Call for a Laudato Si' Centre in every diocese

Laudato Si' Animators with Bishop John Arnold during visit to the Laudato Si Centre

A group of 24 Laudato Si' Animators from around England, visiting Salford's Laudato Si' Centre during the Season of Creation, have undertaken to write to their bishops and push for a similar centre in their dioceses.

Laudato Si' Animators are members of the Laudato Si Movement, a global community of prayer and action. They work to bring Pope Francis's Encyclical Laudato Si' to life. They are trained by the Laudato Si' Movement to get the message of Pope Francis into the parishes. Most attend bi-monthly zoom meetings and take part in prayer vigils and marches about the climate and biodiversity.

Members of the Laudato Si' Movement support local parishes and communities to engage in ecological spirituality, sustainable lifestyles and advocacy for climate and ecological justice.

On 29 September, a group of animators met with Bishop John Arnold of Salford, the bishops' environmental lead in England and Wales.

Their visit to Salford's Laudato Si' Centre began with a tour of the Centre given by Emily Cahill, the Centre's environmental and learning officer. She stressed that Bishop John Arnold's vision for the Wardley Hall Centre was that it would be used by everyone as a centre for learning, spirituality and wellbeing.

In four years, a lawn has been converted into a thriving garden and a woodland area is ideal for groups. Over 3,000 people have visited the centre, especially school and parish groups.

The group was given leaves from various plants to attach to sheets on which they wrote what inspired them to be animators and what hopes they had for the future. After a simple vegan lunch when they were joined by the director of the centre, Emma Gardner, they split into groups and noted down responses. The rain brought them back into the outdoor classroom where Bishop John Arnold greeted the group and a photo was taken.

Sr Joan Kerley then gave an inspiring talk about St Hildegard of Bingen and St Kateri and the Haudenosaunee (Iroquois) Creation story. They sang two songs about creation and then started to answer the seven questions that Laudato Si' Movement had suggested. They ended with prayers from the Haudenosaunee (Iroquois) Greetings to the Natural World.

If a diocese was to set up its own Laudato Si' Centre it would need land owned by the Diocese, preferably with woodland and near to public transport. Trained staff would be needed to run the centre supported by volunteers. Disabled access and safeguarding are important. In terms of buildings, the outdoor classrooms and portaloos were perfectly adequate. But it was felt the most important needs would be for prayer and vision. It was felt that centres like the one in Salford would be wonderful for getting the message of Pope Francis out to clergy and laity?

A place like this in every diocese would help towards the UK Government's commitment to rewild 30% of the nation's land and sea by 2030, and would be a centre for peace, reconciliation and evangelisation.

Animator John Woodhouse said: "We all responded to the inspiring experience of being in creation. How many children never experience this? So many spend their lives glued to their phones and live in a virtual world. So many have mental health issues. Laudato Si' needs to be seen as a spiritual and evangelical document. Our young people are pushing us to do so much more and they respond very positively to the message of Pope Francis."

LINK

Laudato Si Centre, Salford: https://laudatosicentre.org.uk/