Greetings California Laudato Si’ Companions!
We are one month away from the World Day of Prayer for the Care of Creation and the start to Season of Creation 2026. This year’s theme is “Immersion in Living Water,” drawing from Ezekiel 47: 9, 12.
A) We will celebrate together at the beginning of our next ALL MEMBER Meeting on Wed September 2nd at 6:30-8PM on zoom, https://us02web.zoom.us/j/87896006580?pwd=czSbpDGCQLicyQfpuIVdcpbyYRqble.1
If you are interested in leading this short paraliturgy (~15 minutes), please let us know!
Please come prepared to share about an impacted waterway in your diocese.
Proposed Agenda
– Review our new regional Laudato Si’ Circles and the leadership for each
– Discuss functional chapter positions to fill such as advocacy, eco-spirituality, eco-education, youth outreach, etc.
– Update all on our progress to establish a fund for our chapter
– Open the floor to proposed events for the 2026-2027 year especially for the Feast of Saint Francis, State Advocacy, Earth Day, and for January invitations for new members.
If you have additional agenda items, please email us!
B) Info and resources for this ecumenical season can be found at https://seasonofcreation.org/. There, you will find:
– The SOC26 Celebration Guide
– A link to the SEPT 1st Prayer Service for “Creation Day”
– A map of worldwide SOC events
***THIS MAP IS GOING TO SERVE AS OUR TRACKER OF ALL CALSM SOC26 EVENTS***
– Please add your event by clicking the yellow box with a plus sign at bottom right
– Enter the address of the event, and you will be prompted to provide details
– If you need help, email or text Christina Slentz at [email protected]/757-477-1822
– Janielle will have this map linked to our homepage and social media so all members and those interested in our state can find us.
We also have a specific CA LSM Season of Creation folder with additional resources you can reference and also add onto! Please feel free to reach out if you need support with planning out events in your parishes and dioceses!
C) Additional Ways to Take Action:
- No on Prop 45: stop the roll back on critical environmental protections for a range of polluting projects, from industrial facilities to data centers to freeway expansion projects – resulting in dirtier air and water and higher health care and utility costs. Learn more at https://peopleoverpollutersca.com/.
- Summer Public Witness in Orange County August 4 – Sept 22: Our commitment to the Gospel, the mission, and our charism urges us to respond and stand in solidarity with our marginalized community impacted by the removal of ruthless immigration enforcement, the cruel separation of families, and cuts to social safety net programs. Let us recognize and support one another with dignity and love. Learn more at https://www.csjorange.org/.
- St. Joseph Justice Center – Virtual Advocacy Days August 18 and 19: engage with legislators through legislative meetings, you will encourage policies for just immigration policies, address environmental injustice, and end human trafficking, among other important justice issues. Register Here.
- California Interfaith Power & Light – Virtual Advocacy Day August 11: Participants will be paired with their State Assembly and Senate representatives for two virtual meetings where they can share personal stories, lift up the moral urgency of climate action, and encourage elected leaders to support policies that care for creation. Register Here.
- Prayers for the casualties of the wildfires in North America, Europe, and beyond: We pray this month for all those suffering as a result of the heatwaves – so that, overcoming doubts and divisions, all humanity may respond with unity and urgency to the care of our common home. With this in mind, we ask you to please consider making a donation. Your support makes possible the formation, collaboration, and sustained action needed not only to respond to crises like these, but also to help prevent and lessen their impact in the future.Â
D) Other Upcoming Events:
- Interfaith Climate Justice Summit, in San Jose, Aug 23: Climate protections, clean energy progress, and our social safety net are facing growing threats. Join clergy, lay leaders, youth, and community members from diverse faith traditions for an afternoon of faith leadership and advocacy training, relationship-building, and opportunities to take action together for climate justice and the common good. RSVP here.
- The Catholic Church and Climate Change, in San Francisco, Aug 23: Facilitated by Diana Marin, director of Mercy & Justice at St. Ignatius Parish, we’ll look at the history of the Church’s commitment to environmental stewardship, from Catholic Social Teaching and papal encyclicals to recent actions taken by the global Church. Whether you’re new to this topic or looking to deepen your understanding, this faith formation event will offer inspiration, practical tools, and opportunities to live out our faith. Learn more here.
- Laudate Deum Monthly Virtual Gathering every 1st Sundays, next one Sept 6: We are answering the plea of Pope Francis I in his Apostolic Exhortation “Laudate Deum to all People of Goodwill on the Climate Crisis”.Join us to pray about the climate crisis and share our work in spreading the message and answering the call. RSVP here.
- Season of Creation Bilingual Mass and Laudato Si’ Awards Reception, in San Diego, Sept 5: Join the Diocese of San Diego for their annual celebration with Bishop Michael Pham, using Pope Leo’s newly approved Mass for the Care of Creation. A small reception will take place after Mass to acknowledge those who have taken Laudato Si’ action this past year. RSVP here and learn more about upcoming events here.
- A Mission to the Missions – A Trip with a Zero Emission Fuel Cell Electric Vehicle to Commemorate the Jubilee Year of St. Francis, From San Diego de Alcala to San Francisco de Solano, Sept 18 to 27: Our goal is to park at each of the seven missions we plan to visit and have a small display next to the car, which will include information about Laudato Si’ (including the CA-LSM chapter), hydrogen transportation as another alternative to fossil fuel vehicles, and suggestions on ways people can honor God’s creation by reducing their consumption of the earth’s resources. Learn more here.
- Laudato Si Workshop for Sacramento Diocese Ministry Day, Sept 25: More details to be confirmed. Please save the date for the workshop lead by Betsy – “The Laudato SĂ Movement: hope and healing for our hurting world.”Â
E) Congratulations to everyone who took part in our Laudato Si Faith reading journey this summer!Thank you to Marilyn, Mark, and Bobbie for facilitating! Please read more about the experience here and give appreciation to the whole team!