Laudato Si’ Week has begun, and thousands of Catholics from all over the world have joined in.
On Saturday and Sunday, the Holy Spirit moved the faithful during a two-day retreat that left many in tears of sorrow for our common home and tears of joy for the hope we share.
On May 20, the Vatican’s Fr. Augusto Zampini-Davies and Christiana Figueres, an architect of the Paris climate agreement, inspired thousands more by sharing how Laudato Si’ remains as “prophetic and relevant as ever.”
Christiana Figueres
“It was always evident to all of us who work on climate change that climate change was the mother of all injustices. But it had never been put as beautifully and as compellingly as in Laudato Si'.”
In Fiji, communities are coming together daily to reflect on Laudato Si’. In Kenya, a tree-planting ceremony gave new life to start Laudato Si’ Week. And in Argentina, Catholics united to learn more about divestment and the prophetic role it can play.
If you missed the retreat and/or webinar, you’re encouraged to watch them on YouTube.
Your participation in Laudato Si’ Week is a sign of hope for all creation and our most vulnerable sisters and brothers. Thank you!
A listing of the activities for the week is below:
16-17 MAY | Laudato Si’ Week Retreat with TomĆ”s Insua
Laudato Si’ Week begins with a two-day retreat to deepen our spirits. Grow in gratitude and connect with people around the world through prayer, reflections on the encyclical, and time with creation. Hear both the cry and the song of creation and find hope for the future. Group conversations and interactive exercises enrich the experience. Register here for this two-day event (English only)
Our featured speaker is TomƔs Insua. TomƔs co-founded GCCM after being awakened to the close connections between the climate crisis and social justice during a life-altering trip to the Philippines in the wake of Typhoon Haiyan (Yolanda). TomƔs also served in the UN Climate Secretariat for COP21, worked as a marketeer for Google, and was a Fulbright Scholar at Harvard's Kennedy School. This conversation takes place on Saturday and Sunday, 16 and 17 May. (English only)
18 MAY | Laudato Si’ at 5 with Christiana Figueres and Fr. Augusto Zampini-Davies
This conversation takes place on Monday, 18 May. It is at 8:00 am
Explore Pope Francis’ groundbreaking encyclical on our common home and its deep roots in our faith. Learn how Laudato Si’ reflects millennia of Christian thought in a new way for today’s ecological crisis from a top Laudato Si’ expert at the Vatican. An interactive format will help us share how the encyclical has touched us as individuals.
Our featured speakers are Christiana Figueres, former Executive Secretary of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change. Figueres was an architect of the Paris climate agreement and has continued her leadership of the global climate movement.
Fr. Augusto Zampini-Davies, adjunct secretary of the Vatican’s Dicastery for Integral Human Development, helps lead the Vatican’s work on Laudato Si’. He is the former theological adviser to CAFOD and an Honorary Fellow at Durham University, Roehampton University, and Stellenbosh University.
19 MAY | Eco-spirituality with Mary Evelyn Tucker 
This conversation takes place on Tuesday, 19 May. It’s at 9:00 am
Reflect on the spiritual depths that we stand on as we work to protect our common home. Through prayer, scholarship, and living examples, we’ll dive into the theology and spiritual practices that strengthen us. The gifts of the spirit are truly needed to conquer the challenges we face, and our faith is a transformative force for good.
Our featured speaker is Mary Evelyn Tucker, who co-founded and leads the Yale Forum on Religion and Ecology, which “informs and inspires people to preserve, protect, and restore the Earth community.” She is also a senior lecturer and research scholar in the university’s joint Master of Arts program in religion and ecology.
20 MAY | Sustainability with Yeb SaƱo 
This conversation takes place on Wednesday, 20 May. It is at 9:00 am
Learn how Catholic people and institutions can make a big difference in the global race to protect our common home. Catholics–who make up nearly one-seventh of the world’s population–are showing extraordinary leadership while making a real contribution reducing our impact on the Earth. This is a practical, action-oriented conversation.
Our featured speaker is Yeb SaƱo, who was the lead climate negotiator for the Philippines in the wake of Typhoon Haiyan (Yolanda), a disaster linked to climate change that killed thousands of people. Yeb's tearful plea to protect his people shook the COP19 climate negotiations. Since then, Yeb has marched thousands of kilometers on climate pilgrimages and taken up leadership as the Executive Director of Greenpeace Southeast Asia. He is a member of the GCCM board of directors.
20 MAY | Advocacy
This conversation takes place on Wednesday, 20 May. It is at 11:00 am
Learn how advocating for policies that protect the most vulnerable among us is part and parcel of our faith. From in-depth exploration of the ways that we harm “the least among us” to practical tips for putting our faith into action, this session offers essential guidance to building a better world for the long term. An interactive format offers the opportunity to share ideas and hear the personal experiences of Catholics from around the world.
This event is co-sponsored by GCCM and CIDSE. Our featured speaker will be announced soon!
22 MAY | Social Action
This conversation takes place on Friday, 22 May. It is at 9:00 am
Grow your relationships, where the Holy Spirit moves us. Learn how to build communities of care that protect the most vulnerable. Explore new ways of connecting with the people around you in common projects that draw on the transformative power of our faith.
This event is co-sponsored by GCCM and Caritas Internationalis. Our featured speaker will be announced soon!
To register for any or all of these offerings please click on the link below: