HIGHLAND — Dedicated St. Paul parishioners took their cue from Pope Francis' encyclical Laudato Si' by doing their part earlier this month to be more sensitive to the condition of the Earth and the environment.

With the encouragement and approval of the church's property committee and the pastor, Father Pat Jakel, a group of parishioners planted 18 trees on Nov. 14 in an open field that was the former site of St. Joseph's Hospital. With no definite or immediate plans for the site, parishioners decided some landscaping would beautify the location while still leaving it open for future development.

Pope Francis in his recent encyclical on the environment Laudato Si calls on all Christians to be more sensitive to the needs of the common home and to nurture nature and to provide for a sustainable future.

In humble response to the encyclical, St. Paul's property committee planted one plum to match the current plum tree on the northwest corner of the lot, four skyline locust, six autumn blaze maples, five legacy sugar maples and two tulip/poplar trees on the Poplar Street side of the lot.

Parishioners say it will provide an open natural playground area for St. Paul's grade school children, as well as a reflective area for those nearby residents who wish to take a walk and relax and pray.

It will also provide a parking area for the annual parish picnic, the Kirchenfest and, most importantly, in a small way support Pope Francis' call for a greener more sustainable lifestyle.