On May 24, 2015, Pope Francis promulgated the encyclical Laudato Si', which was intended to promote "a new dialogue about how we are shaping the future of our planet," which is undergoing serious deterioration because of "the harm we have inflicted on her by our irresponsible use and abuse of the goods with which God has endowed her." For the Pope, the ecological crisis is a summons to profound interior conversion because all people are called to be protectors of God’s handiwork. The implication for Jesuit schools is clear.
“Many things have to change course, but it is we human beings above all who need to change. We lack an awareness of our common origin, of our mutual belonging, and of a future to be shared with everyone. This basic awareness would enable the development of new convictions, attitudes and forms of life. A great cultural, spiritual and educational challenge stands before us, and it will demand that we set out on the long path of renewal.” [53]
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Jesuits USA East Province Hosts Global Gathering on UAP 4
In November, a group of UEA educators gathered to explore the Universal Apostolic Preference Caring for Our Common Home. Bryan Galligan, SJ, who had recently returned from two years serving as a research and policy analyst for the Jesuit Conference of Africa and Madagascar, offered the opening keynote “Planetary Boundaries, Integral Ecology, and Systems Change.” Chad Raphael, the Co-Coordinator of the Environmental Justice and the Common Good Initiative at Santa Clara University conducted a workshop entitled Laudato Si Across the Curriculum, based, in part, on online workshops conducted during the summer and open to educators from JSN schools. Michael Downs, a Laudato Si Animator and the Director of Justice and Kinship at Bishop O’Dowd High School in Oakland, CA presented on Becoming A Laudato Si' School.
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Participants considered an interview with Katharine Hayhoe, climate scientist and author of Saving Us: A Climate Scientist's Case for Hope and Healing in a Divided World,” reviewed and reflected on Laudate Deum, reviewed input from schools about efforts already in place to promote environmental and ecological stewardship, viewed The Letter and brainstormed ways to deepen those efforts and work together for a hope-filled future.
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Loyola Blakefield's Integral Ecology Certificate Program Encourages Sustainable Future
Loyola Blakefield's Integral Ecology Certificate, one certificate in the Integral Ecology Certificate Program led by Ryan Bromwell, Assistant Principal for Academics, responds proactively to Pope Francis's call in Laudato Si' to address environmental challenges. Central to the program are capstone projects with titles like "Trending Toward Sustainability," where students draw from their classroom and extracurricular experiences to focus on environmental issues. Some students collaborate with local groups for practical conservation efforts, while others contribute to school clean-up endeavors.
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One capstone project was inspired by lessons from AP Environmental Science and a transformative Chesapeake Bay field trip led by Fr. Bruce Steggert, S.J., and this showcases how integrating ecology into the curriculum sparks positive change. The program encourages students to integrate personal passions, like one student's love for scuba diving, into their projects, fostering a holistic approach to environmental education. By blending academic learning with practical application and personal interests, we hope the certificate program cultivates a strong sense of environmental stewardship and advocacy in students, aligning with Pope Francis's vision for a sustainable future.
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St. Bonaventure's College Beehive
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Three and a half years later, the SBC beehive is going strong. It has been a lot of work. We have had to learn a lot- often in the moment. Along the way we- myself, SBC Biology teacher Robyn Matthews and students- have been introduced to a wider world than we knew. The seasons have taken on new meaning. We discovered winter bees. We’ve recorded the wonder of foraging flights to flower blossoms. We know the chorus of buzzing bees midsummer. Best of all was harvesting our honey. The students tasted it, exclaiming, “It’s delicious!” to everyone. The miracle of flowers into honey.
Check out other good works happening ecologically and environmentally and in terms of student learning at SBC:
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Taking a Gratitude Based Approach to Institutional Change
The overwhelming scope and dire nature of the ecological crisis often leads to a feeling of helplessness and frustration for students, teachers, and administrators. Luckily our faith illuminates for us another path. One filled with hope, love, and care for one another. The reality is that most of the ways we cause harm to our environment are unintended consequences of seeking a meaningful Jesuit education. Electricity for our classrooms, transportation to and from school, food in our cafeterias. All of these things have immense positive ripple effects in the lives of our students and are part of infinitely complex systems that connect every member of our school, broader community, and the planet.
To initiate change, instead of telling well-meaning people that they are doing their jobs wrong, it is important to understand what it is they contribute to our communities and then thank them for their contributions. From there a relationship can be fostered where we can discover what needs to be done to minimize our negative environmental impacts and imagine a more ecologically just school. At Brophy we call this approach Gratitude Based Learning (GBL).
