Saturday, April 25, 2026

Multi-faith Letter Opposing Fossil Fuel Immunity

There is a bill that is being lobbied in the house and senate led by Harriet Hageman and Ted Cruz that will give legal immunity to oil and gas industries from any damages caused by their emissions.  Why people need to be aware of the Legal Immunity being introduced in Congress where  the fossil fuel companies will not be liable for any climate damages that are being done by the fossil fuel industries?

The cost of the climate crisis is staggering. About $160 - $250 Billions of dollars of property are lost in an instant.  Families are losing homes because of the wild fires, storms, floods, and natural disasters. An example of which is the wildfire in California in 2024 that could not be contained due to drought, dry weather and harsh winds.  

The natural disasters can be catastrophic to the families especially those who do not have any protection or savings.  By an instant, you can loose everything and the companies who are responsible for the damages will not be accountable for any damages.  There is no opportunity for any communities to seek justice in court.  The polluter pays laws will not matter.  The taxpayers continue to pay for the damages that are heavily imposed upon the unlimited damages done by the fossil fuel industries spewing dirty oil on the ground, water and pollution in the air.

Sign the multi-faith letter to Congress to stop this legislation:

https://actionnetwork.org/petitions/multi-faith-letter-opposing-fossil-fuel-immunity?source=direct_link&

https://actionnetwork.org/petitions/tell-congress-not-to-let-polluters-off-the-hook-for-climate-damage?source=direct_link&

https://5calls.org/issue/big-oil-climate-crisis-immunity/

More on this:

https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2026/apr/23/republicans-big-oil-climate-lawsuits


Nature and Spirituality in San Antonio on May 2, 2026 (Saturday) 10am - 12 noon


Nature and Spirituality in San Antonio

Our goal is to heal the planet and be peacemakers though education and community building.
The Laudato Si movement in cooperation with the Archdiocese of San Antonio, the Alamo Sierra Club and Pax Christi Texas promotes study and action to address 
and change the practices of destroying our planet and 
implementing ways to nurture our planet and ourselves toward health at all levels.

We seek to be an educational and communal resource for parishes, local groups, 
environmental advocates and others who can benefit from understanding diverse religions and other
cultural groups who have a tradition and practice of 
respecting nature. 

We are here to heal the planet and build community through education and interaction in programs of education and action.
 every other month.

Join us on May 2, 2026 10 am to noon at the Oblate School of Theology, Shaunessy Library Meeting Room, 285 Oblate Drive.

(The library is located at the back of the building which has a circular drive in front.)

The Beliefs and Practices of the Mennonite Community: 
 Care for Creation

by Rev. John Garland,
pastor of the San Antonio Mennonite Church

  and

The Physical, Mental and Spiritual Benefits of Being Part of Nature

by Bill Barker, FAICP, FITE
Member, Executive Committee, 
Alamo Group of the Sierra Club


For additional information, contact Arthur Dawes, MA (theology), MSW (Social Work)
arthurdawes@att.net   210-213-5919

Monday, April 20, 2026

Second Pax Christi Forum 2026: Blessed Are The Peacemakers on April 29 7pm CST


You are invited to the
Second Pax Christi Texas Forum of 2026

 April 29, 2029
7 pm CST 

Join Zoom Meeting

Join our Cloud HD Video Meeting

Passcode: 165967


Meeting ID: 857 2081 0846


"Blessed Are The Peacemakers"
The Role of the Catholic Church: 
Building a World Free from Nuclear Weapons


Presented by Danny Hall, Lead Capitol Hill Representative & Faith Community Outreach Coordinator for Back from the Brink, a coalition which includes Pax Christi USA and TEND texans ending nuclear dangers



Wednesday, April 15, 2026

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:

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.  

Sunday, April 12, 2026

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.

Eco-Advocacy Materials and Tools

Reptile adopted from being skinny to being thriving

Bugs cared for by Naturalist

Sierra Club, a naturalists.
Advocacy for Justice to Turtles 


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).
Philips 66 giving away native  plants

Friday, April 10, 2026

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

Resource for Peace Vigil:

Prayer Broadcast, the Prayer Vigil 




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

Thursday, April 9, 2026

Una oportunidad con esperanza

Este mensaje del papá León, tiene un valor especial en estos tiempos...

La situación política, social, ambiental e institucionalidad en el Perú es complicado de describir, pero no de sentir, porque sabemos bien de los dolores y frustraciones que cada peruano y peruana atraviesa. Nuestra Espiritualidad de la Encarnación nos predispone a esos sentires desde el corazón.

Con ese contexto, es que en pocos días (el 12 de abril), nuestro país ingresa nuevamente al proceso electoral: presidente y vicepresidente; senadores; diputados; y parlamento andino. Un proceso que vuelve a plantearnos más dudas que certezas sobre el ahora y el futuro del país. Sin embargo, nuestro llamado de fe nos invita a entender esta realidad y transformarla, especialmente con quienes son más vulnerados. La clase política tiene un papel importante en esa transformación.

Entonces, respondamos personal y comunitariamente la siguiente pregunta: ¿Cómo hacemos real y tangible el amor salvador y sanador de Jesús ahora? Este contexto electoral es un buen momento para fortalecer nuestros mensajes y trabajos por el cuidado toda la creación, por la defensa de la dignidad de todas las personas, por la promoción de los derechos humanos, en fin, por el amor a toda la vida.

Retomando al mensaje de esperanza, que el papa León XIV nos ha compartido por la pascua de resurrección, nos anima a “levantar la mirada y ensanchar el corazón”. Esa es la clave: vencer el desánimo desde un corazón abierto, un corazón más sensible. Levantando la mirada volvemos a la realidad, la seguimos andando. Necesitamos hacerlo. 

Animados por ese espíritu de fuerza y ​​mirada esperanzadora, motivamos el diálogo en el marco de este proceso electoral. Esto implica desarrollar nuestra capacidad de discernimiento de entre quienes pretenden asumir los roles políticos ya descritos. Puestos claves para vencer las situaciones de pobreza y muerte que nos marcan fuertemente. Que ese discernimiento sea mirando al mismo tiempo a mi hermano y hermana, a los rostros sufrientes de Cristo, al clamor de nuestro Perú.

Les comparto algunos recursos que podrán servir mucho:

La Comisión Episcopal de Acción Social nos comparte los " Criterios éticos para elegir mejor", una serie de folletos didácticos que profundizan desde nuestra fe para decidir mejor.

Desde el Jurado Nacional de Elecciones se nos presenta "Voto Informado", plataforma virtual con herramientas para revisar y comparar hojas de vida y planes de gobierno, además de conocer a quienes integran en cada opción política.

 
"Capibarismo" es una iniciativa ciudadana que nos propone enfrentar a candidatos y simular un proceso de eliminación. Además, podemos comparar perfiles de candidatos de manera más concreta.

 
El "Electrómetro" nos propone una serie de preguntas para descubrir nuestra afinidad política de acuerdo con temas nuestro de interés.


IMPORTANTE: Estos recursos no son concluyentes para definir el voto o la posición política, pero si son de gran apoyo informativo y comparativo para nuestra reflexión en este momento. Será importante incorporar otros elementos que sumen a esta tarea, especialmente desde nuestro criterio y experiencias personales y de comunidad.