Updated on 8.19.23
Pope Francis Toolkit in English
Pope Francis Toolkit in Spanish
Catholic Relief Services – Living Laudato si’ – Small Group Guide
Pope Francis’ ground-breaking encyclical on ecology, “Laudato Si'” has continued to have far-reaching impact on local and global policy, as well as the spiritual transformation of all people of goodwill working for a truly sustainable world. Interfaith Power & Light has been extremely active in the dissemination, education and follow-up to the encyclical.
On April 15, 2016, Dr. Veerabhadran, world-renown climate scientist and member of the Vatican Pontifical Academy gave a talk at St. Paul Cathedral in San Diego. Dr. Ramanathan’s inspiring, engaging and informative 50-minute lecture includes an overview of his climate research, a reflection on the disparity of those causing, and those affected by, climate change, and his involvement with the Vatican Pontifical Academy. It is well worth your time, and congregations may download and show it in other venues.
“We are not going to change this problem, solve this problem, unless and until climate change is taught in every church, every mosque, every synagogue, every temple, every monastery.” – Dr. Ramanathan
In June of 2015, just after the release of “Laudato Si'”, members of CIPL congregations in Alameda County put together an interfaith encyclical reading group. Over nine weeks more 30 people (from a wide variety of religious traditions) met regularly (in different houses of worship) to read and reflect together on Pope Francis’s message addressed to “all people of good will.”Thank you to those who hosted us:
First Unitarian Church of Oakland, 685 14th St. Oakland
St. Ambrose Catholic Church 1145 Gilman St, Albany
Christ Episcopal Church 1700 Santa Clara Ave, Alameda
Temple Sinai, 2808 Summit St, Oakland
Church by the Side of the Road, 2108 Russell St. Berkeley
Berkeley Fellowship of Unitarian Universalists, 1924 Cedar St. Berkeley
Epworth United Methodist Church, 1953 Hopkins St, Berkeley
Lakeshore Avenue Baptist Church, 3534 Lakeshore Ave.
Oakland Skyline United Church of Christ, 12540 Skyline Boulevard, Oakland
Many who have heard about the series have asked for guidance in starting their own. We hope these materials will help those who are considering setting up similar discussion groups.
California Interfaith Power & Light also worked with a team to create a series of three events in San Francisco hosted by the University of San Francisco and Congregation Emanu-El
Two of the three events were videotaped and can be viewed through the links below.
Past Events:
Thursday, October 1 at 7 p.m.
Integral Ecology: Concern for Environmental & Economic Justice
Pope Francis in his message to Congress said, “Now is the time for courageous actions and strategies, aimed at implementing a culture of care and an integrated approach to combating poverty, restoring dignity to the excluded, and at the same time protecting nature.” He also addressed technology calling that it be put to “the service of another type of progress, one which is healthier, more human, more social, more integral.”
On October 1st the Integral Ecology series at the University of San Francisco continued with a community forum reflecting on Pope Francis’ United States visit. The Forum will include The Rev. Canon Sally Bingham, president & founder, Interfaith Power & Light who was on the White House lawn last week to welcome the pope, Fr. Thomas Massaro, SJ, dean of the Jesuit School of Theology who is completing a book on Pope Francis, Rabbi Marvin Goodman, executive director of the Northern California Board of Rabbis, and Keya Chatterjee, executive director of the US Climate Action Network. The Forum will be moderated by Michael Pappas, executive director of the San Francisco Interfaith Council.
Friday, January 8th & Saturday, January 9th 2016
Interfaith Climate Conference at the University of San Francisco
Sponsored by: University of San Francisco, California Interfaith Power and Light, the San Francisco Interfaith Council, St. Ignatius Parish, St. Agnes Parish, Catholic Charities of Stockton Environmental Justice Program, GRID Alternatives, United Religions Initiative, Tikkun, Unitarian Universalist Ministry For Earth, Sunflower Alliance, California Institute of Integral Studies, Dominican Sisters of San Rafael
Additional sponsors are welcome, please email: info@interfaithpower.org
Integral Ecology: Concern for Environmental and Economic Justice
Presentation by Mary Evelyn Tucker, PhD
with respondent Fr. John Coleman, SJ
Thursday, September 3rd, 7:00 pm Xavier Hall, University of San Francisco
Join us as noted scholar, Mary Evelyn Tucker, unpacks the invitations and challenges of Pope Francis’ new encyclical on care for creation, responsible development and the impact of environmental injustice on the world’s poor.
Mary Evelyn Tucker, PhD, is Senior Lecturer and Research Scholar at Yale University, where she co-directs the Forum on Religion and Ecology. She has written and spoken widely on these issues, and was a key drafter of the 2000 Earth Charter.
The response will be given by Fr. John Coleman, SJ of St. Ignatius Parish and will be followed by opportunity for questions and small group discussion.
Parking available in the Koret Parking Structure (southwest corner of Turk Blvd and Parker Ave)
You can view a video of this event by clicking this link: Mary Evelyn Tucker and Fr. John Coleman, SJ discuss the significance of Pope Francis’ recent encyclical on environmental and economic justice.