Laudato Si’ Week, a celebration of Pope Francis’ encyclical Laudato Si’ and a call to action for Catholics around the world, is being celebrated 16-24 May, 2022.
Throughout Laudato Si’ Week, you and your community are encouraged to join us in reflecting and acting to bring Laudato Si’ to life.
Related: Things to do in Laudato Si’ Week
Goal 3 – Ecological Economics
From the Encyclical
“The emptier a person’s heart is, the more he or she needs to buy, own and consume.” Laudato Si’ n.204.
For Reflection
Laudato Si’ rejects consumerism and what Francis describes as the technocratic paradigm. It calls us instead ‘to seek other ways of understanding the economy and progress’ (LS n 16).
Our economy relies on the biosphere – our common home – and it should serve people and respect creation. Therefore, ecological economics focuses on sustainability, resilience, and integral human development rather than focussing only on efficiency and growth. It is also why Pope Francis continues to promote a circular economy and the use of renewable energy.
The work of nurturing the human ecology of our communities is deeply linked with our thinking about development, how we understand success, what we think is valuable, and our relationship with the rest of creation. Pope Francis goes to great lengths to affirm social and economic inclusion as part of integral ecology.
People and communities who rely on extractive industries for their livelihoods need special attention if we are to make a just transition to a more sustainable economy. As energy markets continue to change, these people and communities need to be able to see a bright future for themselves and for future generations.
The First Peoples are one of the most economically disadvantaged groups in our society. Yet, as our Bishops acknowledge in Cry of the Earth, Cry of the Poor, “when it comes to human knowledge of the lands and waters now known as Australia, the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples are our first teachers”. We need to listen with humility and to learn.
Prayer
God of justice, you govern the peoples with equity.
You gift us with creation as a common good, not a commodity.
You gift us with sisters and brothers made in your image, not as tools.
You gift us with minds that question, not quell.
Help us to imagine an economy that:
promotes connection and community, honours dignity and dialogue, leads to gratuity, not greed.
May our reflection today give a soul to the economy of tomorrow.
We make this prayer in the name of Jesus, our risen Lord, through the power of the Holy Spirit, now and forever.
Amen
Action
Head: Find out if your bank or insurance company invests in socially irresponsible activities and consider your options.
Heart: Support campaigns that promote better wages for those who perform ‘care labour’ such as aged care, childcare, health care, and disability care workers.
Hands: Take part in local initiatives that promote the sharing, reuse, repair, and recycling of goods.
In the Diocese of Parramatta, Bishop Vincent Long OFM Conv, Bishop of Parramatta invites all parishes, schools, organisations and families to respond to his invitation to take action on the care of our common home. See the video about this project and find out more here.
With thanks to the Australian Catholic Bishops Conference’s Office for Justice, Ecology and Peace.
