Care for Creation

“Care for the environment represents a challenge for all of humanity. It is a matter of a common and universal duty, that of respecting a common good.” –Compendium of the Social Doctrine of the Church, #466

crucifix near flowers surrounded with tall and green trees, representing call to care for creationDive into a comprehensive collection of resources centered on Care for Creation, a vital theme of Catholic Social Teaching. This resource hub offers tools and insights to inspire reflection, education, and action on environmental stewardship and ecological justice. Rooted in the Church’s call to protect God’s creation, these materials empower individuals and communities to live in harmony with the earth and advocate for a sustainable future.

Education for Justice Care for Creation Resources:

  • Faith-Based Reflections: Prayers, meditations, and Scripture-based resources emphasizing our moral duty to care for creation.
  • Lesson Plans and Classroom Tools: Ready-to-use activities and teaching materials for exploring ecological justice through the lens of Catholic Social Teaching.
  • Multimedia Resources: Inspiring videos, infographics, and articles that highlight the Church’s commitment to environmental care.
  • Advocacy Guides: Practical resources for promoting sustainability, addressing climate change, and supporting policies that honor our shared home.

This diverse collection connects faith with action, helping individuals and communities respond to Pope Francis’s call in Laudato Si’ to protect our common home. By integrating ecological awareness with Catholic values, these resources provide pathways for fostering a culture of care and responsibility for creation.

Reflection

Reflection: CST and SDGs: Climate Action

Both the Sustainable Development Goals and Catholic social teaching stress the importance of caring for the natural environment and ending human-caused climate change. In addition to the reflection,...
Prayer

Earth Day Prayer, 2017

Inspired by the 2017 Earth Day theme, “Environmental and Climate Literacy,” this prayer calls us to an ecological conversion rooted in respect and knowledge of our complex and sacred common...
Prayer

Peace to Our Earth

This prayer for the natural environment is based on the line from Pope Francis’s 2013 Lenten Message, “Peace to our earth.”
Prayer

In Memory of Berta Cáceres (English and Spanish)

Berta Cáceres was murdered in 2016 for her outspoken advocacy as she sought environmental justice for her indigenous people in Honduras; this prayer remembers her sacrifice.
Lectionary Reflection

Solemnity of Mary, Mother of God [a] January 1, 2017

Solemnity of Mary, Mother of God [a] January 1, 2017 ADD DESCRIPTION
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Film Discussion Guide

The Burning Season: The Chico Mendes Story

Chico Mendes was a Brazilian rubber tapper, trade union leader, environmentalist, and martyr. This film highlights Mendes’s work to end the destruction of the Amazonian rain forest and to organize...
Prayer Service

Thomas Berry: One With the Universe

This prayer service includes prayers, quotes, and questions that invite us to reflect on the life and words of Thomas Berry, C.P.  Through this reflection, participants are challenged to think more...
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Creative Voice

Creating Concerned Citizens of the Planet Earth

Creative Voice Margaret Swedish (author, activist, and founder of the “Spirituality and Ecological Hope” project at the Center for New Creation) thoughtfully reveals the richness in the meaning...
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Prayer

Prayer for the Feast of St. Kateri Tekakwitha (July 14)

St. Kateri Tekakwitha is the first Native American saint and the patroness of ecology and the environment.
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Creative Voice

The Gift of Creation

This artistic reflection uses quotes from the U.S. Bishops’ statement Global Climate Change: A Plea for Dialogue, Prudence, and the Common Good. To view this resource, click here:...
Litany

Gardeners of the Earth: Caring for Our Common Home

To celebrate World Environment Day on June 5, this litany lifts up 16 “gardeners of the earth,” both those who have gone before us and those in our midst, who recognize the sacredness of the...
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Reflection

Catholic Social Thought and Canaries in the Coal Mine

Fr. Fred Kammer revisits Pope Francis's recent encyclical to focus on the connection between the environment and those in poverty in this resource, which has reflection questions, a prayer, and...