Laudato Si

Laudato Si
Laudato Si

What is the message of Laudato Si?

FOR PREP – Grade 4

Watch and listen to how CAFOD, the official aid agency of the Catholic Church in England and Wales and part of Caritas International, explains Laudato Si.

FOR Grade 5 – Yr 9

Watch and listen to how CAFOD, the official aid agency of the Catholic Church in England and Wales and part of Caritas International, explains Laudato Si.

For Yr 10 – Yr 12
Watch and listen to Fr. Robert Barron as he talks about what he thinks is the central message of Laudato Si.


What is Caring for Creation?

Cardinal Peter Turkson, the president of the Pontifical Council for Justice and Peace, explains what caring for creation means within our Catholic Tradition.

How do I show respect for Creation?

Voices from our Catholic Tradition

Pope Francis designated 1 September as the World Day of Prayer for the Care of Creation in the Catholic Church, encouraging all members of the Catholic community to ‘rediscover in our own rich spiritual patrimony the deepest motivations for our concern for the care of creation’.

VOICES is a set of resources created for Stage Three of the Mercy International Reflection Process (MIRP).

VOICES is made up of video interviews with 14 scholars and other experts from USA, Ireland and Australia, who generously gave of their time in April /May 2016 to contribute their insights and experiences to this process

Drawing on the Tradition in Scripture, Theology, Spirituality, Ethics and the writings of Catherine McAuley, these interviews offer an inspiring range of insights to assist all who seek a better understanding of the action of God in our world today, particularly in the light of the challenge to respond to ‘The Cry of the Earth and the Cry of the Poor’.

Interfaith voices

Almost every religion has issued a climate change statement.

Key recent (2014-2015), faith statements on climate change include:

Pray and Act

Join Pope Francis in praying for us all to care for creation.

Website Resource – https://catholicclimatemovement.global/

Pope Francis said: “On climate change, there is a clear, definitive and ineluctable ethical imperative to act.”

If you agree, join the Global Catholic Climate Movement and click below to sign the petition: https://catholicclimatemovement.global/petitionfaqs/

FOR TEACHERS: Caritas

Explore Caritas’ interactive, online Catholic Social Teaching toolkit; the Stewardship of Creation section considers the core elements of this principle through cartoons, videos, photos, quotes and more, including its Scriptural underpinning and the call to “hear the cry of the earth and the poor.” [Laudato Si’ 49]

FOR TEACHERS: Laudato Si Conference

During the Laudato Si’ Online Conference, which happened during Laudato Si’ Week (June 13-17, 2016), prominent speakers from different backgrounds dialogued about the crisis affecting our common home and reflected on the Pope’s Laudato Si’ message on occasion of its first anniversary. Four webinars covered four key sections of the encyclical document.

WEBINAR #1: “What is happening to our Common Home” (Chapter 1)

Expert panelists reflect on Chapter 1 of Laudato Si and the state of scientific knowledge about the environmental crisis and its impacts on the poor.

Panelists:

  • Dr. Marcia McNutt, Editor in Chief of Science Magazine
  • Bishop Marcelo Sánchez Sorondo, Chancellor of the Pontifical Academies of Sciences and Social Sciences
  • Dr. Veerabhadran Ramanathan, Distinguished Professor, Scripps Institution of Oceanography, University of California at San Diego
  • Michel Roy, Secretary General of Caritas Internationalis

Moderator: Patrick Carolan, Executive Director of Franciscan Action Network

WEBINAR #2: “Why is this Happening to our Common Home”

(Chapters 2, 3, 4)

This panel explores the encyclical’s analysis of the causes of the current ecological crisis, the responsibility of humankind, and the invitation to embrace an integral ecology; all the while keeping dialogue with philosophy and human sciences.

Panelists:

  • Fr. Michael Perry, OFM, Minister General of the Order of Franciscans Minor
  • Dr. Mary Evelyn Tucker, Co-Director at the Forum on Religion and Ecology, Yale University
  • Fr. Sean McDonagh, SSC, Eco-theologian
  • Dr. Vincent Miller, Professor at University of Dayton

Moderator: Fr James Martin, Editor at large of America magazine

WEBINAR #3: “What Should We Do For Our Common Home” (Chapter 5)

This chapter addresses the question of what we can and must do. This panel will explore proposals “for dialogue and action which would involve each of us individually no less than international policy”.

Panelists:

  • Jeffrey Sachs, Bestselling Author & Director of UN Sustainable Development Solutions Network
  • Bernd Nilles, Secretary General of CIDSE
  • Carolyn Woo, President of Catholic Relief Services
  • May Boeve, Executive Director of 350.org

Moderator: Tomás Insua, Founding Coordinator of GCCM & Fulbright Scholar at Harvard University

WEBINAR #4: “Interfaith Panel: Ecological Education and Spirituality (Chapter 6)

The final chapter invites everyone to the heart of ecological conversion. The roots of the cultural crisis are deep, and it is not easy to reshape habits and behaviour. Prominent faith leaders will comment on the perspective of their faith traditions about ecological education and spirituality of each faith tradition, and will reflect on the Laudato Si message and the Pope’s contribution.

Panelists:

  • Rabbi Rick Jacobs, President of the Union for Reform Judaism
  • Rev. Kyoichi Sugino, Deputy Secretary General of Religions for Peace
  • Dr. Din Syamsuddin, Leader, Muhammadiyah, Indonesia
  • Dr Bill Vendley, Secretary General of Religions for Peace
  • Rev. Fletcher Harper, Executive Director of GreenFaith

Moderator: Jacqui Remond, Director of Catholic Earthcare Australia & GCCM Steering Committee member.