As I have written about before, in May of 2015 Pope Francis released his Laudato Si encyclical (tinyurl.com/ReadLaudatoSi). The encyclical addresses climate change, climate injustice, and the care for creation. In the encyclical, Our Holy Father implores us to listen to “both the cry of the earth and the cry of the poor” and toContinue reading “Introducing the Laudato Si Action Platform”
Category Archives: Laudato Si
What is an Ecological Conversion?
Last week I suggested to you that Advent season was a great time to undergo an ecological conversion. So what exactly is an ecological conversion? The Laudato Si’ Movement defines ecological conversion as the “transformation of hearts and minds toward greater love of God, each other, and creation. It is a process of acknowledging ourContinue reading “What is an Ecological Conversion?”
Advent is a Time for an Ecological Conversion
Advent is a time of anticipation, a time to prepare for something better that will be arriving soon. As Christians, Advent is a time to prepare for the anniversary of Christ’s birth into the world. We spend time praying and thinking about what Jesus means to us, atoning for our sins, and undergoing a spiritualContinue reading “Advent is a Time for an Ecological Conversion”
Finding Saint Francis
As part of our vacation in Italy, Suzanna and I spent several days looking for Saint Francis. In his day, Francis was a revolutionary monk who shook up the Catholic church, pushing it to return to its roots, to divest of opulence and excess, live simply, and act more Christian, that is, like Jesus. Francis’Continue reading “Finding Saint Francis”
Celebrating Saint Francis
I am writing this on October 4, the feast day of Saint Francis of Assisi, who incidentally, our amazing Pope and our care for creation ministry are named after. What an amazing example for us to all follow. Pope Francis, in fact, named his wonderful Laudato Si encyclical after the beginning of Saint Francis’s CanticleContinue reading “Celebrating Saint Francis”
Is it a sin if we don’t help to reduce climate change?
Want to be part of St John’s climate change group? Please join us online for the next meeting of the Saint Francis of Assisi ministry on Tues, July 19 at 5:30. Contact us for a Zoom invite. A listener named Laurie from Kentucky, asked Sisters Maxine Kollasch and Shannon Shrine on their Ask Sister podcastContinue reading “Is it a sin if we don’t help to reduce climate change?”
Back to Basics: Reading Laudato Si
I wrote the first Laudato Si in Action article 3 years ago in May of 2019 and to celebrate that milestone as well as Laudato Si week, which is celebrated this year during the week of May 22, I thought I would write this week about the genesis of this column: Pope Francis’ encyclical, LaudatoContinue reading “Back to Basics: Reading Laudato Si”
Experiencing an Ecological Conversion
In Laudato Si, Pope Francis, invites to experience an ecological conversion: We need to experience a conversion, or change of heart…it entails gratitude and gratuitousness, a recognition that the world is God’s loving gift, and that we are called quietly to imitate his generosity in self-sacrifice and good works…It also entails a loving awareness thatContinue reading “Experiencing an Ecological Conversion”
World Water Day
World Water Day was March 22. While most of us living in the US take the availability of clean water and sanitation for granted, this is not true for much of the world’s poor and those living in battle zones. In Chapter one of Laudato Si, Pope Francis wrote: One particularly serious problem is theContinue reading “World Water Day”
How will you prepare for Lent?
We are all familiar with the traditional Catholic practices of praying, fasting, and almsgiving during Lent. We may pray more, pray with different intentions, eat less or give up a favorite food or drink. We give more to our parish and other charities. These are all good practices for the Lenten season, but you mightContinue reading “How will you prepare for Lent?”
Saint Francis of Assisi at St John the Evangelist 