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Catholic Ethical Purchasing Alliance at Walsh Jesuit High School
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Walsh Jesuit High School has been working with the Catholic Ethical Purchasing Alliance (CEPA) to increase fair-trade and ethically made products to be sold in their spirit shop including, ethically sourced uniform polos soon. This project comes from months of conversations with CEPA staff, school administrators, and passionate faculty, staff, and students (fair-trade club etc.). One essential understanding at our school is the spirit shop does not exist to turn a profit; it exists as a service to the school allowing us to accept lower margins.
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Even with lesser margins, the ethically made products are slightly more expensive than other products in the spirit shop. This allows us to participate in purchasing that ensures living wages to workers and sustainable practices for the planet, all aligning with the mission of the Walsh Jesuit community. Our community, particularly the students, seem energized towards ethical and sustainable purchasing, not only at school, but in their personal lives! |
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Freshman Service Project Embraces Care For Creation
Over the past few years Jesuit’s 8-hour freshman service program has been refined to incorporate the lens of Caring for our Common Home and Catholic Social Teaching. The project aims to deepen students’ awareness of their role and responsibility in an interconnected world. It also introduces them to habits of service, and prepares them to step out of their comfort zones, recognizing that growth comes from entering into new and sometimes uncomfortable situations.
The first part of the project is to interview a trusted adult to assess community needs and consider how the student can contribute. After this, students choose one focus area - family, care for creation, or local community - to develop their 8-hour Action Plan, which can range from tutoring, family environmental projects or volunteering with organizations that assist the elderly, or food insecure, for example. Students use this confirmation form to document their service hours. No service at Jesuit High School is complete without reflection, and students are prompted to respond to various reflection questions throughout each step of the process.
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Join JSN for a Virtual Ignatian Inquiry Session on March 26
On Tuesday, March 26 from 3 to 4 p.m. ET, the Jesuit Schools Network is hosting a Virtual Ignatian Inquiry Session with speaker Bryan Galligan, S.J. titled, Caring for Our Common Home by Learning From Integral Ecology: Coral Reef Fisheries in the Face of Climate Change.
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A New Way of Farming at Kasisi Agricultural Training Centre
“I’m 70 years old. You can see, I’m fresh, fresh!” Alex shouts. Standing in a bed of pigeon pea plants, he holds a leafy stem and waves it like a wand. He attributes his fitness, youthful complexion, and boundless energy, to a diet based on food he grows himself—without fertilizer or destructive machinery.
Alex has received trainings in this style of farming, called agroecology, from Kasisi Agricultural Training Centre [KATC]. Founded by Canadian Jesuit Br. Paul Desmarais, Kasisi is located in the big-skyed farmland outside of Lusaka, Zambia. Here, in southern Africa a rapidly changing climate is causing dire drought and food shortages. Agroecology helps farmers and food producers respond to these challenges.
Learn more about Alex's work in Zambia by watching the video below.
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Vatican Observatory Foundation To Host Great American Eclipse Webinar
On April 8 at noon ET, the Vatican Observatory Foundation is hosting a Zoom webinar on the day of the Great American Eclipse. The webinar will be hosted by Fr. Jim Martin of America Magazine, and will feature Br. Guy along with Chris Graney, an adjunct scholar of the Observatory. Click here for more information.
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Join JRS for Advocacy Day on April 16
Climate change is quickly becoming an important factor in people’s decision to migrate. There are many reasons why people choose or are forced to migrate (social, economic, political...) and climate change can contribute to all these factors and act as threat multiplier.
Nearly 20 million people are forced to flee their homes due to climate-fueled disasters every year. Yet, people displaced by climate change lack formal protections under U.S. immigration law.
You and your school community can play a critical role by urging U.S. policymakers to provide a more equitable immigration pathway for people displaced by climate change as well as critical support for people affected by climate disasters internationally. Join JRS/USA next April 16th for Advocacy Day and be part of the change. Click here to learn more and register.
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Connecting Students
Would you like your students to have the opportunity to share and hear from students in other Jesuit schools around the world what they are doing to Care for our Common Home? Educate Magis is co-hosting a Connected Class on the topic on Wednesday May 8th at 9 a.m. EST - save the date! And keep an eye on Educate Magis for more details. Reach out to Felipe at frevollo@educatemagis.org with any questions. He will also be happy to let you know once the Connected Class is open for registration.
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