Top: Sisters in Kenya planting trees around their communitites and around the perimeter at the new Bishop Ndingi Schools, Molo, Kenya, East Africa. Bottom: Sisters planting wildflowers and milkweed at the International Novitiate, St. Louis, MO, USA

Sisters planted 6,000 Trees in the first year of the LAUDATO SI’ ACTION PLATFORM(LSAP)

By Sr. Ricca Dimalibot-CCVI

We are off to a great start on our inaugural year of participation in the Laudato Si’ Action Platform (LSAP)!In this 7-year spiritual journey toward integral ecology and sustainability, our congregation joined millions worldwide: religious congregations, dioceses, schools, healthcare facilities, businesses, families, and individuals. The Sisters’ enthusiasm and genuine dedication to care for the environment came across in the thoughtful actionsteps, reflections, pictures, and videos.

Although we have been engaged in creation care endeavors for many years, for the purpose of LSAP,the Creation Care Committee (CCC) designed a specific plan that focuses on one activity per goal that isattainable based on the realities in the communities/countries where we live and minister, and the resourcesavailable. We collated all the results presented during the last ARCs from the four regions and will share themover the next few months in each issue of News and Notes. Soon, we will submit our Laudato Si’ Action Plan to the LSAP website and re-enroll to continue our annual commitment. Each region agreed to set the same plan for each goal next year. Planning for the second year of LSAP is underway.

For our first year of enrollment, the CCC thought it wise to be very conservative in our plan for the firstgoal, Cry of the Earth, by only committing to planting at least ten trees per region. Now that we have theresponses from the regions, we realize that we greatly underestimated the passion to care for creation of ourSisters. Last year, our Kenyan Sisters planted 2,000, which we thought was an over- achievement! This year, to say that the response is overwhelming is an understatement! Between all the regions, we planted more than 6,000trees! Unbelievable!

We are very grateful to all of you for joining your voices with our sisters and brothers worldwide in caring for our common home. Through LSAP, we are in solidarity with all the people who strengthen their faith inGod through communion with creation.

Top to Bottom, Left to Right: Students planting a tree at Casa de RetirosVerbo Encarnado – Aldea Pachall, Guatemala; Sisters planted fruit trees at the community convent – Esquipulas, Guatemala; Carrigoran House employees plant trees around its grounds-County Clare, Ireland; Orange, Lime, Lemon, Cashew,Avocado, Mango & Zapote seedlings – Torola, El Salvador; Repurposing a Ramen Noodle cup fora Lime tree seedling – Torola, El Salvador