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.
Year Two - Midyear Progress
September 08, 2023
We, the Sisters of St. Agnes, embrace our transformative journey with an expanding cosmological awareness. We respond to the needs of God’s creation with...
Contemplative Hearts grounded in God who calls us to love
Compassionate Hearts responding to ecological, ecclesial, societal, and global challenges
Courageous Hearts exercising moral authority on behalf of creation, especially those whose faith life or human dignity is threatened
Caring Hearts valuing presence and mutual relationships as a way of life
This journey calls us to...
Dedicate ourselves to the common good of all creation
Reverence Earth, our common home
Strengthen the bond that unites us
Explore our unfolding future
Goal 1 – Track Changes of CSA Awareness & Action - COMPLETED
What will we do?
Assess the awareness and the response to the seven Laudato Si’ goals with a goal to increase both awareness and actions year after year.
WHAT LAUDATO SI' AND CSA GOALS ARE WE ADDRESSING?
We are compelled to awaken to the reality of our nature as creatures of Earth and the responsibilities that flow from it by holding one another accountable to the Laudato Si’ Action Platform.
Response to the cry of the earth; Response to the cry of the poor; Ecological economics; Adoption of sustainable lifestyles; Ecological education; Ecological spirituality; Community resilience and empowerment
How & WHEN will we do it?
- Create a brief quantitative survey for each of the seven goals in electronic and written formats to collect and document self-reported information about the changes in awareness and action among Sisters, Associates, and Staff
- Surveys will be conducted in January and analyzed in February.
Goal 2 – Increase Educational Opportunities - ONGOING
What will we do?
Increase educational opportunities for our internal audiences (i.e., sisters, associates, and lay staff)
WHAT LAUDATO SI' AND CSA GOALS ARE WE ADDRESSING?
We dedicate ourselves to the common good of all creation & Reverence Earth, our common home.
We commit to nurturing a mind and heart that furthers the common good among ourselves and in our cosmos.
Response to the cry of the earth; Response to the cry of the poor; Ecological economics; Adoption of sustainable lifestyles; Ecological education; Ecological spirituality; Community resilience and empowerment
How & WHEN will we do it?
- Encourage sisters, associates, and lay staff to submit their reflections on articles or LSAP-related activities for internal blog sites using a provided “What, So What, Now What” template
Distribute in quarter 1- RCs and LCs will "shoulder tap" individuals for blog articles and encourage commenting on internal blog posts.
- Request that CSA circle leaders encourage conversation about recent blog reflections during gatherings
- Ongoing throughout the year
- RCs are encouraging this through word of mouth
- Ongoing throughout the year
- Promote Laudato Si’ Animator training, resulting in at least one new trained animator from internal audiences and, provide links to LSAP resources on a regular basis.
- Promote for 45 days prior to each of the twice per year offerings: fall session (August to October) and spring session (March to May).
- Promotion is completed.
- Sister Mary Ann Czaja completed training in Spring.
- Associate Shannon Meagher is midway through training.
- Additional sisters, associates, and staff in consideration for beginning the Fall session, which begins October 7.
- Promote for 45 days prior to each of the twice per year offerings: fall session (August to October) and spring session (March to May).
Goal 3 – Strengthen and Increase Relationships with Sustainability Partners - ONGOING
What will we do?
Educate external audiences (i.e., civic organizations, educational institutions, and the general public) on Laudato Si’ goals, share our achievements, and celebrate theirs.
WHAT LAUDATO SI' AND CSA GOALS ARE WE ADDRESSING?
This journey calls us to strengthen the bond that unites us: We commit to developing mutual relationships through synodality, education, and awareness of culture, history, and politics
Response to the cry of the earth; Response to the cry of the poor; Ecological economics; Adoption of sustainable lifestyles; Ecological education; Ecological spirituality; Community resilience and empowerment
How & when will we do it?
- Encourage sisters, associates, and lay staff to submit their reflections on articles or LSAP-related activities for internal blog sites using a provided “What, So What, Now What” template.
Distribute in quarter 1- RCs and LCs will "shoulder tap" individuals for blog articles and encourage commenting on internal blog posts.
- Train new tour guides for the solar array and CSA conservancy.
- Recruit & train in quarter 1
- Seven total docents are trained and available to provide tours.
- Recruit & train in quarter 1
- Promote solar array and CSA conservancy tour sign up with local civic organizations, educational institutions, and the general public.
- Distribute information in quarter 1 and again in quarter 3.
- Informational emails and flyers were distributed to SMSA, FDL School District, Oakfield School District, Winnebago Lutheran, NFDL School District, Waupun School District, Rosendale-Brandon School District, Ripon Area School District, Oshkosh Area School District, New Holstein School District, Chilton School District, Campbellsport School District, Plymouth School District, Lomira School District, Shepherd of the Hills Parish, Marian, MPTC, and UWO-FDL.
- Tour information was shared with local organizations and the general public at all "community events" indicated below.
- Distribute information in quarter 1 and again in quarter 3.
- Create and distribute a pre-packaged presentation for sisters and associates beyond the Fond du Lac area with talking points about Laudato Si’ and CSA.
- Develop and distribute during quarter 2.
- 10 USB drives were distributed during CSA Days in June 2023.
- Develop and distribute during quarter 2.
- Have a presence at community events.
- Determine opportunities in quarter 1.
- Delegate attendance and ensure CSA presence throughout the year.
