In February 2023, a twenty page guide was released as the result of a collaboration between the scientific and spiritual communities, between the Stockholm Environment Institute and the Dicastery for Promoting Integral Human Development. It sets out essential facts and solutions on key topics, along with advice on how communities can respond.
It is inspired by Pope Francis’ second encyclical, Laudato Si’: On Care for Our Common Home, which explores our ecological crisis and its roots in over-consumption and current models of economic development.
Laudato Si’ Action Platform Launches with Leadership from the Congregation of Sisters of St. Agnes
On the World Day of Prayer for the Poor in 2021, the Vatican’s Dicastery for Promoting Integral Human Development announced the launch of the next phase of the Laudato Si’ Action Platform. The Congregation of Sisters of St. Agnes (CSA) played a key role in its development as a member of the Religious Order working group.
The Laudato Si' Action Platform is a key Vatican initiative to empower the universal Church to achieve total sustainability in the holistic spirit of integral ecology. The human family faces increasing risks of hunger, disease, migration, and conflict due to climate change and environmental degradation, unfortunately, the most vulnerable suffer above all.
The Laudato Si’ Action Platform provides practical tools to address this socio-ecological crisis. Anyone who pledges to be part of the platform can access free resources to evaluate where they stand on the road to sustainability, reflect on the principles of integral ecology, and make a plan to take action.
From 2020-2021, CSA has helped shape both the model and the content for this program. Through deep and sustained conversations with the Dicastery for Promoting Integral Human Development and a global network of partners, the Holy Spirit has created a whole that is greater than the sum of its parts, a shared space for action that offers new momentum to urgently address our socio-ecological crisis.
We invite you and all members of the universal Church to join us and the Vatican on this Laudato Si’ journey.
Find out more at www.laudatosiactionplatform.org
The Congregation of Sisters of St. Agnes is grateful for the call of Pope Francis to Hear the Cry of Earth and the Cry of the Poor.
In light of the growing impact of climate change on the global community, we, the Congregation of Sisters of St. Agnes and the Associate Community USA, honoring our interdependence with all of God’s creation and in a spirit of nonviolence, personally, communally, and collaboratively commit to actions that:
We commit to actions that:
- Flow from a spirituality of integral ecology (Laudato Si’ – Chapter 4) that expresses interconnections among environmental, economic, scientific, social and cultural systems,
- Respect Earth and the interdependence of all life,
- Consume less of Earth’s nonrenewable resources through the six R’s: refuse, reduce, reuse, recycle, repurpose, and restore,
- Educate ourselves and others about the equitable development of renewable, cleaner energy sources in order to
- mitigate the impact of climate change and
- enable the most vulnerable to adapt to climate change
- Promote a low-carbon economy especially in Nicaragua and the USA where we serve,
- Cooperate with governmental and non-governmental organizations that are committed to care for Earth.
This is not a new commitment, but rather a deepening of our community’s recognition of the sacred interdependence of creation and our place in the web of life. This is an opportunity to recommit ourselves to developing and acting out an ecological consciousness both individually and corporately. This renewed commitment is especially critical given the urgent need to address the global climate crisis.
The Vatican’s seven-year Laudato Si’ Action Platform calls the worldwide Catholic community and “all men and women of good will” (LS 3) to publicly engage in the work of transformation through integral ecology.
The Congregation of Sisters of St. Agnes and the Associate Community USA publicly commit to the seven-year process of transformation by strategically engaging the seven goals of the Laudato Si’ Action Platform.
Baseline for Goal 7
November 15, 2021
Encourage the development of cultures and policies that protect our common home and all who share it. Actions include advocacy and campaigns that create a sense of belonging in local communities.
A Few of CSA's Actions So Far
Sisters and Associates advance the mission of CSA and bring their charism into the world in countless ways of outreach, programming, education, advocacy, and activism. They engage in community events like farmers markets, festivals, and fairs to connect with the wider public to celebrate the themes of Laudato Si'. Sisters and associates clean up garbage three times a year along a portion the Prairie Trail, a seven-mile bike and pedestrian path along Highway 151 in Fond du Lac County.
One such event in the Fond du Lac community is CELEBRATE commUNITY. This multicultural fair originated at Marian College, now Marian University, in the early 2000s. Marian University is sponsored by CSA and was founded in 1936. CELEBRATE commUNITY has since grown to become a vast, inclusive celebration of the diversity of the community, honoring the inherent worth and dignity all people and the traditions they share.
Learn more about Celebrate CommUNITY >>
Annually, the Sisters of St. Agnes light a Peace Tree in late November and display it at the motherhouse during the Advent and Christmas seasons. The first Peace Tree lighting was initiated during Desert Storm in 1990. During the month, the Sisters have welcomed the public to join them for a contemplative prayer service. The hour of contemplative prayer asks for peace in our hearts and respect for all people, races, religions, and countries. 2020 was a year of adjustment for the whole world, but this annual tradition has carried on, in various forms, for over 30 years.
Read more about the Peace Tree >>
In light of the growing impact of climate change on the global community, we, the Congregation of Sisters of St. Agnes, honoring our interdependence with all of God's creation and in a spirit of nonviolence, personally and communally renewed and recommitted to care for Earth, home of all living creatures by way of a corporate stance in May 2016. The Care for Earth stance was then affirmed by the Associate Community in November 2020. This stance will continue to guide us in our Laudato Si' journey towards integral ecology.
