Conventual Franciscan Parish in Southern California Installs Solar Panels

Our Lady of Guadalupe Parish and its friary in Hermosa Beach, California

were recently refurbished

After a retrofitting project that saw it use energy more efficiently, Our Lady of Guadalupe Parish in Hermosa Beach, California will now be installing solar panels on its roof. Mohr Power Solar Inc. – the firm set to install the panels – believes that 70 to 80 percent of the church’s energy needs will be met by the solar panels.

Conventual Franciscan friars are part of the Hermosa Beach community

OLG Pastor, Friar Ray Mallett, OFM Conv. and parishioner Mike Parsons have spearheaded the solar panel project. Friar Ray’s Franciscan beliefs stand firmly behind the idea of using solar energy to power the church. Francis of Assisi advocated respect and care for creation. By using the solar panels, OLG Parish will significantly lessen its carbon footprint and thus show respect for the natural world (of which humanity is a part).

Solar panels lessen the impact we have on the environment

In the Archdiocese of Los Angeles, Our Lady of Guadalupe Parish is the first church to install solar panels. It took its inspiration from Vatican City, which began using solar panels two years ago.

(Sources of all related images on webpage and homepage: www.ourladyofguadalupechurch.org and www.wikipedia.org.)