We align ourselves with the spirit of Laudato Si
In 2015, Pope Francis published his encyclical letter, Laudato Si: On Care for Our Common Home. In this landmark document, he invited all humanity to an ecological conversion. On the fifth anniversary of his encyclical, we’re faced with the reality that ecological transformation must happen at a much faster rate than originally thought, so Pope Francis has issued a new call, asking for a commitment to complete a transition to integral ecology by 2030. This initiative is meant to include the entire world: congregations of women and men religious, families, parishes, dioceses, educational institutions, and health care centers. All of these sectors must move together to form a critical mass for change.
Our IHM Congregation has been promoting the vision of Laudato Si in numerous ways. In 2015 we published Praise Be to You, a book of daily reflections on Laudato Si written by IHM Sisters and Associates. This book can be purchased on Amazon: https://tinyurl.com/7e9p3dcz
The congregation established the EarthCARE committee to focus on the spiritual, educational, and practical matters of care for creation. We also underscored environmental wellness as one of the elements of Wholeness in our Vital Living Plan.
Now our IHM Congregation, along with women and men religious throughout the world, is called to commit to a seven-year journey of integral ecology: a life-long commitment of living intentionally, keeping our relationship with God, Earth and each other at the heart of our individual and communal lives and decision-making.
The first step in this process is a public statement which congregations were asked to write, drawing on their charisms and direction statements. Sister Chris Koellhoffer crafted our IHM statement. It invites a deepening of our present commitment to care for the Earth and for one another and places us in solidarity with other congregations while speaking in our unique IHM voice.
Future information will highlight how this commitment might be further integrated into our congregational journey. We will also collaborate with other congregations and organizations in advocacy and actions that can lead to systemic change. This intentional journey has the potential to hasten the fulfillment of God’s dream for our beautiful and wounded world.
View: Laudato Si Action Platform - IHM Commitment: https://video.ibm.com/recorded/130975314
Congregation of the Sisters, Servants of the Immaculate Heart of Mary, Scranton, PA
Laudato Sí Action Platform Commitment Statement
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The unconditional love of the Holy One embraces all creation.
This boundless and inclusive love summons us IHM Sisters
to live in radical interdependence and kinship with our fragile and precious planet.
We align ourselves with the spirit of Laudato Si
and pledge our time, energy, and resources to collaborate with others
on a 7 year journey of education, advocacy, and action
for the sake of Earth, our Common Home.
We commit to restoring right relationship with the created world
and to using imagination, creativity, and fresh thinking
to bring about God’s dream
for the flourishing of our beautiful and wounded world.
