Coming Up: Earth Day and Laudato Si’ Week

Earth Day, which began in 1970, is celebrated around the world.  On this special day, April 22, we celebrate the wonders of our planet, while we mourn the continuing damage to it and recommit ourselves to actions to save and nurture it.  The theme this year is Our Power, Our Planet. 

This year’s Laudato Si’ Week marks the 10^th anniversary of Pope Francis’ encyclical letter calling all Catholics and indeed, all people of good will, to hear and respond to the cries of the earth and the cries of the poor.  The theme for this important week, May 24-31, is Hope and Act with Creation.

As previously announced, all Carmelite ministries and communities in the PCM Province are being asked to submit their Laudato Si’ action plans by no later than Earth Day. 

These plans should include actions that have already been taken along with specific actions that are being planned for 2025 and beyond.  The Province will then put all of the individual action plans together to create one province-wide report.  This will be published and promoted beginning Laudato Si’ Week.

A template for your report can be found on page 3 of the previous (March) newsletter.

All of our Laudato Si’ Action Newsletters can be found here.  There is much in them that might prove helpful to you, as you work on your actions plans.

The Laudato Si’ Action Plan Coordinator, Dennis Kalob, is available for consultation—over the phone, Zoom or, if possible, in-person.  Dennis is eager to help in any way he can as you plan for the future.  When you have completed your action plans, please email them to Dennis: lscoordinator@carmelites.net.

2025: Jubilee Year of Hope and 800^th Anniversary of St. Francis’ Canticle of the Creatures

This is, indeed, a special year.  To mark the 10^th anniversary of Laudato Si’, the 800^th anniversary of St. Francis’ Canticle of the Creatures, and the Jubilee Year of Hope, we offer you the resources below for your personal use or for use in your ministries. 

St. Francis and The Canticle of Creatures.  A short, beautiful film.

 “Catholic Climate Covenant helps U.S. Catholics respond to the Church’s call to care for creation and those most affected by the climate crisis.” They have many resources for you to use for reflection, prayer, learning, teaching, organizing and action on Earth Day, during Laudato Si’ Week, or anytime of year.

Laudato Si’ Movement.  The mission of this global Catholic organization: “To inspire and mobilize the Catholic community to care for our common home and achieve climate and ecological justice, in collaboration with all people of good will.”  They provide a huge library of resources, available in several languages.

Pilgrimages of Hope for Creation: Be a Pilgrim of Hope.  This Jubilee year, Catholic communities are praying “for the grace to encounter Christ in Creation and restore our relationships with God, Creation and one another.” 

Carmelite Spirituality: A Pathway to Integral Ecology by Fr. Rijo Jose, O.Carm.

A Prayer for our Earth

All-powerful God, you are present in the whole universe
and in the smallest of your creatures.
You embrace with your tenderness all that exists.
Pour out upon us the power of your love,
that we may protect life and beauty.
Fill us with peace, that we may live
as brothers and sisters, harming no one.
O God of the poor,
help us to rescue the abandoned and forgotten of this earth,
so precious in your eyes.
Bring healing to our lives,
that we may protect the world and not prey on it,
that we may sow beauty, not pollution and destruction.
Touch the hearts
of those who look only for gain
at the expense of the poor and the earth.
Teach us to discover the worth of each thing,
to be filled with awe and contemplation,
to recognize that we are profoundly united
with every creature
as we journey towards your infinite light.
We thank you for being with us each day.
Encourage us, we pray, in our struggle
for justice, love and peace.

–Pope Francis (from Laudato Si’, 2015