SACRAMENTO, CA – In a moving display of faith, action, and leadership, 400 Catholic youth and adult leaders from across California gathered in Sacramento on Mon., Apr. 7, for a youth-led pilgrimage to the State Capitol. Organized by the California Chapter of Laudato Si’ Movement North America and Jesuits West Province as part of the nationwide “Pilgrimages of Hope for Creation” campaign, the day combined prayer, advocacy, and public witness to mark the 10th anniversary of Laudato Si’ and to advocate for legislative action on behalf of the environment and vulnerable communities.
Pilgrims from nearly every Catholic diocese in California—some traveling from as far south as the San Diego border—began their journey on Sun., Apr. 6, with a Mass celebrated by Bishop Jaime Soto at Jesuit High School in Sacramento. Students and adult chaperones, all of whom were staff from participating schools and parishes, walked in prayer from the Capitol to the legislative office building to meet with state legislators.
Rooted in Pope Francis’s call to care for our common home, the day began with a public witness and blessing ceremony and culminated in youth-led meetings with approximately 71 legislators, including 35 pre-scheduled advocacy sessions. Students were trained in the principles of Laudato Si’ and presented a unified message in support of 3 legislative priorities: fire resilience and prevention, water and habitat protection, and humane immigration policies.
The pilgrimage was grounded in prayer and reflection. Each student carried a Pilgrimage Journal and participated in shared moments of spiritual growth using the Prayer for the Jubilee Year of Hope from Pope Francis.
They also wore pins and stickers with the LSM California Chapter logo adapted by a student from the University of San Francisco, featuring an earth made of colorful handprints—a symbol of collective responsibility, creation, and care for the vulnerable. Banners crafted during a pre-summit gathering reflected this symbol, creating a visually unified message of hope and solidarity.
Several Catholic leaders played key roles in supporting and blessing the youth before and during the event, including:
- Bishop Bejarano of San Diego and Bishop Cantu of San Jose, who spoke on preparatory Zoom calls
- Fr. Sean Carroll, SJ, Provincial of Jesuits West, who offered the blessing on the launch call. Jesuits West sponsored the event/Sr. Ann Pratt, OP, Co-Leader of the California Chapter of Laudato Si’ Movement
- Betsy Reifsnider, Co Leader California Chapter of the Laudato Si’ Movement
- Fr. Joe Kraemer, SJ, Santa Clara University
- Fr. Scott Santarosa, SJ, Pastor of Our Lady of Guadalupe in San Diego, who led the public witness prayer
- Fr. Amer Awad, Parochial Administrator of St. Francis of Assisi Parish, Sacramento
- Tere Flores Onofre, Interim Executive Director of Sacramento ACT
Organized as part of the Pilgrimages of Hope for Creation, this California pilgrimage is among the first in a national series of events led by more than 20 national Catholic organizations. The initiative celebrates the anniversaries of Laudato Si’, St. Francis of Assisi’s Canticle of the Creatures, and the Catholic Church’s Jubilee Year, inviting all people of good will to walk, pray, and act for creation.
“The invitation to pilgrimage goes out to all Catholics and people of good will,” said Anna Johnson, North American Program Director for the Laudato Si’ Movement. “Together, we can make a lasting impact by responding to the urgent call to safeguard the Earth as our common home.”
The pilgrimage was organized by the California Chapter of the Laudato Si’ Movement with planning team members from ministries including St. Anthony’s Parish, Bishop O’Dowd High School, Catholic Charities Stockton; Catholic Climate Covenant, Catholic Relief Services, Climate Center; Jesuits West, the Racine Dominicans and the Laudato Si Movement,
To prayerfully journey to Sacramento and convene hundreds of Catholics from across California at the state capitol to lift up Care for Creation as a central Catholic issue. We are led by youth, centering their leadership as prophetic pilgrims of hope and seeking to make a direct impact on state legislation with the hope that other states will take similar action during this 10th Anniversary year of Laudato Si’.