by Sr. Marylou Rodriguez, CCVI
The Center for Women in
Church and Society is in Elliot’s House of the Our Lady of the Lake University
in San Antonio, Texas. Ms. Jackie Walter,
the center’s director, aims to bring religious women to the center to talk
about what different congregations are doing to tackle Climate Change. One
month prior, the group received reading materials about Climate Justice which
include the source and history of Climate Crisis, plastics, sustainability,
the CCVI-sponsored ministries, and other related ministries in response to the crisis. It also contains the Incarnate Word Sisters’
personal and congregational accountability on lowering carbon emission. 
We started the workshop with a prayer for Climate Justice followed by music showing the beauty of creation. The
participants grouped themselves and came up with the names Tree Huggers, Care
Bears, and Terra Firma. Most of the students
did not know Laudato Si but they care about the earth. With this event, the students became aware of the
urgency of the call to act on the crisis. They were especially alarmed by scientific study
on 2.8°C by the end of the century will lead to nearly 99% corals that will be
gone and about 44% mammals will lose their habitat. Too many people have the business as usual
(BAU) attitude, have no radical actions to solve the crisis.
Pax Christi’s Texas President Arthur Dawes
invited the participants to go through the selected summarized points of the
Laudato Si and to pick a word that touches them. The Laudato Si sparks were home, plunder,
deterioration, open heartedness, hope, nature, bond, toxic, circular,
throwaway, discarded, loved, necessary, etc.
To read more on the Pax Christi’s summarized version of Laudato Si,
please go to https://www.paxchristisa.org/.
We encouraged the students to
check some of the nature-friendly opportunities in the area such as Headwaters
volunteers, and tours with the Pax Christi, Sierra Club, etc.
In the light of the 40 days of Lent, we asked
them to write down 40 climate actions that they are willing to take part in. The participants came up with the following list:
- No
Fast-food, Cook for yourself, No coffee-takeout-
Dismantle, reuse broken machines- Less buying - No plastic straws
- Borrow or rent books -
Grow Garden, gardening
- Walk or biker - Upcycling -
Reusable dishware/ containers/ utensils - Thrifting, Buy used clothes - Electronic bills - Join an awareness group,
educate
-
Beach pick-up - Less laundry -
East less meat - Vegetarianism - Cage-free eggs (no GMOs) - Give
unwanted gifts -
Farmer’s market - Decorate compost bins -
Reusable cameras - Carpool- Turn
off lights when not in use - Plant trees - Get
rid of invasive species - Use thermos for water - LED
Lights - Use less electricity - Save
water for plants - Use less phone -
Recycle batteries - Digital Work- Buy biodegradable products - Pick up trash- Digital Work - Donate clothes- Pass-me-downs - Less driving
The workshop was followed by an earth-friendly
vegetarian pasta meal to enjoy the lovely evening while we continued light
conversations on climate justice. We
cleaned-up the reusable dishware, glasses, and utensils, a true testament to
what we are advocating for.
We ended the event with prayer of gratitude for
graciousness of everyone’s presence, participation, and the awareness that we
are all connected, and in need of each other to achieve the goal of healing the
earth.
Genesis 1:31 “God saw everything that he had
made, and indeed, it was very good.“