This year’s Laudato Si’ Week which runs from the 24th-31st May 2025 marks a decade since the publication of Laudato Si’, which has been so influential in raising awareness of the value of God’s creation. The term Pope Francis uses is “ecological conversion” and we are urged to hear, “the cry of Earth, and the cry of the poor.”
Columbans are very proud that Columban eco-theologian Fr. Sean McDonagh was a consultant to Vatican production of the landmark document. We have promoted it enthusiastically over the decade, with the most recent event we helped to organise being a day on 10 May for the National Justice and Peace Network for England and Wales on ‘Opening doors to a sustainable world for future generations’. As part of the day, we assisted the Muslim director of Faith for the Climate, Shanon Shah, to lead group work on creation-centred theology, taken from Laudato Si’, Laudato Deum and the Muslim document Al-Mizan: A Covenant with the Earth. Participants undertook to network more ecumenically and interfaith on justice, peace and ecology issues.
Throughout the UK events have been organised for Laudato Si Week 2025. On 22 May the FCJ Centre for Spirituality and EcoJustice in North London is running a zoom retreat on this year’s theme: ‘Raising Hope’. The same day, Operation Noah is running a webinar: ‘Catholic Social Teaching and Investing in Climate Solutions.’ Cheltenham’s Laudato Si’ Circle has organised a Stations of Creation to celebrate the Year of Jubilee and the 10th anniversary of Laudato Si’.
A Care of Creation retreat at Boarbank Hall, Cumbria takes the theme ‘The Joy of Limits’. Running from the 27th–31st May 2025, led by Sr. Margaret Atkins of Boarbank Hall and John Paul de Quay of the Ecological Conversion Group. Talks will look at the social doctrine of the Church on care for creation and living more simply. Optional activities include nature walks, birdwatching, and gardening.
Columban resources are being used by parish and diocesan groups around the UK to study the encyclical, particularly the Laudato Si’ Study Guide, which offers six study sessions and can be downloaded from our website. The Columban Justice, Peace and Ecology Team in Britain produced a special issue of our newsletter, Vocation for Justice, this month with the theme, ‘Laudato Si’: Integrating Ecology and Justice.’ Some parish groups are hosting book clubs to read Laudato Si’ over 6 sessions for its 6 chapters. Others are viewing ‘The Letter,‘ a film which tells the story of four frontline leaders on the climate crisis who travel to Rome to meet Pope Francis and discuss Laudato Si’.
The Columbans encourage more parish and school groups to work towards CAFOD’s Livesimply Award. Laudato Si’ animators, who have completed the online Course provided by Laudato Si’ Movement, and Justice and Peace activists, are involved in many groups and can offer support.
To mark the anniversary of Laudato Si’, the Department for Social Justice of the Bishops’ Conference of England and Wales will soon announce a major inter-faith event in Manchester. And in Scotland, John Arnold, Lead Bishop on the Environment of the Bishops’ Conference of England and Wales has been invited by the Care of Creation Office of the Bishops’ Conference of Scotland to speak about Laudato Si’ Week on the evening of the 30th May.
On the 30th May an online Global Celebration has been organised by the Laudato Si’ Movement, which will draw in UK participants. It will “celebrate 10 years of prayer and action and look ahead to the next 10 years together.”
Columbans are also involved in planning getting underway for a mass Lobby of Parliament on the 9th July, calling for action on climate and biodiversity. The lobby day is organised by The Climate Coalition, of which Columbans are members, and which includes leading Christian development and environment organisations, including CAFOD and Green Christian.
