Renowned eco-theologian and Columban missionary Fr Sean McDonagh will be the keynote speaker at this weekend’s Laudato Si reflection day hosted by the Conference of Religious of England and Wales in London.
The day aims to help Religious mobilise so as to lend their prophetic voice to the climate crisis facing our common home. It also aims to help congregations consider quantifiable steps they can undertake.
It is the second such gathering that the Conference of Religious of England and Wales has held on this issue and they plan a third gathering on 21 March.
In 2014 and 2015, Fr Sean was involved in the research which led to the publication of ‘Laudato Si’ On Care for our Common Home.’
In 2017, he edited ‘Laudato Si’: An Irish Response’, which was published by Veritas.
Fr Sean features on the homepage this week of the Conference of Religious where he is described as writing “with passion and a deep sense of urgency”.
The eco theologian has repeatedly highlighted that “Pope Francis is asking us to see that destroying the environment is a sin.”
Separately, in a video message addressing Catholic communities around the world, Pope Francis has invited everyone to participate in Laudato Si’ Week from 16-24 May 2020.
The video was released on the occasion of the fifth anniversary of the publication of the Encyclical.
The Dicastery for Promoting Integral Human Development sponsors Laudato Si’ Week and is encouraging Catholic communities globally to take bolder actions on behalf of creation during the week-long initiative.
In the video, Pope Francis reiterates his urgent call to respond to the ecological crisis: “The cry of the earth and the cry of the poor cannot continue”, he says.
“Let’s take care of creation, a gift of our good Creator God. Let’s celebrateLaudato Si’Week together.”
Laudato Si Week website: https://laudatosiweek.org/resources/
Read Laudato Si’ Encyclical Letter on the Environment: https://www.columban.org.au/assets/files/features/2015/laudato-si-encyclic-letter-pope-francis-english.pdf
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