On the First Anniversary of Laudato si’

June 2016 marks the first anniversary of the publication of Pope Francis’s Encyclical on Care for our Common Home, with its incipit taken from St. Francis of Assisi’s Canticle of the Creatures. The Encyclical’s first announcement generated much excitement, and stirred up curiosity. Its release was met with acclaim and skepticism. Believers and non-believers alike weighed in with their comments; it encountered very little apathy.

One year from the publication of Laudato si’, where do we stand? Many people have discussed it, some of them having not even read it first. There have been study guides published, including one prepared by the Inter-Franciscan Commission for Justice and Peace (Roman VI), which can be found on the internet in 8 languages at francis35.org. The Global Catholic Climate Movement is calling for a Laudato si’ week (12-19 June: http://laudatosiweek.org/index.php/events/) to generate again the interest and enthusiasm which heralded its release.

The OFM Cap. JPIC commission, in collaboration with regional JPIC commissions, has organized several events including a workshop on Laudato si’ in the Dominican Republic on June 6-11, 2016 for friars in Latin America and the Caribbean. The Province of St. Joseph, USA has organized an online seminar on Laudato si’ for June 20-24, 2016. All are invited to participate: http://www.thecapuchins.org/jpic/join-the-capuchin-franciscans-for-ladauto-si-webinars-june-20-24-2016

As the anniversary approaches (June 18) we ask the Capuchin friars and the Franciscan family throughout the world to commit themselves anew to the lifestyle change that is necessary to move from thought to action and to take concrete measures to care for our common home. Keeping in mind the three focus areas agreed upon at Rio +20, we encourage one and all to make the necessary life-style changes, to take a hard look at one’s own economic choices and their nation’s economy, and to focus on the effects of extraction industries on the life and human rights of the poor.  In all these ways, we can help our “poor” sister, Mother Earth.

JPIC - Benedict Ayodi OFMCap