Laudato Si: Care for Our Common Home
By Sr. Theresa Molchanow, MSC
By walking together towards an Integral Ecology in collaboration with the Church, the Missionaries of the Sacred Heart, the Daughters of Our Lady of the Sacred Heart, their Lay Associates, all People of Good Will and Others, the Missionary Sisters of the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus in the U.S.A. and throughout the world have made a commitment to the vision of “Laudato Sí,” Pope Francis’ encyclical of 2015 on Care for Our Common Home.
We Sisters, together with you, have seen Earth’s tears in the Covid pandemic, rising ocean levels, polluted soil and air, deforestation, vanishing wildlife, mudslides, wildfires, tornados, landslides, earthquakes, etc. We have heard Earth’s cries in wars, refugees, devaluation of human life, inequality, greed, discrimination, persons caught in the web of human trafficking, aborted babies, abandoned elderly, the disappeared, etc. Everything that lives is part of the web of life and has an integral right to live and thrive.
We M.S.C. Sisters have always believed that “wherever life groans, God calls us.” With great respect, we believe that all created things are meant to co-exist in harmony as God has designed it to be for “God saw everything that He had made, and indeed, it was very good.” (Genesis 1:31) In effect, we M.S.C. Sisters have been invited into an Ecological Conversion of heart, mind and choice. What we have chosen is to pray with and for creation, to be aware of the damage caused to Earth, to convert and to educate ourselves, to live more simply, to advocate in protection of our common home and to act together. In other words, to think deeply, live wisely and love generously and, through these efforts, to live and extend our mission: “To be on Earth the Heart of God!”
Within the scope of possibility, we M.S.C. Sisters of the U.S.A. have declared to our Sisters everywhere and, now to you, what we can do together towards an even greater love for our Creator, for everyone everywhere and for the home we share. You, everyone, has a part to play in bringing to life the invitation extended to each of us by Pope Francis. Together, we can Care for our Common Home. “Praise be to You, my Lord!”
Use your favorite resources to learn more. Among some are:
https://laudatosimovement.org
https://paxchristi.net