Registration for the Formation of Laudato Si’ Animators 2024

Rome (Itay). In response to the Church’s call to care for Creation, the Laudato Si Movement (LSM) – a network of over 900 organizations, from large international networks to local religious orders, parishes, and thousands of Catholics committed to responding to the urgent appeal launched by Pope Francis in the Encyclical Laudato si’ – organizes a Formation Program for Laudato si’ Animators, from 8 April to 24 May 2024, which includes four online sessions and an application project.

The recipients of this formation proposal are all those who feel the desire to animate their parishes and communities in living the dimension of “Church outgoing”, attentive to the cry of the poor and the earth in their respective contexts, responding to the call to become the leaven of a community conversion, trying to open in their respective areas of commitment “new paths for an integral ecology”.

This perspective is recalled in the third choice of General Chapter XXIV of the Institute of the Daughters of Mary Help of Christians:

“As educating communities, aware of our specific contribution to society and to the Church, with particular attention to the female world, we are inspired by Mornese outgoing and are networked with the Salesian Family, institutions, and other educational bodies to move from words to deeds. Only together can we prepare the future and give hope to the young generations by taking care of the integral and, in particular, sociopolitical formation, according to the Social Doctrine of the Church.”

The Formation of Laudato Si’ Animators 2024, is also part of the journey of the Synod on synodality, forming together with the partners of the Course a network of Laudato Si’ Animators belonging to the richness of the biodiversity of the charisms of the Church that, like leaven and walking together even after the Course, will help the Church to be a “sacrament of care” starting from their own realities of commitment.

Laudato Si’ Animators all over the world so far number 16,000, including numerous Daughters of Mary Help of Christians and other members of the Salesian Family, committed to animating the Laudato si’ Circles and various initiatives involving the Educating Communities.

The formation objectives are:

• Learn the concepts of Laudato si’ and how the Encyclical fits into the principles of Catholic social teaching on human dignity, the common good, and solidarity.
• Understand the causes and consequences of climate change – how the injustice of this crisis affects the earth and the poor.
• See examples of how you can experience Laudato si’, connecting with a global movement.
• Get involved with the organization of an event or activity for your community, talk with others about Laudato si’, and have the opportunity to reflect on this learning.
• Respond to the call to bring Laudato si into one’s life, to carry out actions to take care of creation inspired by faith. See how the Catholic faith is linked to the ethical duty to face the climate crisis.
• Dedicate ourselves to ongoing ecological conversion, so that hearts and eyes are open to the cry of the earth and the poor and we feel called to a deeper action, living an active involvement with the Laudato Si’, for example building an LS Circle or supporting the common mission.

The proposed methodology for formation is that of “Seeing, Judging, Acting, and … Celebrating”. At the end of the formation proposal, the participants receive a certificate and enter the network of Animators, which allows them ongoing formation through monthly online meetings, where the animators meet, pray together, receive specific information on different areas, share experiences, and are coordinated on global initiatives.

On the dedicated website, it is possible to have more information, consult the program, and register (Link).

“There are no lasting changes without cultural changes … and there are no cultural changes without changes in people” (Laudate Deum, 70).