Justicia, Paz y Tierra / Justice, Peace and Earth: Q & A with a Sister

"Ecology studies the relationship between living organisms and the environment in which they develop. This necessarily entails reflection and debate about the conditions required for the life and survival of society, and the honesty needed to question certain models of development, production and consumption. It cannot be emphasized enough how everything is interconnected... Just as the different aspects of the planet – physical, chemical and biological – are interrelated, so too living species are part of a network which we will never fully explore and understand.."

- Laudato Si' Article 138

This special segment of the Q&A is dedicated to all those who are working to make Laudato Si' Action Platform (LSAP) works for their congregation.

Sister Ricca is a member of the General Leadership Team of the Incarnate Word Sisters, Houston. She is also a practicing medical doctor. She has been animating the Care for Creation through LSAP for four years now. We can all learn from her dedication and her love of God. As historical information, in 1869 there were three religious sisters from Incarnate Word Sisters, of Galveston who were sent to San Antonio.

This Q&A is an invitation to reflect on Sister Ricca and her congregation's initiatives in many angles and yet with focus.

1.Why would anyone enroll in Laudato Si’ Action Platform? What is your why in enrolling in LSAP?

Laudato Si’ is about Spiritual path. To care for creation is about loving God. To think that Laudato Si’ is about recycling is reducing the value of Laudato Si’. It can be about care for the health and future generation. It is by doing it together that we will have a systemic effect. Joining LSAP means you are doing it with others. You are with the rest of the people in the planet. If you are not in LSAP, it is not easy. Here, you are in solidarity with the rest of the world.
It is also under the Dicastery for the Promotion of Human Development.
You have to love something. You are doing it (Laudato Si’) because you love God.

2.How do you inspire yourself, community, and congregation to incarnate something for Laudato Si Action Platform?

Quite similar to the first [You have to love something. You are doing it (Laudato Si’) because you love God.]
Make it simple.
We send newsletter once a month writing a letter how to reduce plastics. We send articles and videos on what people can do with focus on the year’s goals.
LSAP is six years of work and on the 7^th year, you do not have to do anything but celebrate. We make the report to LSAP every year like those I sent you. Otherwise, we will not be able to get the certificate. LSAP is literally mentioned in our Chapter Acts. We are one of the congregations who started first when LSAP was launched.

I attend the LSAP meetings. I have attended almost all if not all, more than 90% of the meeting. I was there from the beginning. Monica, our Social Concerns Director, and I started in the same year. I came into leadership team and Monica was hired a few months ahead of me.

3. Do you have a Task Force or committee? Who are involved?

Sr Ricca is a member of her congregation's General Leadership Council and Monica as the Social Concerns Director.
We have the Earth Day Committee that started decades ago with the help of a Sister. Now, the staff alone organizes and lead the Earth Day event.

We (Monica and S. Ricca) worked together five years ago to get into LSAP.
Last year, we sponsored the Creation Mass and the Care of Creation Retreat from Thursday-Saturday during the Season of Creation. As part of the Season of Creation, we had a pilgrimage to the port that is polluted by the Oil and Gas companies. We hired a bus to bring people to the port that is heavily polluted (by Oil and Gas industries) as part of our pilgrimage.
We invited all the people in the archdiocese of Houston if there are anyone interested in Ecological Concerns. I (Sr. Ricca) approached the archbishop and there has been an Ecological Concerns Committee now in the archdiocese. (Monica and Sr Rica are members of this committee and they work with the diocesan social concern director.)
Other members of this diocesan committee: One from Tejano Center Texas Environmental Justice, Texas Campaign for Environment, three or four environment committee.
This diocesan committee meet four times a week.

4. How do you pick your focus for the year? Has it been established by the Leadership Team or from any department (JPIC) from the start? Who decides what you need to do for the LSAP every year?

As a member of General Leadership Team/Council, I am in charge of the social concerns so I have been on it together with Monica.
Sometimes, the people do not have the choice, as they have to do it. Our building is old so we cannot have solar. Our electricity is already sourced from renewable source. (Note: Residents in Houston can pick their energy source).

A few years ago, when we did the tree planting campaign, we only targeted 10 trees for each of the countries where we are. Surprisingly, Kenya did extraordinary job. They planted 2,000 trees. Kenya has three schools. Villa Matel planted more than 10 trees. Eventually, the congregation planted 4,000 trees in Guatemala, El Salvador, Kenya, Ireland, and United States.

We had an audit of our waste. All of our bins are labeled. We pay for the collection of these recyclables, compost and trash.
In our clinic, I usually have to bring the recyclables myself as Dickinson County does not recycle.
For lessening of the plastics, they (the maintenance?) installed refilling stations: two per floor, three water dispenser in the first, three in second, and two in the third floor.
We also did the labeling of our bins where we put recyclables with clear plastic bag, the composts go to the green bin with compostable bags, and the black bag in the black bin is for trash.
All the buildings are LED: last year they changed all the lights half of them in 2024 and the other half in 2025.

5.How much budget do you allocate for the recent one, (and the prior years)? What projects are you looking forward to accomplishing in 2026?

Social Concerns budget is for international. It is for immigrants, anti-human trafficking, death penalty, LSAP, etc.
This LSAP year, we decided that the reduction of the plastics is our target. We rarely use plastics anymore in our events. Although, eradicating plastics is nearly impossible. We have been doing this for four years.
We started the campaign. We send the links about the plastics. We invited a local researcher about microplastics. She gave the seminar to all here for an hour about danger of plastic.
Reflection is the most important part of LSAP. Transformation is the key to the success LSAP goals. The result will come later.

What happened to your plan in having electric cars?

We have two electric cars. One is with Sr. Ethel and another one with me.

What can you say to people who does not want electric cars due to lack of recharging stations especially for long distances?

Electric cars are for responsible people. You need to plan your trip (so you will know where to charge).

6.You are already on your 4^th year, how has the Council and Leadership been supporting of the LSAP?

The council let me (the Council Leader for the Social Concerns) take care of the LSAP as part of the social concerns. Monica and I help each other. The LSAP is indicated in our Chapter Acts so everybody must participate (or cooperate).

7.Do you have any (paid)staff working or helping you on LSAP?

Monica is now Social Concerns and Communications Director who works surrounding other concerns and causes for immigration, death penalty, human trafficking, and etc. She is also the LCWR Region XII Collaborator. She is doing a lot.
We just hired a social media and part-time secretary who will be able to help in some of these works.