Parish Arks

Our Collective Vision: Envisioning a world where faith and conservation coalesce, the Parish Arks Initiative guides parishes and parishioners to create “mini arks” of faith and biodiversity, drawing inspiration from Noah’s Ark and Mary, the Ark of the New Covenant.

About Us: We are dedicated to fostering a faithful, loving home on Earth for all people and the entirety of God’s creation. Our mission is to promote faith, integral ecology, and the diversity of life.

What Sets Us Apart: We are Catholic professional natural resource managers and educators providing specialized guidance, tailored conservation planning, land protection strategies, and education on integral ecology, biodiversity, and climate resilience within the framework of our Catholic faith.

Our Goals for the Parish Arks Initiative:

1. Renew Catholic faith by deepening connections with God and fostering harmonious relationships with each other and all of creation.
2. Conserve 30% of Catholic parish open land and water for the well-being of people, biodiversity, and climate resilience, through faith, rewilding, restoration, and land conservation.

• Expert advice from Catholic professional natural resource managers.
• Education on biodiversity, climate action, and faith.
• Customized planning for parish conservation projects.
• Strategic land conservation by a faithful Catholic land trust.

🤱🏻 Mary, the Ark of the New Covenant:

The title “Mary, the Ark of the New Covenant” draws parallels between the Ark of the Covenant in the Old Testament and the role of Mary, the Mother of Jesus, in the New Testament. This highlights Mary’s special and unique role in salvation history.

In the Old Testament, the Ark of the Covenant was the sacred container that held the tablets of the Ten Commandments, a jar of manna, and Aaron’s rod. It was considered the dwelling place of God among the Israelites, and it was highly revered. In the New Testament, Mary is seen as a new and even more profound Ark, carrying within her womb Jesus Christ, who is considered the fulfillment of the Old Covenant and the embodiment of God’s presence among humanity. 

The Ark contained the written Word of God (the tablets of the Ten Commandments), while Mary bore the living Word of God, Jesus Christ. Similarly, Mary carried within her womb the divine presence of Jesus, who is fully God and fully human.

🕊️ Noah’s Ark:

The story of Noah’s Ark is found in the Book of Genesis in the Old Testament of the Bible. God commanded Noah to build an ark because of the impending flood that would wipe out sinful humanity. Noah is portrayed as a righteous man who, in obedience to God’s command, builds the ark according to God’s specifications.

Through the ark, God saves Noah, his family, and representatives of all living creatures from the destructive floodwaters. After the flood, God establishes a covenant with Noah, promising never again to destroy the Earth with a flood and providing the rainbow as a sign of this covenant. 🌿🌈

Get Involved: For more information about the Parish Arks Initiative, reach out to us at saintkatericenter@gmail.org. Join us in this transformative journey where faith, conservation, and community converge to create a sustainable and loving home for all. Together, let’s build a future where God’s creation flourishes. 🌍🌿

Your Support is Needed: As a non-profit organization, we are primarily funded by small donations from individuals who share our passion for faith, preservation of biodiversity, and climate resilience. Your contributions directly support education, expert advice, and conservation planning, making a tangible impact on our shared mission.