The Ecology and Mary Project at St. Teresa of Avila Roman Catholic Church in Summit, New Jersey: Providing ecological education within the Roman Catholic dogmatic image of Mary as the new Eve at the St. Teresa of Avila Roman Catholic Church in Summit, Ne

To provide a faith-based context for a project of ecological education at the St. Teresa of Avila Roman Catholic Church in Summit, New Jersey, the 2nd century Church dogma identifying Mary as the new Eve was used as a theological foundation. When ecologically re-envisioned, the image of Mary as the new Eve contains themes of redemption, renewal, relationship, and responsibility, and it constitutes a symbol that has the potential to model and inspire ecological awareness. A 13-week program of education, beginning with the celebration of the Feast of the Holy Family, and ending with the Feast of the Annunciation, was initiated through the following method: (1) the publication of Eco-Marian articles in the weekly church bulletin, where ecological responsibility was postulated from the 2nd century Church teaching of the Virgin Mary as the new Eve, the mother of all living; (2) the singing of creation, ecological, social ministry, and Marian hymns and songs during liturgical and non-liturgical church gatherings; (3) an Ecology and Mary lecture; (4) a parish-wide ecological exhibition.;The results of a questionnaire issued to the parishioners upon completion of the project revealed a strong consensus of opinion that ecological issues are moral issues, and that ecological awareness and responsibility are fundamental features of a life committed to faithful discipleship. The project enabled parishioners to recognize that reverence for Mary as the Church's foremost model of faithful discipleship and as mother of all living contains the inherent obligation to demonstrate respect for all life. Ecological awareness, bearing witness to a moral conscience, is the first stage towards the life-long task of learning to practice ecological responsibility.