“Praise be to you, my Lord, through our Sister, Mother Earth, who sustains and governs us, and who produces various fruit with coloured flowers and herbs.” (Canticle of the Creatures, in Francis of Assisi: Early Documents; quoted in Laudato Si 1.)
Nearly seven years ago, Pope Francis wrote an encyclical titled Laudato Si: On Care for our Common Home. Many have read this letter and appreciate the attention brought to reversing the damage humanity has had on our ravaged planet. In May 2021, the Dicastery for Promoting Integral Human Development officially launched the Laudato Si Action Platform. This initiation is intentional in being relational in nature and action oriented. There are many resources online to assist specific groups including religious communities.
There are seven goals synthesized from Laudato Si to help focus and organize efforts. They are:
Response to the Cry of the Earth.
Response to the Cry of the Poor.
Ecological Economics.
Adoption of Simple Lifestyles.
Ecological Education.
Ecological Spirituality.
Emphasis on Community Involvement and Participatory Action.
While many of these areas are woven into the charism and spirituality of the Precious Blood and are specifically indicated in the Congregation’s Directives for 2019-2023, the Sisters are committed to joining this global action.
So, we will follow the suggested process beginning with a solid period of reflection, and followed by creating and publishing a one-year action plan, with an emphasis on local collaboration. Like any important set of goals, we will evaluate our progress in order to be intentional in creating the next one-year action plan. And we will celebrate our successes!
by Jen Morin-Williamson
Peace, Justice and Ecology Coordinator
As we continue our efforts and set forth our action plan, we are committed to providing others with resources, including this bookmark, created to celebrate Catholic Sisters Week, as well our common care for creation. Download the bookmark here!