Laudato Sí: A Bold Manifesto Pope Francis’ shook the world several years ago when he wrote his encyc-lical on Care for our Common Home. The world and the church continue to struggle to realize the profound ecological conversion to which he called us. In the encyclical Pope Francis said very boldly that “Ecological conver-sion is imperative. We need only take a frank look at the facts to see that our common home is falling serious disrepair. Many things have to change course, but it is we human beings above all who need to change. We lack an awareness of our common origin, our mutual belonging, and a future to be shared with everyone.”

[Laudato Sí: On Care for Our Common Home #202]

Fall 2019 Lecture Series

Laudato Sí Confronts Climate Change 2020 Presenter: Matt Rousso, Director Maryknoll Mission Center

Tuesdays, October 8-29, 2019

5:45pm—7:30pm

In the St. Joseph Seminary Hospitality Room

a free-will offering for the series will be accepted

St. Joseph Seminary College

75376 River Rd.—St. Benedict, La 70457

* sessions will begin with the praying of Evening Prayer *

For more information, call Matt Rousso at (504) 376-4142

Laudato Sí: A Bold Manifesto Pope Francis shook the world several years ago when he wrote his encycli-cal on Care for our Common Home. The world and the church continue to struggle to realize the profound ecological conversion to which he called us. In the encyclical Pope Francis said very boldly that ecological conver-sion is imperative. “We need only take a frank look at the facts to see that

our common home is falling into serious disre-pair. (LS#61) Many things have to change course, but it is we human beings above all who need to change. We lack an awareness of our common origin, our mutual belonging, and a future to be shared with everyone.”

[Laudato Sí: On Care for Our Common Home #202]

Send Email to Register: mrousso@maryknoll.org

Lecture One: [October 8] A Bold Manifesto on Climate Change

“Climate change is a global problem with grave implications: envi-

ronmental, social, economic, political and for the distribution of

goods. It represents one of the principal challenges facing humanity in

our day.” (LS #25)

Lecture Two: [October 15] The Science is Clear

“Anyone who denies climate change should go to the scientists

and ask them. They speak very clearly .. Climate change is hav-

ing an effect, and scientists are telling us which path to follow.

And we have a responsibility—all of us. Everyone, great or

small, has a moral responsibility .. we must take it seriously..

history will judge our decision.” (Sept. 17, 2017—AP Press)

Lecture Three : [October 22] The Gospel of Creation

“I would like from the outset to show how faith convictions

can offer Christians ample motivation to care for nature

and for the most vulnerable of their brothers and sisters. If

the simple fact of being human moves people to care for the

environment, Christians in their turn ‘realize that their re-

sponsibility with creation, and their duty toward nature and

the Creator, are an essential part of their faith.’” (LS#64 and

John Paul II 1990)

Lecture Four : [October 29] Call to Personal Ecological Conversion

“The ecological crisis is a summons to profound interior conversion for all people …

whereby the effects of their encounter with Jesus become evident in their relationship

with the world around them ...living our vocation to be

protectors of God’s handiwork is essential to a life of

virtue; it is not an optional or secondary aspect of our

Christian experience...The Australian bishops spoke of

the importance of such conversion: ‘..we must examine

our lives and acknowledge the ways in which we have

harmed God’s creation through our actions and failure to act. We need to experience a

conversion or change of heart.’” (LS #217-218)