Laudato Si – with the subtitle On Care for Our Common Home is an inspirational letter, from Pope Francis, that calls us to examine our hearts, transform our social values and act for global solidarity. The encyclical captures the interconnectedness of social, economic and environmental justice in building and protecting our common home.
It highlights the ‘intimate relationship between the poor and the fragility of the planet’. Protecting the planet requires an integrated approach to combating poverty, restoring dignity to the excluded, and at the same time protecting nature.
As a school community inspired by Laudato Si’ Sophia College:
- values and explicitly teach the importance of connectivity to nature and local ecology.
- equips staff and students with age appropriate theological and moral understanding of the issues affecting our common home.
- continually evaluates and identifies how we can and will continue to care for our common home through faith inspired actions.
As Pope Francis has written, Ecological education can take place in a variety of settings: at school, in families, in the media, in catechesis and elsewhere. Good education plants seeds when we are young, and these continue to bear fruit throughout life. (Laudato Si’ #213)
Our Franciscan tradition is especially attuned to the message of Laudato Si’ in that the beautiful canticle composed by St Francis of Assisi reminds us that our common home is made up of all creatures forming one family of creation, deserving our respect, care and love.
PRAYER FOR OUR COMMON HOME
God of all,
Creator and ruler of the universe,
You entrusted your world to us as a gift.
Help us to care for it and all people,
that we may live in right relationship--
with You,
with ourselves,
with one another,
and with creation.
Christ our Lord,
both divine and human,
You lived among us.
Help us to imitate your love for the human family
by recognizing that we are all connected—
to our brothers and sisters around the world,
to those in poverty impacted by environmental devastation,
and to future generations.
Holy Spirit,
giver of wisdom and love,
You breathe life in us and guide us.
Help us to live according to your vision,
stirring to action the hearts of all—
individuals and families,
communities of faith,
and civil and political leaders.
Triune God, help us to hear the cry of those in poverty and the cry of the earth,
so that we may together care for our common home.
Amen.
(United States Conference of Catholic Bishops in response to Laudato Si')