The diocese has begun a series of tree plantings at designated Franciscan parishes for the current Jubilee Year and in response to Pope Francis’ encyclical Laudato Si’ “On Our Care for our Common Home.”
Not only do the parishes get to adorn their campus with beautiful new trees, thanks to a partnership with the organization California Interfaith Power and Light, additional trees are being provided at each blessing to be given to parishioners for free.
On Sept. 27, Bishop Alberto Rojas led the first blessing and planting of a California native Catalina Cherry tree at St. Anthony Church in Riverside. On Oct. 25, he led the second blessing and tree planting at St. Charles Borromeo parish in Bloomington. In addition to blessing and planting of a California native tree by Bishop Rojas, he also blessed the trees that were donated for families to plant at their own homes.
For the third Trees for Francis event at Queen of Angels parish in Riverside, on Nov. 1 Father Beni Leu, S.V.D., pastor, requested that 100 California Native trees be planted on the church campus. Leaders from various parish ministries assisted in the planting of the 100 trees leading up to the blessing ceremony.
Seven other Franciscan Jubilee pilgrimage site churches in the diocese are planting one or more native trees on their campus this year. All are welcome to join one of the tree plantings, please view the schedule in the graphic below.
Also, consider planting a native tree at your own house. October to January tends to be the best time of the year to plant trees in Southern California. Please find a curated list of native trees according to your region, courtesy of the Inland Empire Master Gardeners by clicking here. Native trees are key to the ecology, learn more at calscape.org.