As we celebrate the 10th anniversary of Laudato Si’ on May 24, 2025, SSND sisters, associates, and partners in ministry share some of the ways that they have incorporated the lessons of Pope Francis’ encyclical into their lives.   SSND associates Donna Haley and Miriam Hankins used the occasion of their parish picnic to display a variety of items that...Read more

by Kathleen Storms, SSND In early May 2015, I received a call from an editor of National Catholic Reporter (NCR) asking me to be a reviewer of Laudato Si’ before its official publication on May 24. I burned the midnight oil that day reading the entire text of Laudato Si’. Why was I asked to critique it? Because I was a...Read more

The SSND Guide to Laudato Si’ Commitment focus for June 3-July 21 is Ecological Economics. The following is a short prayer and a sample list of ways to work toward that goal: God of Wisdom, You gifted us with right judgement and courage. Help us to share the earth’s resources fairly and to use them wisely. Stand with us as...Read more

The SSND Guide to Laudato Si’ Commitment focus for April 15-June 2 is Response to Cry of the Earth. The following is a short prayer and a sample list of ways to work toward that goal: Creator God, You fill the earth with life. Lead us to live in harmony with your creation. May we respect all life from the...Read more

In response to Pope Francis’ encyclical Laudato Si’, School Sisters of Notre Dame are working toward a better future for our Earth in many large and small ways. Here are just a handful: In Sierra Leone, Sister Sarah Tanjo and Sister Vera Owoh are engaging their students in ecological education and action inspired by Pope Francis’ encyclical, Laudato Si’. At...Read more

The SSND Shalom North America virtual prayer room will be open every Friday from 10 am to 10 pm EST. All are invited to enter this peaceful space to unite for the needs of the world. Click this link to access the prayer room....Read more

SSND Reflection on Human Rights Monday, December 11, 2023 7:00pm ET, 6:00pm CT This year on International Human Rights Day (12/10/23), the world will celebrate the 75th anniversary of the UN Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR). Adopted by the UN General Assembly on December 10, 1948, the UDHR is a milestone document that proclaims the inalienable rights to which everyone...Read more

by Sister Therese Marie Dougherty Making a historic trip to the United Arab Emirates, Pope Francis will address the United Nations Climate Conference, commonly known as COP28, in Dubai on December 2. On the following day, the first Sunday of Advent, he will join other religious leaders from a wide variety of faith traditions to inaugurate the first ever Faith...Read more

by Sister Sylvia Nyaboke Nyamira As members of a Laudato Si’ community, School Sisters of Notre Dame (SSND) have begun seeing aspects of our mission and ministry through the lens of the Pope’s 2015 encyclical. The document asks many things of us, including that we act in solidarity with the most vulnerable among us. As a former primary school teacher...Read more

Laudato Si’ and Community Resilience & Empowerment By Sister Judith Herold Goal 7 of Laudato Si’—Community Resilience & Empowerment—emphasizes community involvement and action aimed at caring for our common home. It asks each of us to organize and activate our communities to work toward solutions to the ecological crisis we all face. This goal reminds us that, although our responsibilities...Read more