- CSA had a presence at CELEBRATE CommUNITY (Feb.), Breakfast with Women (March), Earth Day Fair (April), Bird City Week (May), Juneteenth (June)
- Speak to local civic organizations about CSA’s Laudato Si’ efforts including how to put their own land into a conservancy.
- Reach out in quarter 2.
- Present throughout the year.
- Noon Kiwanis took a solar tour.
- Partnerships with FDL Bird City and Audubon brought groups to the grounds for hikes and education on conservation easements.
- Offer an Earth Day Fair in Founders Hall
- Plan during quarter 1
- Completed on Saturday, April 22, 2022
- Plan during quarter 1
- Continue writing letters of support and gratitude to local businesses and groups in response to their environmental/sustainable efforts
- Monitor news throughout the year.
- Send letter within 30 days of learning about the effort.
- Letters have been sent to
- Celebrate with Indigenous ceremonies and develop ongoing relationship by inviting to CSA events and attending their events
- Determine opportunities open to the public in quarter 1 (ongoing).
- Delegate attendance and ensure CSA presence throughout the year.
- Reach out to local tribes to invite to CSA events at least 30 days prior to the event.
- Partnership with regional tribes for Blanket Exercise and Earth Day Fair in April.
- Sisters Mary Rose Obholz & Josephine Goebel attended the Brothertown PowWow.
- CSA Leadership met with Native American Talking Circles on May 31
- Tracy Abler attended the Water Walk in June.
- Promote Spiritual opportunities open to the public on CSA grounds
- Generate list of opportunities in quarter 2.
- Generate marketing materials and distribute in quarter 3.
- Land Acknowledgment signs were install in quarter 1.
- Brochures and signs are in development for the labyrinth and the hermitages (updated).
Goal 4 – Assess Viability and Work Toward Becoming Net Zero - ONGOING
What will we do?
Benchmark our sustainability performance and create a long-term plan to continue measuring and reducing congregational use of energy, carbon, water, and plastics.
Make short term adjustments to reduce use of energy, carbon, water, and plastics.
WHAT LAUDATO SI' AND CSA GOALS ARE WE ADDRESSING?
We dedicate ourselves to the common good of all creation
We value the dignity of all creation and commit to engaging in collaborative and transformative processes
Response to the cry of the earth; Ecological economics; Adoption of sustainable lifestyles; and Ecological education
How & When will we do it?
- Develop eco-friendly purchasing guidelines for CSA
- Develop during quarter 1.
- Implement in
quarter 2quarter 3.
- Whenever individual sisters are willing, transition to alternative products and packaging such as shampoo bars, bamboo paper products and clothing, and 100% eco-friendly cleaning products.
- Ongoing as products are used up and replaced.
- Resource sheets shared at public events and in the materials distributed on USB drives at CSA Days
- Ongoing as products are used up and replaced.
- Evaluate the need for additional rain barrels and add where needed.
- Complete during quarter 3
- Three rain barrels were installed – 2 by garages, 1 by raised flower beds.
- Complete during quarter 3
- Evaluate the ability to reduce or phase out gas-powered maintenance equipment and fleet vehicles and leaf blowers of all varieties.
- Audit during quarter 3 and as vehicles reach end of life.
- As of 5/4/2023, the CSA Prius fleet is up to 16.
- Audit during quarter 3 and as vehicles reach end of life.
- Research best practices in calculating our carbon footprint and potentially hire a consultant if determined appropriate and financially feasible for this budget year.
- Research in quarters 1 and 2.
- If feasible, implement in quarter 3.
- Sister Peg Spindler is the CSA representative with the Wisconsin Sustainable Business Council and is in touch with a representative from their organization about the "Green Masters Program."
Goal 5 – Develop a Land Management Plan - ONGOING
What will we do?
Benchmark current conditions of the CSA property and determine goals to preserve and/or improve the conservation values on the property, noting that action on goal activities will be necessarily modified based on available budget each year.
WHAT LAUDATO SI' AND CSA GOALS ARE WE ADDRESSING?
Exploring our Unfolding Future: We face the future with courage and hope, embracing our journey of transformation so that the unimagined can emerge
Response to the cry of the earth; Response to the cry of the poor; Ecological economics; Adoption of sustainable lifestyles; Ecological education; Ecological spirituality; Community resilience and empowerment
How & when will we do it?
- Work with Glacial Lakes Conservancy & Fond du Lac County Land & Water Conservation to determine the best land management planning method for our needs and implement a plan.
- Research in quarter 1.
- Confirm method by end of quarter 2.
- Implement method during quarter 3.
- A Land Steward was hired to supplement the maintenance team.
- Land Management Plan consultants are currently being reviewed for developing a plan which will be implemented by the Land Steward.
- Explore county farming experiments and/or hemp farming
- Research in quarter 2.
- Evaluate potential for including in future land use in quarter 3.
- This will be considered as part of the Land Management Planning process.
- Audit our current land management processes for maintaining the property
- Complete during implementation of item 1 in quarter 3.
- This will be considered as part of the Land Management Planning process.
- Complete during implementation of item 1 in quarter 3.
- Explore gardening capacity and potential to support a community garden or composting.
- Complete during implementation of item 1 in quarter 3.
- Assessment of composting feasibility is underway and contracts are under consideration for working with a biodigester facility.
- Complete during implementation of item 1 in quarter 3.
