Knee-deep In A Stream Of Catholic Social Teaching

More than 35 years ago, some friends and I – all of us trout fishermen – journeyed hours from our homes on a regular basis to work together – knee-deep in a stream of Catholic Social Teaching. At the time, we never realized that’s what we were doing.

Our work involved a stream-improvement project on White’s Run in Pendleton County, W.Va. We toiled hours completing just one man-made wing dam – a structure that would enable that little jewel of an eastern freestone stream to form a pool that would provide improved habitat for native brook trout.

Multiple work-weekends spanning multiple years enabled us, ultimately, to create substantial new habitat for those brookies. One of my life’s most vivid memories involves catching an eight-inch native brookie, on a dry fly I tied, from a pool of water I helped create.

For years even before that moment – and ever since – finding myself knee-deep in any trout stream has left me feeling closer to God than anything else I’ve done in the outdoors. Jaded, cynical readers might conclude I got a big thrill out of just making new places to fish.

Not … true.

My joy came from the knowledge that I was part of a group from various backgrounds – and with various faith lives – who connected and grew closer to each other and God through our common interest in caring for His creation, which is one of the seven key themes of Catholic Social Teaching.

We sure didn’t “need” more good trout water in that part of the world.

A mile or so upstream from our work sites, Upper Gulph Run dumps into White’s Run, which eventually feeds Seneca Creek. Upper Gulph, maybe half the size of the stream we improved, boasted way more great fishing spots. As small as it was, it’s the first place I ever saw a native brook trout longer than 12 inches. Note – I just saw it; never so much as hooked it. But I knew where it lived, and I visited that area often.

Seneca Creek is one of the most well known homes of native rainbow trout in the eastern U.S. It is larger than White’s Run and Upper Gulph Run combined, and it provides outstanding fishing holes throughout its course. To the east maybe 25 minutes flows the North Fork of the South Branch of the Potomac River – at that time managed by West Virginia’s Department of Natural Resources as a trophy stream. About the same distance to the west, across the county line in Randolph County, flows the Dry Fork River – home to native brookies, as well as rainbow and brown trout.

There were other streams around, too. But that’s not the point.

Every time I have read, heard or watched some pundit question the propriety of a Pope writing on the environment, I have recalled those workdays on White’s Run. Released less than three months ago, the Holy Father’s encyclical “Laudato Si’” takes its name from St. Francis of Assisi’s “Canticle of Creatures.”

The first line of Laudato Si’ (“Praised be,” which appears multiple times in the canticle) begins, “Praised be You, my Lord, with all Your creatures….”

As you read these words, I’m on my way home from working in the U.S. bishops’ conference Washington, D.C., media center during Pope Francis’ visit to our capital. I hope and pray that the pundits and politicians “get it” after seeing and hearing him in person.