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The theme for the week is ‘Seeds of Hope’, encouraging us to be seeds of hope in our lives and our world, rooted in faith and love.
Pentecost Sunday, May 19th, marks this year the beginning of Laudato Si’ Week, which celebrates the anniversary of the encyclical letter Laudato Si’ on Care for Our Common Home, and happily coincides with Biodiversity Week this year. The theme for the week is ‘Seeds of Hope’, encouraging us to be seeds of hope in our lives and our world, rooted in faith and love. Abundant materials to mark this week can be found at: https://laudatosiweek.org/. We in Trócaire everyday see the effects of the Climate Crisis with the people we work with. The devastating impacts of the Climate crises are that now 3.6 billion people in our world are at risk from Climate change. Pope Francis has given us two documents Laudato Si’ and Laudate Deum that we, in the Trócaire office, use daily to be a seed of hope to people in Ireland and around the world who are affected by the Climate crisis and those who want to create change for their communities.
Together, we can cultivate a world where harmony between humanity and nature is a tangible reality. “There are no lasting changes without cultural changes …and there are no cultural changes without personal changes” (LD 70).
We invite you to learn more at some events we have planned this week:
On Monday 20th May, 10am Irish time, a Press Conference from Rome organised by ELSiA (European Laudato Si’ Alliance) will unveil the results of the “Living LaudatoSi’ in Europe” survey. The Press Conference (”Do European Catholics care about Ecology?”) will give an interesting panoramic view of the engagement of Catholics in Europe with Care for Creation; it can be accessed online and you can register here. Bishop Martin Hayes, from the Kilmore Diocese, will present the Irish Bishops’ Initiative of returning 30% of parish grounds to Nature (to find more about this initiative, check here).
“As part of LSW, the Church Team in Trócaire will be leading Contemplation Sessions online, with a different meditation around eco-spirituality each day, from Mon 20th-Thu 23rd May, at 1pm for 30 minutes. We will focus on your favourite place in nature, the four elements wind water fire and air and loving kindness for our planet. Everyone is welcome, and you can email [email protected] or click here for a ZOOM link for all the meditations, which will provide an oasis of calm in the middle of our busy days and help us connect with the beauty of God’s creation.
Also on Mon 20th May, from 8-8.45 pm, the Irish Bishop’s Conference, in collaboration with Trócaire and the Laudato Si’ Movement, will invite you to explore in a Live webinar why Christians care for Creation. Join Bishop Martin Hayes (Diocese of Kilmore/Laudato Si’ Bishop), Laura Madrigal (Trócaire/LSM) and Nóirin Lynch (Director- FCJ Spirituality House) for prayer, to listen to good news from around Ireland and explore resources available to help us care more deeply for Creation. You can email [email protected] or click here to receive a ZOOM link.
Towards the end of a busy LSW, you are invited to Knock to relax on Saturday 25th May with the Launch of the Creation Walk in Knock (10.30am-3.00pm). Based on Fr. Brian Grogan’s book “Creation Walk: The Amazing Story of a Small Blue Planet”, and following a no-doubt inspirational talk by Dr Niamh Brennan, 30 plaques will be unveiled on the grounds of Knock, on the journey of life in our planet -under God’s loving gaze- from Creation until present. Trained volunteers will be guiding the Creation Walk in the afternoon. Everybody is welcome, there is no registration required, and you can find further information here.
Check the Laudato Si’ Week website, join us in one or several of these activities, and let us celebrate the wonder of Creation and its Creator: Laudato Si’, O mi Signore!!
