“Living our vocation to be protectors of God’s handiwork is essential to a life of virtue; it is not optional or a secondary aspect of our Christian experience.” (Laudato Si’, 217)

Incarnation Youth Ministry in Queens Village took these words by Pope Francis to heart by cleaning up a local park.

About 15 members of the youth program, part of the Catholic Youth Ministry Initiative, cleaned up the park Nov. 8 by picking up garbage, raking leaves and moving fallen branches.

Even some neighbors got in on the action, stopping by with rakes and shovels and extra garbage bags to aid in the cleanup.

The next step is going to the local community board to help them turn it into a GreenStreets project and get some benches.