Santa Marta Conference on April 24 - 29: Transitioning Away from Fossil Fuel

The environmental degradation affects the biodiversity, people's lives are threatened, habitats are endangered, and livelihood of the people are affected.  The culture is also threatened as the people migrate and loose the symbols, creatures become extinct, and sometimes language and dialect are forgotten.   

A stronger coalition to advocate and take actions to transition away from the fossil fuel to solve the Climate Crisis.   The first conference on transitioning away from fossil fuel will start on April 24 ending on April 29.  The Santa Marta Conference supports the Paris Climate Agreement which is initiated by the Fossil Fuel Treaty.  The conference aims to give the concrete pathways to transition away from the fossil fuel across the globe that will support the socio-ecologically economically sustainable world.  This is the coalition of the willing organizations to be part of the solution as the time is moving towards 2035 where United Nations aim to achieve 50% target on decarbonization.

The future generations depend on the actions that we take that starts today along with the civil organizations, subnational, state and nations around the world committed to also do their part.  The subnational governments are at the heart of the action and San Antonio is one of the cities that is in the coalition.  The Incarnate Word Sisters Justice, Peace, and Integrity of Creation supports the Fossil Fuel Treaty.  It is a hope to turn the sustainable conversations into actions that the organization's lifestyle, strategies, and future initiatives take part in the decarbonization of the world.   

To learn more about the Conference in Santa Marta, Colombia and participate, please visit https://transitionawayconference.com/

 

To support the Fossil Fuel Treaty Coalition:

https://www.fossilfueltreaty.org/

Join the Earth Day's Protecting Our Health by United Women in Faith

 

Celebrating Earth Day: Protecting Our Health April 22, 2026 3pm ET (2 p.m. CT, 1 p.m. MT, 12 p.m. PT)    Invite your friends, all are welcome!

Register Today

Celebrating Earth Day in Community: Organize a viewing party with friends and family to participate in this webinar together and discuss ways to take action for environmental and climate justice Research and join local Earth Day celebrations and share our informative resources Host a Climate Justice bible study based on Psalm 77 Join us live for more opportunities to take action and use any of our resources in your own community events. If you need any support or resources for your Earth Day efforts, email us. All our events are free of cost, and everyone is welcome.

Earth Day - Bay Day in Corpus Christi - Sustainable and Caring Day for All Ages

People, young and old from different walks of life in Corpus Christi gathered in Heritage Park for the Annual 27th Earth Day - Bay Day to share their enthusiasm and care for their various interests in God's creation.  Master naturalists, master gardeners, junior gardeners, Texas Park and Wildlife, Texas A&M professors, TAMU students from Engineering and Computer Science, teachers, and school administrators, Port of Corpus Christi Environmentalists, Sierra Club, Philips 66 energy, etc. Sustainability and Philips 66 energy? Philips 66 though was traditional energy company, it has been innovating and open to emerging energy for sustainability.  It has joined the Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) market since 2021 given their contract with British Airways UK.  In the event, the 66 energy employees/volunteers were giving away native plants.

This annual event was family friendly and mobility friendly.   People learned about the birds, land, sea creatures, reptiles, and plants.  People do not have to use the single-use bottled water as the LyondellBasell gave away reusable container filled with water.  Junior naturalists were teaching the enthusiasts about composting, and planting.  There were master naturalists showing skeletons and skulls of animals from the ocean, the air, and the land. Texas Parks and Wildlife taught the crowd about the Great Horned Owl and Eastern Screech Owl.  There's a wide variety of activities for the children to have fun such as guessing a creature or a preserved object, coloring pages for the children, science explanation of carbon sequestration, etc.  A lot of people care about our world in so many ways especially in this month of Earth.  JPIC - US participated by distributing advocacy cards for sustainability with an invitation to go deeper by signing up in Laudato Si' Animator Program and the invitation to attend the local retreat "Praying with God's Creation" that will be held in Our Lady of Perpetual Help on April 18 8am - 2pm with deadline for registration on April 11.

Below are some of the pictures from the Earth Day Bay Day event.

Photos at a Glance

"The majority of people living on our planet profess to be believers. This should spur religions to dialogue among themselves for the sake of protecting nature, defending the poor, and building networks of respect and fraternity. Dialogue among the various sciences is likewise needed, since each can tend to become enclosed in its own language, while specialization leads to a certain isolation and the absolutization of its own field of knowledge. This prevents us from confronting environmental problems effectively. An open and respectful dialogue is also needed between the various ecological movements, among which ideological conflicts are not infrequently encountered. The gravity of the ecological crisis demands that we all look to the common good, embarking on a path of dialogue which demands patience, self-discipline and generosity, always keeping in mind that “realities are greater than ideas”. (Laudato Si' 201).

Prayer Vigil for Peace with Pope Leo 11am CT Saturday

Pope Leo is holding a prayer vigil for Peace at 11am CT this Saturday and we would like to join with him, with the wider Church and with all people of good will and hold a simultaneous vigil here in San Antonio. We will meet at Main Plaza 10:30 am CT to set up a spot for quiet vigil. We will  bluetooth Pope Leo's prayers to a speaker and we can take it from there. Maybe bring a folding chair or blanket. A guitar and or instrument if you’re feeling it. The important thing is to gather together to support each other and to witness for Peace.

The Vigil from Rome will probably be streamed - 11am CT

https://www.youtube.com/live/03pYP2Nmreo

Resource for Peace Vigil:

https://fdlc.org/2026/04/resources-for-peace-vigil/

Prayer Broadcast, the Prayer Vigil 

https://youtu.be/Li2jQstPhbQ?si=5DL4W3fnVZ_V7afY

Ecological Conversion Starts Here

Become a Laudato Si’ Animator!   Laudato Si’ Animators are members of the Laudato Si Movement, a global community of people of faith and action, who animate their local parishes and communities to engage in ecological spirituality, sustainable lifestyles and advocacy for climate and ecological justice.

Animators work to bring Pope Francis’ encyclical, Laudato Si’, to life and empower us all to care for our common home.

This FREE, ONLINE Training Program consists of 4 weekly online live sessions STARTING APRIL 15 (or view the recording on demand) and a Seed Project to apply your knowledge in your community. Certification is granted upon completion.

International Formation Online: https://laudatosianimators.org/

Other Relevant Resource:

Local Prayer and Action Project of Laudato Si' Movement (LSM) TX Chapter and Incarnate Word Sisters JPIC:

Praying with God's Creation Retreat in Corpus Christi on April 18 Deadline for Registration on April 11