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As BVM sisters and associates, we are called to live in right relationship with all creation. This covenant relationship is a freeing one, enabling us to risk responding to the urgent needs of our times according to our gifts and in keeping with our mission. We commit ourselves to join the world community to rebuild our relationship with each other and our common home. We are called to participate in the Laudato Si’ Action Platform to respond to the cry of the poor and protect vulnerable resources through sustainability programs and integral ecology.

JOIN us in our efforts to act boldly, humbly, and courageously.

Recent Posts

The Season of Creation is the annual Christian celebration to pray and respond together to the cry of Creation: the ecumenical family around the world unites to listen and care for our common home, the Oikos of God.

The Season “Celebration” begins Sept. 1, the World Day of Prayer for the Care of Creation, and ends Oct. 4, the Feast of St. Francis of Assisi, the patron saint of ecology beloved by many Christian denominations.

2023 THEME: “Let Justice and Peace Flow”

A mighty river is the symbol for the Season of Creation 2023. Prophet Amos cries out, “But let justice roll on like a river, righteousness like a never-failing stream!” (Amos 5:24) and so we are called to join the river of justice and peace, to take up climate and ecological justice, and to speak out with and for communities most impacted by climate injustice and the loss of biodiversity. Read more

BVM Sisters share what the Season of Creation means to them. Check back each week for a new video:

During the June 2022 Congregational Assembly, members affirmed their commitment to Goal #6, Ecological Spirituality, as the LSAP focus for Nov. 1, 2022, thru Oct. 31, 2023, to understand the goal and ways to embrace practices to improve that understanding and identify the connections between BVM core values and charism, the world community, and Ecological Spirituality.

Learn more about the Laudato Si’ Action Platform:

What is Laudato Si’?

On May 24, 2015, Pope Francis released his environmental encyclical, Laudato Si, or “Praised Be” from the words of St. Francis of Assisi’s Canticle of the Sun.  Pope Francis urges that “all of us can cooperate as instruments of God for the care of creation, each according to his or her own culture, experience, involvement and talents.” This will not be an easy task, however, and will require honesty, courage and responsibility, as “humanity is called to recognize the need for changes of lifestyle, production and consumption.” By asserting that “truly, much can be done,” he reassures us that “local individuals and groups can make a real difference.”  (San Diego Diocese LSAP p. 6)

Major Themes of Laudato Si’:

  • A moral and spiritual challenge. …
  • Care for God’s creation. …
  • Impact on the poor. …
  • Called to solidarity. …
  • Technological and economic development. …
  • Supporting life, protecting creation. …
  • A time to act. …
  • Hope and Joy.

What is LSAP?

The Laudato Si’ Action Platform invites a worldwide involvement in spiritual reflection and development of processes to understand and improve the destruction to our earthly environment and its inhabitants. It is based on Pope Francis’ Laudato Si’ (Encyclical, 2015).

Check out the LSAP Website:  https://www.laudatosi.org/laudato-si/action-platform/

To find out more about the LSAP listen to Pope Francis’ 5:45 minute presentation: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PvMWMa84mfk

What are the LSAP Goals?

Laudato Si’ calls us toward sustainability in the spirit of integral ecology. With profound care for each other, our Creator, and all creation, we are building a better future together.
https://laudatosiactionplatform.org/about/

THE LAUDATO SI’ GOALS Discerning a response to the ecological crisis is a profound act of care. At this kairos moment, action is needed. The Laudato Si’ goals guide our actions. Their holistic approach supports a spiritual and cultural revolution as we strive for total sustainability in the spirit of integral ecology.

RESPONSE TO THE CRY OF THE EARTH is a call to protect our common home for the wellbeing of all, as we equitably address the climate crisis, biodiversity loss, and ecological sustainability. Actions could include the adoption of renewable energies and energy sufficiency measures, achieving carbon neutrality, protecting biodiversity, promoting sustainable agriculture, and guaranteeing access to clean water for all.

RESPONSE TO THE CRY OF THE POOR is a call to promote eco-justice, aware that we are called to defend human life from conception to death, and all forms of life on Earth. Actions could include projects to promote solidarity, with special attention given to vulnerable groups such as indigenous communities, refugees, migrants, and children at risk, analysis and improvement of social systems, and social service programs.

ECOLOGICAL ECONOMICS acknowledges that the economy is a sub-system of human society, which itself is embedded within the biosphere–our common home. Actions could include sustainable production and consumption, ethical investments, divestment from fossil fuels and any activity harmful to the planet and the people, supporting circular economies, and prioritizing care labor and protecting the dignity of workers.

ADOPTION OF SUSTAINABLE LIFESTYLES is grounded in the idea of sufficiency and promoting sobriety in the use of resources and energy. Actions could include reducing waste and recycling, adopting sustainable dietary habits (opting for a more plant-based diet and reducing meat consumption), greater use of public transport, active mobility (walking, cycling), and avoiding single use items (e.g. plastic, etc.).

ECOLOGICAL EDUCATION is about re-thinking and re-designing curricular and institutional reform in the spirit of integral ecology in order to foster ecological awareness and transformative action. Actions could include ensuring equitable access to education for all and promoting human rights, fostering Laudato Si’ themes within the community, encouraging ecological leadership (students, teachers), and ecological restoration activities.

