Feb17 - March 31, 2010 - St. Agnes Church participated in the Lent 4.5 Christian Simplicity program developed by the Passionist Earth & Spirit Center.





CARNIVAL RECYCLING PLANS EARN ENVIRONMENTAL RECOGNITION

KY EXCEL Advocate Status Granted for Recycling of Beverage Containers St. Agnes Parish has recently joined the Kentucky Department for Environmental Protection's (DEP) environmental leadership program KY EXCEL as an Environmental Advocate. KY EXCEL stands for "Kentucky Excellence in Environmental Leadership" and is a way of recognizing voluntary efforts statewide to promote environmental improvements. KY EXCEL members can be regulated facilities (like companies) or voluntary advocates (like St. Agnes).

St. Agnes is the first church in Kentucky to earn this recognition for its environmental stewardship efforts. The parish is one of only 11 non-regulated entities in Jefferson County that participate in the KY EXCEL program. There are 74 recognized Environmental Advocates throughout the Commonwealth. On our KY EXCEL program application, we have committed to implementing a formal recycling program for used beverage containers from this year's carnival. The carnival has encouraged recycling at its carnival in years past, so the implementation of a formalized collection program was the next logical step to minimize our environmental impacts. Laura Fitzgerald, Tom Kaelin, and the rest of the Carnival grounds crew have historically handled the logistics of collecting and sending off for recycling these valuable materials, and they have graciously committed to spearhead this operation once again, this year with even more vigor. For this year, we will actively quantify our collection amounts, to serve as a baseline figure against which future years' efforts may be gauged. The decision to apply for KDEP recognition was made as a way to promote recycling and environmental responsibility among carnival attendees and our own volunteers.

Fr. Jack notes that "Caring for creation is emerging as one of the more important moral issues of our time. Our St. Agnes Faith Community is committed to stepping forward and embracing this responsibility through education, decision-making, and action."

Launched by KDEP in 2006, KY EXCEL is a voluntary program open to any individual, organization, community or business to improve and protect Kentucky?s environment above and beyond the state's environmental requirements. To learn more about how your company, your community, or even your household may enroll in the program, visit www.KYEXCEL.ky.gov or call the Division of Compliance Assistance toll-free at 800-926-8111. To learn more about St. Agnes' own application process and project implementation, feel free to contact parishioner Corinne Greenberg at cakes@stagneslouisville.org or 459-8638.