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 1 – The Cry of the Earth
From the Encyclical
“Living our vocation to be protectors of God’s handiwork is essential to a life of virtue; it is not an optional or a secondary aspect of our Christian experience.” Laudato Si’ n.217.
For Reflection
Today we focus on Laudato Si’ Goal 1 – the cry of the earth. As we attend to the raised voice and tears of the earth, we are consoled by Jesus’ words. In today’s Gospel he says: “Peace I leave you; my peace I give you. Do not let your hearts be troubled or afraid” (John 14:27).
In the first chapter of Laudato Si’, Pope Francis names the pain we have wrought on our planet: pollution, climate change, a throwaway culture, loss of biodiversity, global inequality, and the issue of water. In response to this devastation, he calls us to integrate personal and social responsibility, spirituality and science, economics, and education.
How might we truly listen to the cry of the earth, the cry of our land? These cries might arise from the cacophony of birds in our backyards, the scarred earth yielding minerals for our mobile phones, choked rubbish receptacles overflowing with poisoned packaging, or the wound of defiled sacred sites of the First Peoples.
We are also challenged to listen to the cries of those voices raised in solidarity with our oceans, land, and sky. They include leaders in the Oceania region whose communities are living with rising sea levels, young people desiring a future in harmony with creation, First Peoples spiritual leaders inviting us to listen in a spirit of dadirri, or deep inner listening.
Maybe, if we are still enough, today we will hear the lament of our earth mingled with its songlines, with ancient psalms of praise and with passionate protest.
Prayer
God of peace, you call us to act out of love, not fear.
The earth is full of wonders that sing of your goodness.
May we, your friends, make known the glorious splendour of your kingdom.
Incline the ear of our heart to the cry of the earth, oceans, and skies.
Humble our desire for dominance over creation.
Soften our engagement with our brother earth and sister sky, our cousin, the kookaburra, and friend, the spreading fern.
Lead us move from awe to awareness, tears to togetherness, and from wonder to work for justice for all.
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: Investigate the ecological impact of your personal and corporate purchasing power and investments. Access a free carbon calculating tool here https://carbonpositiveaustralia.org.au/calculate/
Heart: Reflect anew on Dr Miriam-Rose Ungunmerr Baumann’s Dadirri video https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tow2tR_ezL8
Hands: Make a conscious effort to choose more sustainable options in your life, shrink your carbon impact and pollution in big and small ways.
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.
