FCJ Sisters from London communities attended a day on Ecology and Church: Our vocation for prophetic action and investment for Our Common Home organised by the Conference or Religious of England and Wales (CoR). There were 50 religious present representing more than 30 religious congregations at the London Jesuit Centre in Central London on Thursday, 4 September. The Faithful Companions of Jesus were represented by Srs Paola, Elvie, Katherine, Gloria, Betty and MaryAnne.
The ‚day of reflection, dialogue and action‘ was organised by CoR, in collaboration with the Laudato Si Movement, Operation Noah, Just Money Movement and the Association of Provincial Bursars.
The day opened with a welcome from Sr Jane Maltby Rscj, Chair of CoR’s Collaboration Team, and introductions from the two facilitators: Sr MaryAnne Francalanza fcJ, from the FCJ Centre for Spirituality and EcoJustice in London, and Bokani Tshidzu, Campaign Officer of Operation Noah, an ecumenical Christian charity that campaigns exclusively on climate change.
Sr MaryAnne fcJ led the opening prayer, quoting from Psalm 18, the entrance antiphon of the Mass for the Care of Creation: The Heavens declare the glory of God, and the firmament proclaims the work of God’s hands. Pope Leo’s message for the 10th World Day of Prayer for the Care of Creation on 1 September 2025 was quoted with the image displayed of a human footprint on Planet Earth: On all sides, injustice, violations of international law and the rights of peoples, grave inequalities and the greed that fuels them are spawning deforestation, pollution and the loss of biodiversity. Extreme natural phenomena caused by climate changes provoked by human activity are growing in intensity and frequency (cf. Laudato Deum, 5), to say nothing of the medium and long-term effects of the human and ecological devastation being wrought by armed conflicts.
Read more about the event on the post by Ellen Teague for the Independent Catholic News. Ellen and Sr MaryAnne are members of the Columban Justice, Peace and Ecology Team.
