+Praise be to You!+
Laudato Si' Week is here!
Happening now through May 25, Laudato Si' Week is the crowning event of the Special Laudato Si’ Anniversary Year, celebrating the 5th anniversary of Pope Francis' encyclical Laudato Si': On Care for Our Common Home.
Together with the whole church we celebrate the great progress we all have made on our journey to ecological conversion. Despite this incredibly difficult year, we look forward to the promise of the resurrection and a future of hope!
Be sure to tune in for one special worldwide announcement about the much anticipated Laudato Si' Action Platform (a strategic way for Catholics to live out the spirit of integral ecology) coming toward the end of the week.
In the Archdiocese of Indianapolis, there are some things going on during Laudato Si' Week too!
- Wednesday, May 19 @ 12pm - Virtual Prayer Service: Care for God's Creation (hosted by the ArchIndy Social Concerns)
- Outdoor Sacred Spaces Grant(s) Available
- Laudato Si' Week in the Criterion
- Save the date! Laudato Si' Study Group
Together in living our call to be faithful disciples,
All of us on the Creation Care Commission
Many things have to change course, but it is we human beings above all who need to change. (Laudato Si’ #202)
Around ArchIndy
Virtual Prayer Service for Creation
May 19, 12-12:45pm - This is the third of a seven- part series of prayer for the principles of Catholic Social Teaching sponsored by Catholic Charities - Social Concerns. Join in prayer (virtually) for a greater awareness of "the cry of the earth and the cry of the poor," as well as lifting up the important work of the Catholic Campaign for Human Development as they seek to address environmental justice issues.
Outdoor Sacred Space Grant(s) Available
Recently we received $1,000 in grant money from the Catholic Climate Covenant to be used in the Archdiocese of Indianapolis to create new or update existing outdoor sacred spaces. We are currently accepting project ideas for parishes or schools to use the money for outdoor sacred spaces such as pollinator gardens, wildlife habitats, rain gardens, tree plantings, or community gardens.
Please contact us at mail@ourcommonhome.org if you are interested in becoming a beneficiary of this grant! We can provide resources or help you plan your outdoor sacred space. No project is too big or small!
Related - If you have an existing outdoor sacred space (home, parish, school etc.) please consider registering as a Saint Kateri Habitat! It is an easy application - we know there are many spaces out there in the Archdiocese that are not shown on the map. :)
Laudato Si' Week Coverage in the Criterion
In case you missed it - last week's Criterion featured a series of articles on Laudato Si' Week and Creation Care Ministry in the Archdiocese. Read the articles online at
- Adventure, faith and nature are connected in archdiocese’s Outdoor Sacred Spaces
- Pope’s call to care for creation plants seeds among archdiocesan parishes to grow their efforts
- Connection of God, nature and humanity guides Creation Care Commission
- Fun and easy tips help families care for creation
- A selection of quotes from Laudato Si’
Laudato Si' Summer Study
Keep in touch for more details on a summer Laudato Si' Study hosted by the Indiana Catholic Conference! More details to be posted soon at https://www.indianacc.org/
Laudato Si' Week Around the World
Things to do
Pray, Learn, and Act with resources from the 21-Day Catholic Environmental Justice Challenge. A treasture trove of content has been archived on the Ignatian Solidarity Network website.
Visit an Outdoor Sacred Space. Whether you visit your local parish garden, or one of Indy's great sites, take some time to go outdoors and be in the presence of God!
Read / Re-read Laudato Si' in Tweets - Join the Leicester Laudato Si' Circle as they discover Pope Francis' encyclical via his 63 tweets after the 2015 release of the document! Join the Group.
Take Action on Friday, May 21 with Catholics around the world during the Global Action Day for Our Common Home. Whether you want to find ways to green your home or start a Creation Care team at your parish - check out the great resources we have collected through the years - https://ourcommonhome.org/resources/
Webinars and Online Events
Official Laudato Si' Week Events - Starting today at 1pm - watch all official Laudato Si' Week events, including the Launch of the Laudato Si' Action Platform (May 25) on the GCCM YouTube and Facebook channels. View the full schedule here
May 17, 7pm - Archdiocese of Atlanta Laudato Si' Green Mass. Join live here
May 19, 5pm - Hoosier Interfaith Power & Light monthly statewide call. Connect with others to learn what other congregations are doing and talk about all things creation care! Register here
May 19, 9pm - What is a spirituality of biodiversity? Join the Columban Center for Advocacy & Outreach and Anna Robertson, Director of Youth and Young Adult Mobilization for Catholic Climate Covenant, to discuss the urgency of reconnecting our appreciation of nature with our everyday faith. Register here
May 20, 7pm - An engaging talk on "Climate Solutions in Indiana: What Policy Paths in Indiana?" with the League of Women Voters and Hoosier Environmental Council. Join live here
View past creation related webinars from Indiana and around the world on our website at ourcommonhome.org/webinars.
Cheers to you!
First Mennonite Church celebrates their conversion to solar
Through fundraising efforts and grants, our friends at Indianapolis' First Mennonite Church installed solar to completely cover their energy needs!
All are welcome to join their family-friendly celebration which includes giveaways, Q&A, and live music on Saturday from 3-5pm at 4601 Knollton Rd, Indianapolis.
If you have any questions, please contact us at mail@ourcommonhome.org
Subscribe to our monthly newsletter or text creationcare to 84576.
Creation Care Ministry is a pastoral ministry of the Archdiocese of Indianapolis.
