Bishop Alan issued a Pastoral Letter for Laudato Si' week
Pastoral Letter for Laudato Si' Week
May 24th - May 31"1
Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,
Peace be with you.
As we approach Laudato Si' Week Saturday May 24th - Saturday May 31st, I write to you with a heart full of hope and a deep sense of urgency. This special week, inspired by the late Pope Francis' encyclical Laudato Si': On Care for Our Common Home, invites us to reflect on the beauty of God's creation and our sacred responsibility to protect it and protect the poorest whose livelihoods depend on the fruit of their labours.
Our world is crying out-from the forests that bum, to the oceans that rise, to the communities that suffer most from environmental degradation. Yet, amid these challenges, we are reminded that hope is born from action, and that each of us has a role to play in healing our common home.
I encourage every parish, school, and family in our diocese to take part in this week of prayer, reflection, and action. Whether through a special Mass, attending the Living Laudato Si Conference on Sunday May 25 in Clonard Monastery, a community clean-up, a moment of silence for the Earth, or a conversation about sustainable living, your participation matters.
Small acts, done with great love, can transform hearts and landscapes alike. I will be planting a tree in the beautiful grounds of the Immaculate Heart of Mary Church on Tuesday May 27th, which is a small symbolic act of commitment to the principles of Laudato Si.
Let us be inspired by the words of Pope Francis:
"Living our vocation to be protectors of God's handiwork is essential to a life of virtue; it is not an optional or a secondary aspect of our Christian experience. "
May this Laudato Si' Week be a time of renewal for our faith and our commitment to justice, peace, and the integrity of creation. Let us walk gently on the Earth, with gratitude in our hearts and courage in our steps.
With every blessing,
+ Bishop Alan Mc Guckian
