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






Courier-Journal September 10, 2008
California church's mission goes green

By Sheryl Edelen
sedelen@courier-journal.com
Parishioners at St. William Catholic Church have long considered social justice to be part of their mission.

That's why the 300 families of the California church have launched an effort they believe will help them be more responsible stewards of the Earth's resources.

The church, at 13th and Oak streets, is undertaking a $26,000 project to install solar panels on the southern side of its 107-year-old building. They will convert sunlight into electricity and are expected to lower the church's annual electricity bill about 10 percent.

Tim Darst, a parishioner from the Highlands, said the church began considering the upgrade after an energy audit last year by LG&E uncovered ways to cut waste.

After changing to energy-efficient light bulbs and installing programmable thermostats, church officials decided the panels should be installed, Darst said.

"But it's not about the money for us; it's about mission," he said.

Founded in 1901, St. William operated as both a church and school until the school closed in 1962. Low membership threatened to close the parish in 1969, but it was spared after St. William began to focus on social justice and peace-making.

That focus has continued, and several help organizations got their start in the parish. Over the years, the parish has publicly opposed the Vietnam and Iraq wars and offered sanctuary to Central American refugees in the 1980s.

The parishioners have agreed to raise $13,000 for the solar-panel project, and the rest will come from St. William's coffers, he said. The money will go to Kentucky Interfaith Power & Light, which will be responsible for installing and maintaining the panels. The nonprofit agency, the local branch of a national movement, formed last year to work with faith communities across the state to help the environment by conserving energy.

Sharan Benton, St. William's pastoral administrator, said she was excited about the project.

"We should be doing something to save the Earth and should be investing in whatever ways can do that -- creative ways like these solar panels," she said.

Benton said church improvements being discussed include replacing the parking lot with eco-friendly materials and creating a garden.

She said she doesn't expect the environmental impact to be the only benefit.

"We need to find any way we can to be good stewards of the Earth, ourselves and each other," she said. "And to touch people's lives to deepen their faith in walking that journey as a community."

Reporter Sheryl Edelen can be reached at (502) 582-4621.

Saint William Holds Green Gift Fair to demonstrate Eco-friendly alternatives to the materialism of Christmas

Theresa Butler looks at a cloth bag made by Meredith Mader from a old t-shirt.

Saint William Replaces its bulbs with CFLs

Micheal Whiting of St. William Church replaces incandescent bulbs in the sanctuary of the church with compact flourescent bulbs.

Ceramic cups are used for parishioners wanting a drink. A volunteer washed the cups after Mass.

Parishioner Paul Stoltz built this box to hold our mail so that our heating and airconditioning doesn't escape through our mail slot.