Rome, 20 May 2021
To help heal our suffering common home, the Global Catholic Climate Movement has launched the new Creation Care Prayer Network.
The network will consist of religious and lay contemplative communities that will accompany all people and species most affected by climate and ecological injustice. The network will connect through prayer and Eucharistic adoration and will be invited to pray for key moments throughout the year.
The Creation Care Prayer Network joins Catholic institutions around the world in helping more people care for creation and undergo an ecological conversion, as Pope Francis urges in Laudato Si’ (217). Already more than 180 Catholic communities have joined the network.
Catholic communities worldwide regularly pray for our common home for people to be moved to care for God’s creation.
But as the ecological crisis and climate emergency worsen across the globe, GCCM seeks to unite these communities and lift up in unison these prayers to our Creator.
GCCM Associate Director Christina Leaño said: “As people of faith, we believe in the power of prayer. Our sisters and brothers, as well as all members of creation, are suffering more than ever as the climate crisis worsens around the world. Our common home urgently needs our prayers. Pope Francis calls on all of us ‘redress the damage caused by human abuse of God’s creation.’ By facilitating this network, we hope to unite Catholics and inspire communities around the world to earnestly pray for all of creation.”
By joining the network, communities will be making a powerful public commitment to pray for creation on an ongoing basis, with help from GCCM’s monthly newsletter. On LaudatoSiPray.org, GCCM will produce a map of the network that will showcase the registered communities and links to their websites and/or social media profiles.
Sr. Sheila Kinsey is a member of the Franciscan Sisters, Daughters of the Sacred Hearts of Jesus and Mary, which has joined the network. “Our prayerful participation in this network will remind all of us to keep God’s creation foremost in our minds and to constantly be caring for our common home. We remain committed to praying together and collaborating with communities around the world as we work to end the climate emergency and ecological crisis.”
Kinsey is also the executive co-secretary for the International Union of Superiors General’s Justice, Peace and Integrity of Creation Commission.
GCCM also will host a Telegram or Facebook group where members can come together and share prayer intentions. Interested communities can sign up for the network at LaudatoSiPray.org.
The Creation Care Prayer Network was launched and announced on Thursday as part of Laudato Si’ Week 2021, the 10-day celebration to rejoice in the great progress Catholics have made in bringing Laudato Si’ to life and to plan the next decade.