COP30 (Conference on Parties) is a gathering of parties worldwide hosted by United Nations starting on November 10 and ending on November 21 in Belem, Brazil. The aim is to talk about the impacts of climate change, the actions for solutions to achieve the netzero carbon emissions by 2050 goal. Belem is in the heart of the Amazon forest. It has rich biodiversity given its rainforest and vast impact on carbon store affecting local and global climate.
To take a step back, the Catholic Church sponsored conference called "Raising Hope" in October. Though not intentionally part of the COP30 program, it sets the tone for the COP 30 which has a goal of putting actions together globally to meet the carbon netzero by 2050 goal. Pope Leo XIV on Raising Hope Conference on the Laudato Si' tenth anniversary on October 1 challenges us to move into a modality of caring, and living an ecologically transformative lifestyle in a personal, communal and political level. This is an advance testament of the church support on the COP 30 mission through integral ecologically transformative actions.
Laudato Si' Movement invites parishes, diocese, hospitals, schools, religious institutions and other Catholic organizations to integrate God’s call in caring for creation given the already established platform identifying major seven goals through Laudato Si' Action Platform (LSAP). This platform has been used by thousands of Catholic Organizations around the world sharing their resources and information about their plan, projects, and changes in policies and lifestyle to make Laudato Si’ integrated in the organization's life.
Given the two Texas Arch/Bishops (San Antonio, and El Paso) who signed publicly and enrolled in the platform by this year, it only shows that the Holy Spirit is moving the people to care for all with the platform as the instrument and the people as the hands and feet of Jesus Christ. The presence of Laudato Si' Texas Chapter continues to collaborate in parishes and diocese level with hope that all Texas Diocese will enroll its organization into the LSAP and eventually getting their parishes to do the same. The North American Chapter's SMART Goal established in February 2025 is below:
Every chapter is to approach the (arch)bishop(s) within their borders by 2027 asking they sign onto the LSAP. Our overall goal is for all of them to have signed on by 2030.
The Archdiocese of San Antonio continues to grow in its support for integral ecology through the Laudato Si' Action Platform. There are now 62 parishes who registered. Mexican American Catholic College, though not a parish, is one of the Catholic organizations that signed up for the Laudato Si' Action Platform (LSAP).
Dr. Virginia Mata, the social justice director in San Antonio archdiocese completed the second part of Laudato Si Action Platform and Laudato Si' training for Archdiocese of San Antonio on October 30. There are now 62 parishes in the archdiocese who registered.
Below are Parts I & II of the Laudato Si Series.
- Part I – Introduction to Laudato Si -Introduction to Laudato Si’ and the Laudato Si’ Action Platform
- Part II – Building Relationships – Laudato Si’ Webinar Series Part II: Building Relationships
Laudato Si Parish Assessment is here.
Laudato Si Goals document can be accessed here.
Each parish can discern with your pastor’s approval how best to proceed, for example:
-Parish Reps may meet with each ministry leader in the parish.
-Others may hold a single listening session with all or several ministries,
-And some may focus primarily on developing their goals with each ministry leader and/or pastor or parish councils.
Zoom and Meeting Information for Part III
Topic: Laudato Si Series Formation Part III- Laudato Si SMART GOALS
Time: Jan 30, 2026, 06:00 PM Central Time (US and Canada)
Join Zoom Meeting
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/82435768278?pwd=IHojqJKrpXytLWmiWkQfmGRa2x5BrV.1
Meeting ID: 824 3576 8278
Passcode: LR3e21
- End January 2026: Complete Parish Assessment and start conducting 1-1s and listening sessions
- End of February 2026: Complete Parish Goals
- End of February 2026: Submit Plans to Archdiocese and to Laudato Si' Action Platform
Email: Virginia.Mata@archsa.org
There is no better time to answer this call to care for all in creation. The time is now. Get in touch with your local Laudato Si' Chapter or form your own Laudato Si' Chapter by contacting us texas@lsmchapter.org.
If any of the readers do not belong to a state where there is a Laudato Si' Chapter, the interested person can contact, the North America Program Manager Anna Johnson (anna@laudatosimovement.org).
More Information:
Pope Leo XIV Raising Hope for Climate Justice
An Interview with Archbishop Gustavo García-Siller - Laudato Si' Action Platform
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