YOUNGSTOWN — The Diocese of Youngstown has released its “Care for Creation” action plan for parishioners in all six counties.

Diocese officials said the Catholic faith teaches us to respect the environment and care for God’s creation. The action plan is based on the late Pope Francis’ second encyclical “Laudato Si” (2015) and his book, “Laudate Deum” (2023).

Bishop David J. Bonnar has appointed a committee to help the diocese answer this call.

“Represented on the committee are people from sectors of our diocese that daily undertake to live the Gospel in the world — from families, parishes, schools and social service institutions. Together they have researched the ways that our people are already answering the call and the many ways that we can all move forward to promote the care of our common home.”

The committee includes RJ Mangan, director of Peace and Justice, Catholic Charities, Diocese of Youngstown; Christa Capper, coordinator of technology and licensure, Office of Catholic Schools; the Rev. Tom Eisweirth pastor emeritus of Blessed Sacrament Parish, Warren; Rachel Hrbolich, director of Catholic Charities; Margie Hynes, director of the Office of Faith Formation and Lay Ecclesial Ministry; Joan Lawson, chancellor and archivist for the Diocese of Youngstown; Dr. Jacqueline Mumford, principal of St. Paul School, Salem; the Rev. Kevin Peters, pastor of St. Francis of Assisi Parish in Canton and Diocesan Director of Rural Life and Ministry; Dr. Karen Stock, associate professor of business at Walsh University; and Natalie Terry-Haag, mission director for Mercy Health-Youngstown.

The Care for Creation action plan contains seven sections:

• Caring for creation as individuals and families

• Caring for creation as a parish

• Caring for creation as a school

• Caring for creation as a faith formation process

• Caring for creation for health care

• Caring for creation for human services

• Caring for creation as a diocese

Bonnar said in his 2015 encyclical “Laudato Si,” Pope Francis lays out the Gospel call to “ecological conversion,” a way of living sustainably to care for the Earth and its people.

“It is not an easy path to follow, requiring commitment and sacrifice, but it is a journey of great beauty and grace. People of faith praise and honor God through our safekeeping of all creation,” Bonnar wrote in a letter to all parishioners. “What follows are materials to help us make decisions for the common good so that we may live as one in faith, hope and love, and in our response to the continuing call of conversion.”