Catholic Earthcare Australia in partnership with the Diocese of Paramatta, Jesuits Australia and the Campion Centre for Ignatian Spirituality are coordinating a list of activities to celebrate Laudato Si’ week from May 16-24, marking the fifth anniversary of Pope Francis’ landmark encyclical.

Director of Catholic Earthcare, Bernard Holland said Pope Francis has invited us through a video message, to hear his urgent call to respond to our ecological crisis and to celebrate Laudato Si’s fifth anniversary with another call to action. Paramount to the call is the engaging of youth, our future leaders.

“It is important that we coordinate our activities to ensure Australian Catholics have access to all the best opportunities and resources from our different faith communities,” Mr Holland said.

The COVID-19 crisis has shaken our world, but Pope Francis is inviting everyone to join in celebrating Laudato Si’ Week to remind ourselves that although we are separated right now, we are all connected. PHOTO: LaudatoSiWeek.org.

The activities being planned include a Laudato Si’ Mass streamed live from St Mary’s Church in North Sydney on May 16, as well as five-day online eco-retreat ‘Connecting with God in Nature’, hosted by the Campion Centre for Ignatian Spiritualty from May 18-22.

Of particular note, will be an international dialogue between Catholic youth from the five island nations of Malta, Tonga, the Solomon Islands, New Zealand and Australia.

“The intensification of storms in the Pacific and annual 6mm of sea water rises will devastate Pacific nations yet they have little contribution to the root cause of warming our planet”, said Mr Holland.

Professor Paul Pace, from the University of Malta said that youth in Malta, like those in most developed countries, do not fully understand the impact our lifestyles are having on poorer countries and their people.

“This opportunity for our Catholic youth to dialogue with our Pacific brothers and sisters will be both enlightening and educational”, said Professor Pace.

Catholic Earthcare is leading this dialogue with a view to connecting youth so they may decide how they can answer Pope Francis’ call to action on the fifth anniversary of Laudato Si’.

To play its part in helping protect the health of Earth, and its inhabitants, Catholic Earthcare Australia is mandated, through the activities of education, research and advocacy to give leadership in responding to Pope John Paul II's call to "stimulate and sustain the ecological conversion".

To see the list of Laudato Si’ Week activities being coordinated by Catholic Earthcare Australia in partnership with the Diocese of Paramatta, Jesuits Australia and Campion Centre Ignatian Spirituality, click here.

To see Pope Francis’ video message, click here.