by Mary Rose LeBaron, Mercy and Justice Commission
St. Ignatius Parish’s Laudato Si’ Circle is a social justice ministry rooted in love of life and centered on care for our common home. Since 2019, approximately 12-15 of your fellow parishioners have met regularly to PRAY, REFLECT, and ACT, creating community around not only a shared vision, but also shared actions. Especially during Lent, we focus on conversion at the individual level which will lead us to advocate for a cultural conversion that addresses the cry of the earth and its creatures. We envision and take action to foster eco-conversion in the hearts of decisionmakers in both the public and private sectors, that they may seek to put the wellbeing of all creation before profits and support policies that will halt the burning of fossil fuels.
The Jesuit Order has included “Caring for Our Common Home” as a universal apostolic preference, calling for urgent action on the part of Christians and all people of goodwill and for an ecological conversion of nations and peoples. Through a personal and passionate relationship with Jesus, we receive the grace to transcend ourselves and new strength to care for others and for creation. We envision a new transformed world and ecosystem where we are all sisters and brothers to each other.
There is one more session in the parish-wide discernment series. We need your input and I urge you to participate! Could you, (yes, you reading this) please review the materials on our website and join in the fourth and final session on April 24 at 12:30pm? You may access the Zoom room here.