Seeds of Hope

Laudato Si’ Week is a celebration held annually in May to mark the anniversary of Pope Francis’ landmark encyclical on caring for creation. Sponsored by the Vatican’s Dicastery for Promoting Integral Human Development, this global celebration unites Catholics to listen and respond together to the cry of creation, rejoice in the progress we have made in bringing Laudato Si’ to life, and intensify our efforts through the Laudato Si’ Action Platform as well as other opportunities for education and action.

In Laudato Si’ Week 2024, let us gather in community to contemplate the wonder of creation and nurture seeds of hope for our “suffering planet” (LD 2).

Laudate Deum is a reminder about the urgency of the Laudato Si’ message and the need for both personal and cultural transformation amidst our ecological and climate crises.

Laudato Si’ Week offers a great opportunity as a springboard for promotion and encouragement on the journey towards the Laudato Si’ Goals and commitment to developing a Plan. The theme for Laudato Si’ Week this year is Seeds of Hope – inspired by the symbol for Season of Creation 2024, “first fruits.” Let us be seeds of hope in our lives and our world, rooted in faith and love.

This year, the dates for Australia will coincide with the International dates, May 19-26 as they do not overlap into Reconciliation Week.  Though it does mean that LS Week concludes on Sunday, May 26 which is National Sorry Day. [The Australian Bishops’ Office for Justice, Ecology and Peace is preparing resources for LS Week which will be available by the end of April. These will focus on Care for our Earth from an Indigenous perspective so as to keep alive the current Bishops’ SJ Statement, Listen, Learn, Love – A New Engagement with ATSI People.  So keep your eye on their website https://socialjustice.catholic.org.au/]

Two positive actions that are encouraged in the parishes during this year’s Laudato Si’ week include:

Firstly, consider your parish commitment to joining the Laudato Si’ Platform as stipulated by Pope Francis and the Plenary Council decree 8.  The Caritas program, Catholic Earthcare Australia, is a way of stimulating and sustaining ecological conversion. This model provides a concrete way to plan for action in our diocese and parishes through action plans based on setting local Laudato Si’ goals, with support from Caritas Australia.  The first step in this commitment is to register as an Earthcare Parish here.

Secondly, planting seeds of hope We encourage parishes and schools to both advocate for change and be the change by planting seeds in gardens or to rejuvenate local green spaces. More information can be found here.

For more information and to explore this call to action further, please contact Jillian Hogbin, ph. 53377 117 or email caritas@ballarat.catholic.org.au

Resources are available below for celebrating Laudato Si on Pentecost Sunday. These are simply suggestions and may be adapted in any way to suit your own parish/school.

God of all creation,
Thank you for the gift of our lives
and for the world in which we live.
We thank you for the warmth of the sun in winter,
and a cool breeze in summer.
We thank you for the great diversity of life,
which fills us with wonder and reminds us that we too are creatures.
We pray that we will grow in respect for all life,
and for the Earth itself.
That we will use your gifts with gentleness and wisdom,
not with greed and selfishness.
We pray that our minds and hearts will lead us to an active hope,
as we respond to the cry of the Earth and the cry of the poor in our time.
May our hope transform humanity,
to take bold action to protect our world.
At this time of Pentecost
may we call on the Holy Spirit to kindle in us the fire of God’s love
and renew the face of the Earth.
May we all be part of that renewal.
We ask this in Jesus’ name.
Amen.

Here is a link for the latest resource from Caritas Australia to help parishes celebrate Laudato Si’ Week in prayer and action.

For schools, Caritas is also providing live Q&As for students during Laudato Si’ Week – offering the chance to hear from staff, providing students with the opportunity to learn more about their work in climate justice and to ask questions…live!

These 30-minute sessions are hosted by Caritas Australia on Zoom. See timetable and Registration link in the Secondary Resource.