This year marks the 10th anniversary of Pope Francis’ landmark encyclical, Laudato Si’ – On Care for Our Common Home. While Pope Francis was certainly not the first pope to focus on environmental issues (for example – Pope Benedict XVI was known as the “Green Pope”), he put more emphasis on care for creation than any of his predecessors. Not only did he take the name of ‘Francis,’ a saint best known for his care for nature and the poor, but he also wrote not one but TWO documents on environmental issues. (Along with Laudato Si’, he also penned the follow up apostolic exhortation Laudate Deum – To All People of Good Will on the Climate Crisis.)
In honor of Laudato Si’, the Archdiocesan Care for Creation Task Force created a program by which Catholic entities – schools, parishes, universities, nonprofits, etc. – could endeavor on a process to become a Laudato Si’ Community. This process – which includes constituent surveys, educational offerings, environmental action, and a facilities assessment – was launched in 2018. To date, over 30 institutions have been named as Laudato Si’ Communities, including over a dozen parishes, several high schools, four religious orders, and one senior care facility. Each of them, accessing the beautiful and powerful teachings of Laudato Si’, have established unique and impactful ways to bring the care of God’s creation into their work, lives, and education.
This year, on Thursday, May 1, at 7:00pm at Archbishop Moeller High School, we will recognize four new Laudato Si’ Communities. Along with Moeller High, we will honor St. Bernard Parish (Spring Grove), the University of Dayton, and Marianist Environmental Education Center. All four of these institutions have made care for creation pillars of their missions and work. For example, UD was the first U.S. Catholic university to divest from fossil fuels and formed a working group to incorporate Laudato Si’ into the classrooms and co-curricular activities, and St. Bernard has organized tours to local facilities and institutions so parishioners can learn more about how they can – as individuals and a parish – better care for the Earth and all of God’s creation.
All are invited to join the celebration at Moeller on 5/2, but – more importantly – we encourage everyone to consider joining in the efforts to protect our environment and all the creatures on our planet. For more information about the Laudato Si’ Communities program, check out the website, or contact Jill Foster.