The urgent challenge to protect our common home includes a concern to bring the whole human family together to seek a sustainable and integral development, for we know that things can change. Pope Francis
May 24 is the five-year anniversary of the release of the papal encyclical Laudato Si. In the tradition of St. Francis of Assisi, in Laudato Si Pope Francis expressed deep love for creation, our common home, and called the world into a new global solidarity to protect and renew the environment, with particular concern for the effects of the ecological crisis on the world’s poor. Pope Francis released this video asking us to mark the five-year anniversary by celebrating Laudato Si during the week of May 16-24:
Taking action to protect and preserve creation is a spirituality—an expression of our love for God and all that God has created. The Catholic Climate Covenant, a Stuart Center partner, is offering a number of opportunities for us to show our love for creation.
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Celebrate communally and participate in a webinar on April 29 at 1 pm EDT.
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Participate in Hope for Creation: Submit your prayers, meditations, reflections, essays, stories, statements, art, poems, songs, videos, etc. that lift up our love and hope for God’s great creation, to be used as part of a social media campaign showcasing Catholic climate action from Earth Day through Laudato Si Week. Youth and young adults especially invited!
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For educators: You can find classroom resources, prayers, and toolkits here.
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Legislative Advocacy: Add your voice in support of legislation to reduce carbon emissions. You can sign a letter here.
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Make a personal pledge to leave a lighter footprint: Catholic Climate Covenant offers lots of ideas here (PDF). Or watch this video from the Franciscan Sisters in Clinton, IA.
In Canada, Development and Peace is sponsoring the For Our Common Home Campaign, where you can take a pledge or sign a solidarity letter.