Nature and Spirituality

Nature and Spirituality

From the announcement of the encyclical of Pope Francis, Laudato Si, on May 24, 2015, there have been local and national public showings of a film which emphasizes that this is a message for all people and that all are invited to be involved in the concerns addressed.

In San Antonio, we have had showings of the film which depicts Pope Francis inviting a group of people from all over the world to share concerns and implement the message.

In San Antonio, we have had celebrations, educational events, educational institution fairs, prayer events and processions which have addressed climate change and our participation in the problems and the solutions.

The Archbishop of San Antonio announced a commitment to this cause, and has created a position to implement Laudato Si in all the parishes.

Virginia Mata, PhD leads the outreach to the parishes, which has resulted in much interest and activities to heal our planet.

Upon hearing of these actions and reflecting on the role of the Catholic Church, members of the environmental community have asked how we can compliment each other and we met with church leaders.

Following several conversations and a review of the encyclical by Antonio Frietze, Director of Adult Education at Oblate College, members of Laudato Si, the Sierra Club and Pax Christi Texas are ready to begin an education program which addresses Spirituality and Nature. As emphasized in the encyclical, the poor and the marginalized are most affected by climate change.

Our effort will involve the poor, as well as other religious and ethnic groups in understanding and appreciating our beliefs, practices, and common concerns. Through collaboration,. we will be better able to address the problems of climate change and the hopes that we can be stronger when working together.

Our intent is to support the agencies participating and provide resources to support each other. This is an education program to build community, to share and understand spiritualities, and to learn from the environmental community ways to act for the healing of our planet.

We will gather, every two months, at Oblate School of Theology for two hours. Students from St. Anthony High School will lead with a mixer, so that participants will learn about the gifts and resources of each other…and build community.

Representatives of cultures will share their beliefs and practices as related to Climate Change, and environmentalists will share concerns, resources and solutions.

The purpose is to share ideas and practices that participants can take home to their local community as well as literature, videos and names of speakers that could be invited to local groups.

Whether one is affiliated with a presenting group, or interested in general, all are invited to build this community of advocates and learners.

In the words of Alan Montemayor, the leader of the Alamo Sierra Club, and others, we should not underestimate the effects of an action by one person or one group.

Our first program is scheduled for Saturday March 14, 2026 at Oblate College, 285 Oblate Drive, San Antonio, Texas 78216 at 10 am.

A proposed listing includes:

February: Spirituality: Mennonite     Nature: Plastics

April: Spirituality: Native American   Nature: Heat

May: Spirituality: Hinduism               Nature: Trees

For more information contact;

Contact Arthur Dawes arthurdawes@att.net  210-213-5919