This year is the 10th anniversary of Pope Francis’ encyclical Laudato Si’: On Care for Our Common Home. It is also the 800th anniversary of the Canticle of the Creatures writted by St Francis of Assisi. To celebrate this anniversary, the FCJ Centre for Spirituality and EcoJustice working together with Westminister Justice and Peace (the Diocese of Westminster Peace and Justice Commission) and a group of Laudato Si’ Animators organised an event on 7th June, Revisiting Laudato Si’.
Sr MaryAnne fcJ, Director of the London FCJ Centre for Spirituality and EcoJustice, reports on the event:
The event started with a moment of prayer and a reflective reading of some words from the encyclical Laudato Si’. Fr Richard Nesbitt from Our Lady of Fatima, White City Parish in London, a Live Simply parish, shared some thoughts about how to create a community that lives the values of Laudato Si’ together.
The main part of our time together was spent in workshops. Participants had various choices: music, art, reflection using the Ignatian examen, making bread, time with trees and soil, and time exploring the library at the FCJ Centre for Spirituality and Ecojustice. The Centre was a hive of activity – what a way to cultivate joy and hope!
John Paul de Quay from the Ecological Conversion Group shared some thoughts with a future-focus as we continue to live and work for ecological justice. The event finished with a rousing rendition of the Laudato Si’ song which the music workshop had already practiced.
Let us sing as we go. May our struggle and our concern for this planet never take away the joy of our hope.
Pope Francis, Laudato Si’ #244
Video credit: Westminister Justice and Peace
