By Christina Bagaglio Slentz, Ph.D.
On the eve of Ash Wednesday, the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops issued “An Invitation to Ecological Conversion for U.S. Catholics,” encouraging discernment and action during our Lenten season.
As we approach Holy Week, a time of sacred reflection, opening our hearts to this call might serve as a valuable spiritual exercise, whether you are well-versed in ecological spirituality or brand new to it.
“This time of Lent reminds us that we are in need of conversion,” the bishops’ invitation begins. “Indifference and distance from one another have led to devastating consequences for God’s creation, including the poor.”
Most of us are pretty good about avoiding intentional harm to God’s creation and the human family, but indifference and distance might sneak up on us. Consider:
- When did you last express gratitude for the gift of creation?
- Do you actively seek awareness to see creation from God’s point of view — both the beauty and the suffering?
- Have you reflected on the ripple effects of your life choices on the poor and vulnerable who share our common home?
As the document suggests, “we rarely pause to listen to ‘the cry of the earth and the cry of the poor,’ nor do we regularly reflect on how our choices impact our brothers and sisters around the world.”
Our own Bishop Michael Pham writes, “As one of the most biodiverse dioceses in the United States, the Diocese of San Diego recognizes the great responsibility we have been given to steward the vast richness of our region; understanding a thriving integral ecology makes human flourishing possible. Through the gifts of the earth, we are able to feed the hungry, give drink to the thirsty, and clothe the naked — responding to the cry of the poor and vulnerable.”
Moving from reflection to conversion
The practice of the Ignatian Examen moves us spiritually from gratitude to awareness, to understanding, to conversion, at which point we make a choice to turn our behavior around, as the word “convert” suggests —”con” meaning “with,” and “vert” referencing a vertex, the point from which two lines travel in different directions. What is this new direction of ecological conversion? How might we shift our behavior toward right relationship with all of God’s creation?
Pope Francis and now Pope Leo XIV hold up the Seven Goals of “Laudato Si,” areas for action that offer us a pathway to ecological justice and reconciliation with our Creator. They are:
- Response to the Cry of the Earth
- Response to the Cry of the Poor
- Ecological Economics
- Adoption of Sustainable Lifestyles
- Ecological Education
- Ecological Spirituality
- Community Resilience and Empowerment
The USCCB call beseeches us, “We must each make daily choices that reflect our conversion to better care for God’s creation and the people, communities, and livelihoods that are interconnected. The United States Conference of Catholic Bishops and many organizations offer regular opportunities for individuals to express and practice conversion, in their own daily lives and through ongoing advocacy. We invite you to prayerfully discern how you, your parish, and your community might participate …” The invitation closes with a beautiful prayer, the final step in the process of the Ignatian Examen.
Our response: Accompaniment on the journey
The Creation Care Ministry can help with charting a new course to ecological conversion. Thursday, April 9, we will offer a “Laudato Si” Action Planning workshop at the Pastoral Center to guide your household, your parish, or your school toward right relationship with all of creation. Find more information and register for this free event at bit.ly/LSAP9APR26. We begin with an optional pizza dinner at 5:30 p.m. and start the presentation at 6 p.m. Learn how to find Catholic resources for this journey, how to discern steps forward for your community, and how to participate with the Vatican’s “Laudato Si” Action Platform.
Join the diocese, the University of San Diego, the Academy of Our Lady of Peace, Mater Dei Catholic High School, and 12 amazing parishes as enrollees on the platform in answer to our bishops’ call.
