air pollution can come from cars and equipment for energy. It causes climate change and global warming… Lastly, deforestation also damages our planet. It can cause higher temperatures and less water. We need trees for oxygen as well. We can avoid all of these harmful things that hurt our planet by putting trash where it belongs, stop using gasoline and use electricity, and decreasing the amount of deforestation. That way, we can enjoy God’s creation forever.” – Nafkot Elias, fifth grade, Blessed Sacrament School, Washington
“Many sea creatures are dying because people are throwing trash in the ocean… Also, animals are losing homes and trees are getting cut because of deforestation. We can help by trying to end this by protesting and planting new trees. Caring for our environment is very important for our Earth, and you can help save our world!” – Artwork and writing by Liyu Berhanemeskel, fifth grade, Blessed Sacrament School, Washington
“There are many different ways to protect the environment, and everyone should pitch in. The Washington Nationals baseball team is doing their part to protect the Earth. At their stadium, all the drinks are served in reusable cups that are like souvenirs. Most fans take the cups home and reuse them many times. The Nats’ idea is better for the environment, because there is less garbage left at the stadium and more reusable plastic. At my house, we try to recycle all of our glass bottles, newspapers, cardboard boxes and plastic. We each use a metal water bottle, and try to bring our drinks as often as possible to avoid buying more plastic. In our kitchen, we save all of our compost materials rather than using the garbage disposal. My dad feeds the compost to the worms, then uses it as fertilizer in our garden. We grow zucchini, green beans, peppers, tomatoes and cucumbers… Earth is the home that God made for us. We must do our best to protect it from pollution.” – Weston Milligan, fifth grade, Blessed Sacrament School, Washington
“God created the four seasons and the types of weather and climates in those season. This shows us how beautiful our Earth is… God gave us this wonderful world, and we all should help keep it beautiful.” – Artwork and writing by Sofia Chiedi Faucher, fifth grade, Blessed Sacrament School, Washington
“Everyone should chip in to help keep our world clean so that the next generations can see our world like we see it today. If we do this, then our world might still be beautiful for the next few centuries, and it might even get better.” – Eleanor Coelho, fifth grade, Blessed Sacrament School, Washington
Topic for November Junior Saints
On November 1, we celebrate All Saints Day. For the November Junior Saints, students are invited to draw a picture of their favorite saint and write about what they admire about that saint.
The drawings and writings should be emailed to ZimmermannM@adw.org by Tuesday November 7, 2023 to Mark Zimmermann, the Catholic Standard's editor, and they should include the name, grade and school or parish of the student printed clearly.
Due to time constraints involved with reviewing the volume of submitted work, it is requested that schools or parish religious education programs limit their entries to 10 drawings and 10 writings from their students. The best formats to send are jpegs for artwork and word documents or pdfs for writing, if possible. Thank you!
