Brother Sun Solar Project and Mother Earth Greenhouse Grace Tohatchi
While the little mission of St. Mary in Tohatchi might seem like an unlikely place for the birth of a sustainable Catholic parish;  it actually fits perfectly with the Franciscan presence. St. Francis, the patron of ecology inspires staff members Sr. Pat Bietsch a Franciscan Sister of Oldenburg, Indiana and Pastor Franciscan priest Rev. John Mittelstadt who has served the Navajo mission church for 20 years.

After much planning, and fundraising by the youth with Green Bingos and through donations, solar panels were installed May 1 by a Gallup start-up company, Green Horizons, operated by Jason Jones. The solar kit, which is from Helio Power in California produces 2 Killowatts of power to the rectory and bingo hall.
They savings thus far are enough to convince anyone who might question the viability of solar. Thus far energy savings each month are estimated at about 30%. Some 1,554 pounds of CO2 have been saved since May. The parish averages 7.6kWh of energy production each day with a total yield thus far of 914 kWh. The total hours in use since May 1 is 1,275 hours. The staff estimates that $7 a day is being saved on electricity. In addition to the solar, energy efficiency measures are also incorporated into the rectory building.

This summer, with the help of volunteers a gutted mobile home is being retrofitted with greenhouse plastic side walls and roof to become the growing habitat for food for the community. The little mission with its ongoing efforts adds reality to the Canticle of St. Francis, “Praise be you God…especially Brother Sun…. Praise be you my God through Sister Mother Earth who sustains and governs us…”.

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