Living Laudato Si’

“Our common home is like a sister with whom we share our life and a beautiful mother who opens her arms to embrace us.”

– LS 1 –

The Laudato Si’ Action Platform calls on all people of good will to respond to Laudato Si’, Pope Francis’ encyclical on caring for our common home. The seven Laudato Si’ goals guide our actions and redefine and rebuild our relationship with each other and the Earth. 

The Laudato Si’ goal, Ecological Economics, is a radical world view, covering a wide range of personal and organisational practices. It covers sustainable production, Fair-trade, ethical consumption, ethical investments, divestment from fossil fuels, economic activity harmful to the planet and the people, and investment in renewable energy. 

As an organisation, we are endeavouring to live out this Laudato Si’ vision across the Province. At the Loreto Centre, ethical procurement has been a focus. We have been reviewing our office supplies and ensuring we are purchasing fair trade, slave-free tea and coffee, choosing sustainable options where available and avoiding single-use plastics. We continue to evaluate purchasing decisions and build awareness of the risk of modern slavery in supply chains. Solar panels have been installed on properties to reduce the demand for fossil fuels, and investment managers have been challenged to demonstrate how they implement and monitor ESG criteria. Investment portfolios have expanded to include impact investment funds that are measured against sustainable development goals. 

Loreto schools across Australia have invested in renewable energy putting large scale solar panels on roofs. They have also considered the environment when designing new learning spaces with features such as rainwater harvesting, LED lighting and louvres to make effective use of light and heat. Furthermore, data and technology are being used to review and manage energy consumption.

We are all asked to make decisions on spending funds. It is important to discern whether these decisions align with our care of the Earth. 

Author: Alison Brown, Director Finance & Business