By Leela Ramdeen

Head Animator of Animators, Laudato Si’ Movement – T&T Chapter

“…living our vocation to be protectors of God’s handiwork is essential to a life of virtue; it is not an optional or a secondary aspect of our Christian experience” (Pope Francis, Laudato Si’ 217)

I invite each of you to observe the 2021 Season of Creation which runs from  September 1, World Day of Prayer for the Care of Creation, to the feast of St Francis on  October 4.

This year, our Church marks the sixth anniversary of Pope Francis’ encyclical, Laudato Si’, On Care for our Common Home (LS) . As you are aware, this encyclical was addressed to every person on the planet. The time to pray and take action to save our planet is NOW.

You can access further information about the Season of Creation via the following links: https://seasonofcreation.org/,  and the Laudato Si’ Action Platform: laudatosiactionplatform.org. Join in the seven-year journey of integral ecology.

The international Global Catholic Climate Movement (GCCM), which was established in 2019,  announced its new name ‘Laudato Si’ Movement’ on July 29, the Feast Day of St Martha.

In light of this, the recently launched local GCCM Chapter in Trinidad and Tobago, of which  Sr Julie Peters SSM is the President, has also changed its name and  will now be known as ‘Laudato Si’ Movement – Trinidad and Tobago’ Chapter.

I have been appointed Head Animator of Animators of this local chapter. Our logo is linked to the global LSM logo. As we stated in our press release in August (CN, August 8), our local chapter membership is now open for Catholics who wish to join on the journey to pray for creation, live simply and take action to care for our common home. To become a member, go to https://forms.gle/ARgqoKNa6BhViJoV7

The Dicastery for Integral Human Development reminds us that the theme this year is: A home for all? Renewing the oikos of God, the global Christian family will participate in initiatives of prayer, sustainability, and advocacy to care for our common home.

This year’s symbol, Abraham’s Tent expresses our ecumenical call of radical hospitality, safeguarding a place for all creatures, human and non-human, in the household (oikos) of God.

Last year, the Holy Father Pope Francis, officially invited the faithful to participate in this annual season to “renew their faith in the God of Creation and join in prayer and work for the care of our common home…This Season of Creation will also be a critical moment for Catholics to lift up the voices of the most vulnerable and advocate on their behalf ahead of two important summits, the UN Summit on Biodiversity (Conference of the Parties, or COP 15) in October, and the UN Climate Summit in November (COP 26).”

There is much that you can do during the Season of Creation:

• Form a study group in your parish, with your family and friends in-person or online and reflect on each of the six chapters in Laudato Si’. As Pope Francis says: “…bring the whole human family together . . . for we know that things can change” (13, Laudato Si’). Pope Francis calls for conversion of hearts, minds, and lifestyles if we are to save our planet. Read LS and raise your awareness of ways in which you can take action to become an advocate to save our earth;
• Read news/summaries of the recent Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), which, as the UN Secretary-General describes as a “code red for humanity”. Climate change is affecting all regions of our earth, including T&T;
• Commit to stop using single-use plastic. Did you read recently that T&T’s plastic waste is twice international average and may be one of the reasons for major flooding here? On August 14, the Ministry of Planning and Development issued a news release describing single-use plastic as a particular cause for concern when it comes to improper waste disposal and flooding.

Years ago, Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI said: “Our earth speaks to us, and we must listen if we want to survive”. He said: “We are all in the world not as owners but as tenants and stewards…The environment is God’s gift to us.” Let’s take care of this tremendous gift.