In preparation for Laudato Si Week 19th – 26th May 2024 we aim to gather 1000+ pledges of actions (small or large) that people will take in caring for our common home. Each person will be able to make their pledge online or via a small card which we have produced for our parishes and schools.
The initiative is designed around Laudate Deum paragraphs #70 and #71 which assure us of the significance of small actions in shaping cultural change.
Laudate Deum
70. Nonetheless, every little bit helps, and avoiding an increase of a tenth of a degree in the global temperature would already suffice to alleviate some suffering for many people. Yet what is important is something less quantitative: the need to realize that there are no lasting changes without cultural changes, without a maturing of lifestyles and convictions within societies, and there are no cultural changes without personal changes.
71. Efforts by households to reduce pollution and waste, and to consume with prudence, are creating a new culture. The mere fact that personal, family and community habits are changing is contributing to greater concern about the unfulfilled responsibilities of the political sectors and indignation at the lack of interest shown by the powerful. Let us realize, then, that even though this does not immediately produce a notable effect from the quantitative standpoint, we are helping to bring about large processes of transformation rising from deep within society.
People are invited to do any small (or large!) additional thing… pray, plant a tree, use a bamboo toothbrush, lobby parliament… etc. These pledges will be gathered and shared in Laudato Si Week.
You can make your pledge online as a community or individual using this link:
Faithful Companions of Jesus 