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 member of “Sisters of Earth” who had been studying the Universe Story taught by Thomas Berry.
I was immediately astounded by the depth of creation theology and Catholic Social Teaching coupled with climate crisis scientific documentation. There was something here for everyone. I was not surprised that Pope Francis would be the gatherer of the insights of his predecessors from John XXIII through Benedict XVI on the Catholic Church’s mandate to care for creation.
As with all the encyclicals issued by The Holy See, Laudato Si’ addresses the overwhelming crisis of our day. With the help of many advisors from all sectors of society and science, Francis named the crisis of environmental degradation, proclaimed the Church’s clear teachings on the Gospel of Creation, and offered both personal conversion and scientific antidotes for our troubling times.
In the summer of 2018, I was invited to join with 400 others at the Vatican to gain greater understanding of Laudato Si’. The two-day workshop was entitled “Saving Our Common Home and the Future of Life on Earth” and focused on integral ecology—a term coined by Pope Francis to address the oneness of all creation. Integral ecology brings together the wisdom of science, theology, economics, education, spirituality, and the arts, as well the stories of Indigenous peoples, youth, and elders from around the globe. The 35 keynote speakers shared a common theme: the urgency of action by every one of us.
Another highlight of the conference was an audience with Pope Francis. Each of the 400+ of us in attendance was able to shake his hand and wish him well—to look into the eyes of this holy man and say, “Thank you for being the face of God for so many of us.”
These two experiences have shaped my ongoing commitment to bringing workshops and retreats to religious congregations, parishes, and dioceses. I am especially committed to the Laudato Si’ Animation Team for the Central Pacific Province of the School Sisters of Notre Dame and the Care for Creation Team serving the archdiocese, which is now part of the Minnesota Chapter of the Laudato Si’ Movement.