"Let us sing as we go. May our struggles and our concern for this planet never take away the joy of our hope."

Laudato Si' pg. 244

This year marks the 10th anniversary of Pope Francis's groundbreaking encyclical Laudato Si', published on May 24, 2015. As we celebrate Laudato Si' Week 2025, we reflect on a decade of inspiration that has transformed how people of faith understand their relationship with creation.

For the Sisters of Notre Dame de Namur, Laudato Si' Week holds special meaning. Long before Pope Francis articulated "integral ecology," Sister Dorothy Stang, SNDdeN, lived it in the Amazon rainforest. From 1966 until her martyrdom in 2005, she lived out her faith by demonstrating that environmental protection and social justice are inseparable.

Sister Dorothy understood what Pope Francis would later teach: "We are not faced with two separate crises, one environmental and the other social, but rather with one complex crisis which is both social and environmental" ( Laudato Si', pg.139). She experienced the profound interconnectedness that Laudato Si' calls us all to recognize.

In response to Pope Francis's call, the Sisters of Notre Dame de Namur Ohio Province established the Dorothy Stang Initiative for Laudato Si' Action.

The Next Chapter Begins with Us

The past 10 years have seen remarkable growth in Catholic environmental action. Yet challenges remain. As we celebrate this anniversary, we recognize that "the next chapter of Laudato Si' begins with us."

Sister Dorothy's witness teaches us that environmental action flows from spiritual conversion, from recognizing that "everything is interconnected" ( Laudato Si', pg. 240) in God's love. Her final act—reading the Beatitudes to her assassins—reminds us to respond with hope rather than despair.

During Laudato Si' Week 2025, we invite you to join this celebration of hope and action. Whether through prayer, practical choices, or advocacy, each action contributes to healing our common home.

Canticle of the Creatures by St. Francis of Assisi

Most High, all-powerful, good Lord,
Yours are the praises, the glory, and the honor, and all blessing,
To You alone, Most High, do they belong,
and no human is worthy to mention Your name.
Praised be You, my Lord, with all Your creatures,
especially Sir Brother Sun,
Who is the day and through whom You give us light.
And he is beautiful and radiant with great splendor;
and bears a likeness of You, Most High One.
Praised be You, my Lord, through Sister Moon and the stars,
in heaven You formed them clear and precious and beautiful.

Praised be You, my Lord, through Brother Wind,
and through the air, cloudy and serene, and every kind of weather,
through whom You give sustenance to Your creatures.
Praised be You, my Lord, through Sister Water,
who is very useful and humble and precious and chaste.
Praised be You, my Lord, through Brother Fire,
through whom You light the night,
and he is beautiful and playful and robust and strong.

Praised be You, my Lord,
through our Sister Mother Earth,
who sustains and governs us,
and who produces various fruit with colored flowers and herbs.

Praised be You, my Lord,
through those who give pardon for Your love,
and bear infirmity and tribulation.
Blessed are those who endure in peace
for by You, Most High, shall they be crowned.

Praised be You, my Lord, through our Sister Bodily Death,
from whom no one living can escape.
Woe to those who die in mortal sin.
Blessed are those whom death will find in Your most holy will,
for the second death shall do them no harm.
Praise and bless my Lord and give Him thanks
and serve Him with great humility. 

 

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