Get Involved - Laudato Si' - School Sisters of Notre Dame Central Pacific Province

Laudato Si' Action Platform header

In 2015, Pope Francis’ encyclical letter Laudato Si’ inspired and urged the world’s 1.3 billion Catholics and all people of good will to take urgent action against the injustice of the climate emergency and the ecological crisis, to protect the poor and future generations. The Laudato Si’ Action Platform (LSAP) was developed in response to Pope Francis’ call.

In fidelity to our charism and the mission to bring all to oneness, we have committed to live more simply, responsibly, and sustainably and to educate, advocate, and act in collaboration with others for the dignity of life and the care of all creation.

- School Sisters of Notre Dame (SSND)
LSAP Public Commitment

In 2021, SSND made the following commitment:

The Triune God impels us into the heart of the world to be women of peace, hope, and love. As a Laudato Si’ congregation, we embark on a seven-year journey towards an integral ecology. In fidelity to our charism and the mission to bring all to oneness, we commit to live more simply, responsibly, and sustainably and to educate, advocate and act in collaboration with others for the dignity of life and the care of all creation. Called to live our mission prophetically, we School Sisters of Notre Dame live and minister with the conviction that the world can be changed through the transformation of persons.

Foundation of our commitment

We understand that our greatest contribution to address climate change is to educate, advocate, and act in ways that lead to personal conversion and social transformation. It is essential to remember that at the heart of this initiative is a call to each of us to undergo the deeper process of ecological conversion. The call to ecological conversion is a commitment to participate in the healing of Earth, and to living in right relationship with all in our planet’s community of life.

Explore Laudato Si' Resources from other SSND provinces
Discover SSND and associates of Central Pacific Province living out the principles of Laudato Si'
Read Pope Francis’ encyclical letter written in 2015

SSND Central Pacific Province LSAP Goals

7 Laudato Si’ Goals

Response to cry of the earth
Response to cry of the poor
Ecological economics
Adoption of sustainable lifestyles
Ecological education
Ecological spirituality
Community resilience and empowerment

Laudato Si' goals (PDF)

All sisters and associates will commit to a common daily prayer in support of SSND LSAP commitment. (Supports Laudato Si’ Goals (LSG) 1-7, but especially 6)
All sisters and associates will go at least one day a week without eating meat. (LSG 1,3,4)
All sisters, associates, province departments, and ministries will choose alternatives to single use plastic (including bottled water) in situations where they can do so. (LSG 1,3,4)
All sisters and associates will engage in at least one action each week in support of SSND’s LSAP commitment (LSG 1,2,5,7) utilizing resources from the weekly province announcements, Shalom News North America newsletter and alerts, or other sources.
All Sisters, associates, province departments, and ministries will take steps to incorporate the SSND LSAP commitment explicitly into their existing goal-setting process going forward. (LSG 1-6)
All meeting and event planning for in-person province gatherings will reflect our oneness and interdependence with all life on Earth and our commitment to sustainable living practices in recognition of Love Gives Everything and our community’s LSAP commitment. This should be reflected in such areas as venue selection, the way the prayer and program are organized, the food and drink that is chosen and provided. All province events will include carbon footprint calculation and a commitment to appropriate remediation. A summary of these actions should be shared in some fashion with participants to raise awareness and promote accountability. (LSG 1-6)

Central Pacific Province Laudato Si’ goals (PDF)