Laudato Si' Spirit: Collaboration for Action in the West

An integral ecology initiative sponsored by the Saint Barbara Province for the Franciscan family in the Western U.S.

About

The Saint Barbara Province of Franciscan Friars has created a Commission to guide participation in the Laudato Si’ Action Platform, the Catholic Church’s overall program to “journey towards sustainability in the holistic spirit of integral ecology.”

The Commission, named Laudato Si’ Spirit: Collaboration for Action in the West, has the responsibility for facilitating implementation of Laudato Si’ Action Plans in our entities. Laudato Si’ Spirit is a collaboration of Franciscans in the Western United States and is working in tandem with the US-6 Laudato Si’ Action Platform Team.

We fulfill our mission through:

Outreach to the Franciscan family (providing education and promotion of the Laudato Si’ Action Platform)
Recruitment (encouraging and facilitating participation)
Support (guiding through the registration and enrollment process)
Accompaniment (supporting communities during the planning process and continued participation)
Storytelling (sharing struggles and successes)
Accountability (helping everyone follow through on their plan)

Featured Resources:

Featuring Pope Francis, the full-length documentary The Letter follows diverse ecological advocates from around the world. Watch as they dialogue and find common ground with Pope Francis and one another while offering a hopeful vision for the future of caring for our common home.

Produced by Off the Fence (Oscar-winning producers of My Octopus Teacher) in collaboration with Laudato Si’ Movement and the Vatican, The Letter is available to watch for free on YouTube Originals.

Our Common Home: A Guide to Caring for our Living Planet

This new, beautifully illustrated full-color booklet connects the message of Laudato Si’ with the most pressing ecological issues – climate, biodiversity, water, air, industrial agriculture, production and consumption, and threats to our shared future.

A collaboration between scientific and spiritual communities, it presents essential facts and solutions on key topics, along with advice for taking ecological action.

Click the buttons below to access PDF versions of the booklet or visit the accompanying website to view online in English or Spanish.

Q&A

What is "Laudato Si' Spirit: Collaboration for Action in the West"?

Laudato Si’ Spirit: Collaboration for Action in the West is the full name of our efforts as a commission formed by the Franciscan friars of the St. Barbara Province. We encourage and guide participation in Laudato Si’ Action Platform, the Catholic Church’s overall program to “journey towards sustainability in the holistic spirit of integral ecology.” Rather than prescribing specific actions, we provide resources and encouragement for participating groups to develop their own integral ecology action plans that they enact at their local levels.

Visit our Resources page to access additional information about Laudato Si’ themes and our approach to integral ecology.

What does "Laudato Si' Spirit" mean?

Take a look at our introductory Community Connection post to read more about themes in our name and our logo.

Learn more about Laudato Si’: On Care for Our Common Home, the encyclical written by Pope Francis and the inspiration for our work with the Laudato Si’ Action Platform.

What does "Collaboration For Action In The West" mean?

We are a collaboration of different Franciscan entities including friars, women’s religious communities, ministries, and members of the Secular Franciscan Order.

The west in our title refers to the Western United States. While we were formed by the Franciscan friars of the St. Barbara Province, we partner with other Franciscan communities in our region which includes California, Arizona, Oregon and Washington. We also work in tandem with the US-6 Laudato Si’ Action Platform Team.

The action in our name refers to the Laudato Si’ Action Platform (LSAP) created for the universal Catholic Church and “all people of goodwill” by the Dicastery for Promoting Integral Human Development. Rather than prescribing specific actions, we provide resources and encouragement for participating groups to develop their own action plans that they enact at their local levels.

What kind of Laudato Si' information and resources are available?

Our website offers a variety of educational, spiritual, and action-oriented resources to enrich your journey with Laudato Si’.