Laudato Si

Dear Members of the St Joseph Family,

We are all interconnected!  That is the theme of the afternoon on Sunday, March 20 from 1-3pm, in the Koenig Center.  There will be a presentation facilitated by a representative of the Archdiocese Office of Human Dignity & Solidarity and local team members, followed by a reception with light refreshments and time for Q&A.  We will talk about the Laudato Si' goals and how they relate to our parish and each one of us.  This is not about making a commitment, but to hear about the approach and possibilities for St. Joseph Parish.

To enroll go to  https://stjoseph-libertyville.org/care-for-creation Scroll down to Upcoming Events and click where it says "Click Here to sign up . Spouses or any other interested adults are also invited to join us.

 Laudato Si’ is Pope Francis’ insightful encyclical on Caring for Our Common Home. It stresses how all life on earth is interconnected in an intricate web called “integral ecology”. Recognizing this integral ecology where everything is connected, we are urged to hear and respond to the ”cry of the earth and the cry of the poor.”

The Laudato Si Action Platform (LSAP) is an opportunity for parishes to embrace a new collaborative, faith based approach in Caring for our Common Home. This approach begins with the development of a Creation Care Committee, which includes members from across all parish ministries, staff, and clergy working towards integral ecology. All parish ministries/staff/clergy reflect on the Laudato Si’ Goals and work together to break down the silos, bridge communication, set collaborative goals, work more effectively together, and amplify the impact of those efforts and activities to respond to the ”cry of the earth and the cry of the poor.”

Why This Is Important

As Pope Francis states in Laudato Si’, “Caring for our brothers and sisters means caring for the home we share.  This responsibility is ‘essential to a life of virtue.’”  (LS 217)’

“Our faith dictates that we have to care about and for humankind and we can’t do that without caring for the earth, our common home.”   “As Catholics, we are called to be stewards of all of God's creation. By protecting our planet and all of its inhabitants, we show our love for each other and our Creator.” – Cardinal Blasé Cupich, 2015

https://www.chicagocatholic.com/chicagoland/-/article/2021/12/01/local-leaders-helped-plan-global-laudato-si-platform 

I thank you for your interest and support in bringing the Laudato Si’ movement to life here at our parish.  My hope and prayer is that this universal topic of care for all of God’s creation can be a fruitful avenue for bringing new life to all ages in our faith community as we find a new sense of “normal” in 2022 and beyond.

I hope to see you on March 20. 

Blessings,

Louise Przywara

847-340-5033 

"Creation is a gift, it is a wonderful gift that God has given us, so that we care for it and we use it for the benefit of all, always with great respect and gratitude." Pope Francis