Happy Birthday Laudato Si
“Praise be.” This is how St. Francis of Assisi began his Canticle of the Creatures 800 years ago and also how Pope Francis began his encyclical 10 years ago on the Care for Earth, our “common home”. St. Francis’ canticle was groundbreaking in its embrace of all creation as equal to humanity and Pope Francis continued that embrace of creation in his encyclical in 2015. In order to celebrate the 10th anniversary of this momentous work, in the US Province, we decided to have a birthday party. On October 4, 2025, 29 sisters, associates and consecrated seculars gathered to do just that.
The day began with an extended prayer experience that wove prayers, poetry, reflections, petitions, music, videos and even singing birds (and some dancing) together in celebration of the diversity of creation.
This diversity was further reflected at lunch when we shared a “diversity” of homemade soups.
While we don’t have any property where we ourselves can plant a tree that did not stop us from “creating” a tree whose diverse “leaves” were cut from recycled fabric and glued to the painting of a tree trunk. Money was also collected to help The Arbor Day Foundation in their efforts to plant real trees.
What would a birthday party be without a birthday cake and the singing of “Happy Birthday Laudato si”? This was a “dirt cake”, a special cake made with crushed chocolate cookies so that it looks like rich soil, complete with candy worms!
The previous Friday, we had also sponsored a special liturgy at St. Joseph Living Center so that the sisters and residents in this care home could participate in our congregation-wide celebration. This liturgy used the readings from the new mass of creation authorized by Pope Leo XIV.
It was a joyous, fun filled Family celebration!
Received by Janet LEWIS. Published on 17 October 2025
