This month we celebrate the 6th Anniversary of Laudato Si’, Pope Francis’ encyclical on caring for our earth.
This year the Holy Father has invited all Catholics across the globe to commit to a 7 year process of planning and implementing ways we can be in right relationship with each other and the earth. This program is the Laudato Si’ Action Platform. The Platform has come out of the Dicastery for Integral Human Development at the Vatican. There 7 targeted groups with 7 goals over a 7 year commitment. Your Catholic parish and Catholic school are called to this along with 5 other identified groups. Ask your pastor or principal if they are engaging in this process. In the meantime, I hope you will join me in saying this prayer from Pope Francis during the 6th Anniversary year of Laudato Si’.
Stay active! Stay Engaged!
Common Prayer for the Sixth Anniversary of Laudato Si'
Loving God,
Creator of heaven and Earth and all that is in them,
You created us in your own image and made us stewards of all your creation.
You blessed us with the sun, water, and bountiful land
So that all might be nourished.
Open our minds and touch our hearts,
So that we may attend to your gift of creation.
Help us to be conscious that our common home
Belongs not only to us, but to all of your creatures
and to all future generations,
and that it is our responsibility to preserve it.
May we help each person secure the food
And resources that they need.
Be present to those in need during these trying times,
Especially the poorest and those most at risk of being left behind.
Transform our fear and feelings of isolation
into hope and fraternity so that we may experience
A true conversion of the heart.
Help us to show creative solidarity in addressing
The consequences of this global pandemic,
Make us courageous to embrace the changes
That are needed in search for the common good.
Now more than ever may we feel that we are all
Connected and interdependent,
Enable us to listen and respond
to the cry of the Earth and the cry of the poor.
May the present sufferings be the birth pangs
Of a more fraternal and sustainable world.
We make this prayer through Christ our Lord.
Amen
Teresa Phillips
Director of Office of Justice Peace and Care for Creation
ACTION LIST:
JOIN Fransiscan Action network on discussion on Fratelli Tutti on Governance and Local Politics. Register here.
Celebrate World Refugee Day with Catholic Charities of Southwestern Ohio. Find more info here.
JOIN Generation Equality Forum, June 30 - July 2. Register HERE
Sign a petition asking your congresional members to co-sponsor the REPLANT Act. This bill will help U.S. forests capture 75 million metric tons of carbon, essentially erasing the use of 8.53 billion gallons of gasoline.
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