Our Mother of Sorrows Catholic Church plans to begin a three-phase process to become energy efficient by installing solar panels this spring.
The congregation hopes to pave the way for other churches and nonprofit organizations to follow in their footsteps and avoid creating carbon ones.
"God has entrusted the gift of creation to us and we are trying to catch up with the gift," said Monsignor Thomas Cahalane, the pastor of the church.
"It's very obvious that solar energy is just out there waiting to be tapped into. We are trying to be good stewards and trying to recognize what we have been given. We have been entrusted with a gift and trying to harness the gift for the good of our community."
Members of the congregation organized a committee devoted to environmentally friendly practices called the Care for Creation Committee in November 2008. The committee put together a master plan of what members wanted to accomplish, performed an audit, conducted research and found the plan was feasible.
"By being part of Care for Creation, we take every aspect of life at the church into our master plan," said architect Hank Krzysik, one of the founders of the committee.
"As we look at future developments, improvements or maintenance that has to go on, there is a bit of the Care for Creation's how to do this sustainably, how to look at not just the immediate needs, but how is this going to serve us in the long term both financially and sustainably."
The church took advantage of rebates for the renewable system available through Tucson Electric Power Co. by using third-party investors so there won't be any upfront cost. Krzysik said in 10 to 13 years the church will take ownership of the system and be able to generate its own free energy.
"First of all, there is a philosophical or theological impetus for us," said parishioner Bob Scala. "Secondly there is a technical impetus for us, and thirdly there is a financial impetus for us."
The church estimates that the first phase will save more than $200,000 in 20 years. The master plan will take seven to 10 years, which includes installing panels on the church school and other buildings.
"Anything we can do to keep our operating costs level and not going up with time means we can keep the place running the way we want it to run," Scala said.
"It will keep the school going the way we want it to go, be able to offer the 70-plus ministries operating in this parish and keep those ministries going … It is going to keep us afloat."
The church also will put the saved money toward outreach programs and charity, said Katie Hirschboeck, one of the original founders of Care for Creation. Hirschboeck also is the chairwoman of the Christian Life Commission at Our Mother of Sorrows and an associate professor of climatology in the laboratory of tree-ring research at the University of Arizona.
Hirschboeck has been appointed an ambassador for the Catholic Climate Covenant, a group comprised of organizations that focus on the environment and social issues.
"We are called from our Scriptures from the beginning of time to care for creations," she said. "This is part of our faith call."
She and Scala have installed solar panels on their own homes and have seen the benefits.
The church held a Solar Opportunity Forum on Feb. 8, which was sponsored by the Roman Catholic Diocese of Tucson and partnered with Pima County Interfaith Council. It attracted 25 other churches and 10 businesses.
"It offers us the opportunity to be a model for other congregations and nonprofits," said Krzysik, the architect. "They can see and learn from the journey and the experience we've gone through, as well as the challenges, the pitfalls and the exciting portions of it."
Members hope to continue the educational efforts.
"It is not a matter of pride, it is a matter of responding to the call," Scala said. "We have been called to leadership, we've got the talent, we have got the firepower and a pastor who has been behind this from the beginning."
Abigail Richardson is a University of Arizona journalism student who is an apprentice at the Star. Contact her at starapprentice@azstarnet .com or 807-7776.
