COLONIE, N.Y. — Just in time for the feast of its patron saint, St. Francis Chapel here has “gone green.”
According to its director, Gerard Lee, OFM, because of a recent agreement with Waste Management Corporation, the trash is now being recycled.
Old Missalettes, wine bottles, beverage containers, office paper and discarded mail are now being responsibly recycled at little extra increase to the present bill for trash removal, he said. “This, added to the previous replacement of all the lighting in the chapel with energy efficient light bulbs makes St. Francis Chapel, in the spirit of our founder, ecologically friendly and respectful of God’s good environment,” he said.
An agreement was made with Waste Management Corporation for the chapel to recycle its trash.
The impetus for this was the friary at nearby Siena College instituting this program and inspiring the individual friars to recycle their personal trash.
“This is something that all Provincial ministries should look into if they do not already recycle,” Gerard said, adding, “It serves as a marvelous example of responsible stewardship of our planet.”
The friars who minister at St. Francis Chapel, in addition to Gerard, are Richard Biasiotto, OFM, Ambrose Donehue, OFM, Gerald Mudd, OFM, and Reginald Reddy, OFM.
Later this year, St. Francis Chapel will be commemorating its 10th anniversary in its current location.