Pope Francis’ encyclical letter, Laudato Si’ – On Care for Our Common Home and his addition of Care for God’s Creation to Catholic Social Teaching inspire our ministry.
Image: Courtesy of Phyllis Dorrington
Pope Francis opens the encyclical with these words:
“LAUDATO SI’, mi’ Signore” – “Praise be to you, my Lord”. In the words of this beautiful canticle, Saint Francis of Assisi reminds us that our common home is like a sister with whom we share our life and a beautiful mother who opens her arms to embrace us. ‘Praise be to you, my Lord, through our Sister, Mother Earth, who sustains and governs us, and who produces various fruit with colored flowers and herbs’. (LS1)
This sister now cries out to us because of the harm we have inflicted on her by our irresponsible use and abuse of the goods with which God has endowed her. We have come to see ourselves as her lords and masters, entitled to plunder her at will. The violence present in our hearts, wounded by sin, is also reflected in the symptoms of sickness evident in the soil, in the water, in the air and in all forms of life. This is why the earth herself, burdened and laid waste, is among the most abandoned and maltreated of our poor; she “groans in travail” (Rom 8:22). We have forgotten that we ourselves are dust of the earth (cf. Gen 2:7); our very bodies are made up of her elements, we breathe her air and we receive life and refreshment from her waters.
Nothing in this world is indifferent to us.” (LS 2)
In our own lives we have experienced the devastating impact of human caused climate change. “We commit to take action together because it is ‘urgent and necessary.” (LS 57)
Beliefs of Care for Creation Ministry:
- We believe nature expresses the wonder and diversity of God.
- We believe we are an integral part of the natural world and that we depend on it for our physical and spiritual life.
- We believe we must gather as a community to inspire and join hands in service to our earth and to others.
- We believe we must live as “brothers and sisters, harming no one.”
- We believe that God brings “healing to our lives, that we may protect the world and not prey on it, that we may sow beauty, not pollution and destruction.”
- We believe that God will “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.”
- We believe in intergenerational justice. The earth is on loan to us and we must honor the world so we can hand it on to the many generations to follow.
- We believe that the Holy Spirit inspires us in our work for justice, love and peace.
- We work to put these beliefs into action by reducing our greenhouse gas emissions to live sustainably in our common home.
Quotations are from Laudato Si’ A Prayer for Our Earth.
As a ministry we hope to raise awareness, educate, and inspire action. We hope to build a community that cherishes, protects, advocates and acts for our earth.
If you are interested in being part of this ministry please contact the parish office.
Care for Creation Team – Sandi Ashley, Phyllis Dorrington, Barb Keegan
Links to Resources
Saint Mary Catholic Community Actions Guided by the Seven aims of Laudato Si’
Enclyclical Letter Laudato Si’ of the Holy Father Francis on Care for Our Common Home
