Laudato Si Action Plan

The Sisters of Mercy of the Americas has enrolled in the Vatican’s Laudato Si’ Action Platform, joining the worldwide Catholic community in a seven-year journey toward more fully living Pope Francis’ encyclical Laudato Si’. This commits us to respond to the cry of the Earth and the cry of the poor, adopt sustainable lifestyles, practice ecological economics, nurture ecological spirituality and education, and engage in community resilience and empowerment.

The Institute Leadership Team recognizes that this Vatican-led initiative provides an opportunity to continue our transformation toward greater integrity of word and deed. It also supports our commitment to unmask and address the underlying causes of our Critical Concerns of racism, Earth, immigration, nonviolence and women, and the interconnections among them.

Our Commitment Statement

We commit to take up the 'urgent appeal' of Laudato Si' to listen and respond to the cry of the Earth and the cry of the poor by making it a community priority.

Read Here

Second Year Report

Read Here

Videos and Webinars

Click Here

Action Plan

Read Here

Mercy Guide, Resources, Archive

Click Here

Laudato Si' Goals

At this kairos moment, action is needed. The Laudato Si’ Goals guide our actions. Their holistic approach supports a spiritual and cultural revolution as we strive for total sustainability in the spirit of integral ecology.

Response to the Cry of Earth

The Response to the Cry of the Earth is a call to protect our common home for the wellbeing of all, as we equitably address the climate crisis, biodiversity loss, and ecological sustainability.

Explore Mercy's Response to the Cry of the Earth
Explore Mercy's Response to the Cry of the Earth
Response to the Cry of the Poor

The Response to the Cry of the Poor is a call to promote eco-justice, aware that we are called to defend human life from conception to death, and all forms of life on Earth.

Explore Mercy's Response to the Cry of the Poor
Explore Mercy's Response to the Cry of the Poor
Ecological Economics

Ecological Economics acknowledges that the economy is a sub-system of human society, which itself is embedded within the biosphere–our common home.

Explore Mercy's Approach to Ecological Economics
Explore Mercy's Approach to Ecological Economics
Adoption of Sustainable Lifestyles

The Adoption of Sustainable Lifestyles is grounded in the idea of sufficiency, and promoting sobriety in the use of resources and energy.

Explore Mercy's Adoption of Sustainable Lifestyles
Explore Mercy's Adoption of Sustainable Lifestyles
Ecological Education

Ecological Education is about re-thinking and re-designing curricular and institutional reform in the spirit of integral ecology in order to foster ecological awareness and transformative action.

Explore Mercy's Approach to Ecological Education
Explore Mercy's Approach to Ecological Education
Ecological Spirituality

Ecological Spirituality springs from a profound ecological conversion and helps us to “discover God in all things”, both in the beauty of creation and in the sighs of the sick and the groans of the afflicted, aware that the life of the spirit is not dissociated from worldly realities.

Explore Mercy's Approach to Ecological Spirituality
Explore Mercy's Approach to Ecological Spirituality
Community Resilience and Empowerment

Community resilience and empowerment envisage a synodal journey of community engagement and participatory action at various levels.

Explore Mercy's Community Engagement
Explore Mercy's Community Engagement

Laudato Si' Reflections

story
Healing Earth in the Rio Grande Valley: A ‘Women of Mercy’ Story
August 22, 2022

By Catherine Walsh, Features Writer – Something special has happened over the years since the Sisters of Mercy first started ministering with the people of the Rio Grande Valley in South Texas, near the U.S./Mexico border, in 1875. The sisters and the women, children, and families of the Mexican immigrant community have formed a tight bond. And in recent years they have forged a mutual commitment to the Mercy mission of caring for Earth. In fact, they have put Earth at the center of their work together this year at four ARISE Adelante community centers that are co-sponsored by the Sisters of Mercy and the Sisters of Charity of the Incarnate Word.
story
Students Grow Skills and Love of Earth on School Farm
July 29, 2022

By Jocelyn Welch, Mercy Montessori Erdkinder/Farmessori Directress — Mercy Montessori’s Farmessori and Erdkinder Program in Cincinnati, Ohio, is rooted in Montessori philosophy and strives to give all students opportunities to work with the land and grow into stewards of our Earth.
story
Hearing the Cry of Guyana’s Poor: Connecting with Earth and Social Challenges
July 7, 2022

By Elsa Cromarty, Coordinator of Mercy Associates in Guyana — “The human environment and the natural environment deteriorate together….In fact, the deterioration of the environment and of society affects the most vulnerable people on the planet….The impact of present imbalances is also seen in the premature death of many of the poor.” This quote from Laudato Si’ reminds us that we and Earth are one. We are indispensably connected, and human actions, good or bad, decisively affect our relationship with the environment.

Our Commitment Statement

Laudato Si' Goals

Laudato Si' Reflections

For more information about Mercy’s commitment to the Laudato Si’ Action Platform, contact laudatosi@sistersofmercy.org