10 years on from Laudato Si’
The Laudato Si’ Movement grew out of the Global Catholic Climate Movement, to further the aims of Pope Francis’ groundbreaking Encyclical Laudato Si’, with the intention of activating the world’s 1.4 billion Catholics to tackle the environmental crises.
Laudato Si’ Animators (LSA) are people, mainly Catholics, who have graduated from the Laudato Si’ Movement’s Course, which is set up to educate and enable participants to inspire others, in parishes, schools and in the world at large, to engage in dialogue and action on the current environmental crises. We do this under the aegis of the LS Encyclical.
LS Animators are dedicated to encouraging the growth of the roots planted by Pope Francis, through the many varied actions and groups we have established as permanent tributes to the Encyclical and reminders of the urgent call for action on the environment that the Encyclical puts before us.
In the ten years since Pope Francis published the LS Encyclical, the number of Animators has steadily grown. In the UK there are over a hundred who are active. Worldwide there are thousands.
Perhaps the most important contributions to promoting Laudato Si’ are the green groups that Animators have set up in their parishes.
These green groups are active in advocating for our common home, for example by organising actions such as Menchu’s Sharing Fair initiative, which asks parishioners to offer their unwanted possessions to others instead of binning them.
Animators regularly attend pilgrimages and protest marches for the environment.
Oxford based artist and Animator Helen Elwes has painted a banner, ‘Mother of Mercy’, which she has carried on pilgrimages, vigils and protest marches around the country.
Facebook pages have been set up by individual Animators or by their parish group, such as Animator Martin Davis’s ecumenical Cheltenham Laudato Si’ Circle which has a Facebook page.
Some Animators have set up parish websites, like Brian Austin’s parish site.
LS Animators in the UK also have a general website.
The UK Animators have regular monthly meetings, convened by John Woodhouse, to which Animators can bring any matter that they want to discuss, and during which we plan activities such as Season of Creation actions, retreats, parish events and so on.
We have a Network of Animators in England and Wales, with a LSA Contact in almost every Diocese. There are also active Animators in Scotland who are part of the Network. The Contacts keep in touch with the Animators in their diocese, for mutual support, information, resources and to plan actions.
We also provide comments on news, views, events etc through our Writing Group, which can be called on to write articles as required. LSM occasionally posts our articles on our website, on this page.
We get together every year at the Laudato Si’ Centre in Salford, to celebrate past actions and to discuss future actions.
The Laudato Si’ Centre is the Diocese of Salford’s response to the LS Encyclical. It aims to be a place of education, inspiration and hope for those who visit.
These are just a few examples of the actions taken, groups set up and initiatives created by Animators in the UK to encourage the spread of those roots planted by Pope Francis.
Through these efforts, Animators are ensuring that the legacy of Pope Francis will never be forgotten and will continue to inspire future Animators to advocate for the natural environment. Virginia Bell for LS Animators UK