ECOLOGICAL SPIRITUALITY recovers a religious vision of God’s creation and encourages greater contact with the natural world in a spirit of wonder, praise, joy and gratitude. Actions could include promoting creation-centered liturgical celebrations, developing ecological catechesis, retreats and formation programs, and praying in nature.

COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT AND PARTICIPATORY ACTION  encourage the development of cultures and policies that protect our common home and all who share it. Actions could include promoting advocacy and developing people’s campaigns, engagement with decision-makers, and encouraging rootedness and a sense of belonging in local communities and neighborhood ecosystems.

How can I get involved?

Join the BVMs as we participate with the world community in responding to the cry of our common home to work towards sustainability and integral ecology. See the BVM Commitment Statement:  https://www.bvmsisters.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/12/Signed-Document.pdf

The Care for Earth Committee encourages you to frequent the website for activities, resources, photos, and prayers for you to consider, as you engage with caring for the earth. (https://www.bvmsisters.org/care-for-our-common-earth-home).

As you progress in your activities, we invite you to share your writings, activities, photos, or videos via email at careforearth@bvmsisters.org so that we might post these on the website as well. Please consider writing a description and remember to include names.

Join the Season of Creation 2023

by Bette Gambonini, BVM The Season of Creation is the annual Christian celebration to pray and respond together to the cry of Creation: the ecumenical family around the world unites…

BVMs Enjoy a Retreat with a “Kid”

Teachers Become Students What is this? Another flyer in our mailbox! Inviting us to grow?! I’m already 85 years old! How much more can I grow? My mind began to toss…

A New Mantra

“Make every day a Thanksgiving Day, make every day an Earth Day.”  Human beings cannot survive longer than a few minutes without oxygen. The oxygen we breathe comes from the…

Response to the Cry of the Earth

Beginning in October, BVMs will spend the next year embracing Goal #1: Response to the Cry of the Earth of the Laudato Si’ Action Platform (LSAP). This LSAP goal calls…

All is Sacred

Our 2021 BVM Assembly ended with the gathering of all our thoughts and prayers for our future into two directional statements (DS). In DS1 we commit ourselves to living more…

Gift Giving

How might this season of gift giving look different?  Laudato Si’ calls us to a new lifestyle based on Gospel values and care for all of creation. As we enter…

Guide to Going Green at Home

https://couponfollow.com/research/home-green-guide

Articles on Care for Creation 

EarthBeat is an excellent resource for the latest articles on Care for Creation. Check out their website for the latest weekly articles.
Sign on to EarthBeat | National Catholic Reporter (ncronline.org)  

Check out this article (includes a video on talk at Creighton University) on Bishop McElroy from San Diego who is a leading voice among US bishops on Laudato Si’: https://www.ncronline.org/earthbeat/politics/climate-should-be-central-priority-us-church-says-bishop-mcelroy?eType=EmailBlastContent&eId=817afb3a-1d23-4efc-a1e6-5e5e59386adc   

Franciscan Action Network 

Franciscan Action Network, the Franciscan Federation and the Franciscan Friars (OFM) US-6 JPIC Working Group are pleased to present a 4-part webinar series on Confronting Environmental Racism. We will be recording each of these events and posting them to view.Please click here to access the videos.

Confronting Environmental Racism  Please click here to access the videos.    
Franciscan Action Network website: https://franciscanaction.org/  

COP27 Conference:

Find out what is happening at the COP27 Conference:

Interfaith, Power and Light (IPL) provides these resources (Climate Change & COP, Worship, IPL Affiliate, webinars) for learning/connecting with what is happening at the COP27 gathering in Egypt: https://www.interfaithpowerandlight.org/cop27-resources/?eType=EmailBlastContent&eId=dd5a9b15-576a-463c-a55b-9298c5842d3e  

IPL will be hosting Faith Communities Leading on Climate at the America is All In Action Center at COP27, on Friday, November 11th, at 10 am Egypt local time. You can watch it live or when you wake up HERE. 

Fossil Fuel Reduction:

We pray for bold action to move away from fossil fuels in the context of COP27. Share this resource with your community!
Download it here as a PDF or review it online.
Check out the Laudato Si’ Movement website for ongoing action and information.  https://www.laudatosimovement.org/   

Religious Orders:

OnBeing podcasts:

Water-Ecology: Sisters of the Holy Names of Jesus 

The Climate Reality Project

The Climate Reality Project is a nonprofit organization that believes there is hope in unity, and that together, we can build a safe, sustainable future.

Lenten Resources

Water

Contact Us

Care for Our Common Earth Home Committee:
BVMs Bette Gambonini, Rose Mary Meyer, Marguerite Murphy, and BVM Associate Katie Anders.
careforearth@bvmsisters.org

Our goal is not to amass information or to satisfy curiosity but rather to become painfully aware, to dare to turn what is happening to the world into our own personal suffering and thus to discover what each of us can do about it.” LS #19   

On Jan. 1, 2022, the leadership team of the Sisters of Charity of the Blessed Virgin Mary signed on to the Laudato Si’ Action Platform to commit to taking bold, concrete actions, and to practice nonviolence as we reconcile and heal the pain in creation and sow hope for peace.

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