Laudato Si'
Grounded in our Catholic identity and the charism of the School Sisters of Notre Dame, NDMU is proudly a Laudato Si’ university.
What is Laudato Si'?
Laudato Si’ (PDF) is an encyclical that Pope Francis wrote in 2015. In it he centers the ecological crisis, recognizes the integrated ways in which our lives and our communities are connected to the earth, and encourages us to respond to the urgent needs of our common home.
What does Laudato Si' mean?
As a signatory and part of the first cohort of colleges and universities with the Vatican Dicastery for Promoting Integral Human Development we are using the Laudato Si’ Action Platform to help guide our work.
At present many Catholic institutions around the world, including 141 colleges and universities as well as the Congregation of the School Sisters of Notre Dame have signed up to be a part of this seven-year journey. It is a journey towards global sustainability through the lens of integral ecology.
The 7 Laudato Si’ Goals
1. Response to the cry of the earth
Engaging in non-violent transformative action to heal the Earth and dismantle destructive structures
2. Response to the cry of the poor
Caring for the most vulnerable of Earth’s people
3. Ecological economics
Working for environmental and social justice in economics, budgets, and social policy
4. Adoption of sustainable lifestyles
Living in a sustainable way that supports the Earth and its people
5. Ecological education
Learning from science and using that knowledge to suggest solutions to ecological problems in the community
6. Ecological spirituality
Connecting ourselves spiritually to the Earth and working to heal its wounds
7. Community resilience and empowerment
Working with others in the community to find solutions to ecological problems
"We are faced not with two separate crises, one environmental and the other social, but rather with one complex crisis which is both environmental and social." - LS §139
How to Join
We encourage members of our NDMU community to share with us how they are caring for the poor and for our common home.
Additional Resources
Top Ten Takeaways from Laudato Si’ by Jim Martin, SJ in America