Saint Joseph Abbey and Seminary College Hosts Environmental Lecture Series

This October, Saint Joseph Abbey and Seminary College presents “Laudato Si Confronts Climate Change 2020,” a four week lecture series that will closely examine the challenging Environmental Encyclical of Pope Francis, known as “Laudato Sí: On Care for our Common Home.” Laudato Si is an appeal from Pope Francis addressed to every person on the planet for an inclusive dialogue about how they can best shape the future of this world.

The lectures, presented by Matt Rousso, Director of Maryknoll Mission Center, take place each Tuesday, Oct. 8 through Oct. 29, 5:45 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. in the Hospitality Center on the Seminary campus, located at 75376 River Road in Covington. The series is free to attend and open to the public, including seminarians and teachers/catechists. The Archdiocesan Office of Religious Education is offering CEU’s for those catechists needing renewal credit. A freewill offering for the series will be gratefully accepted. Space is limited. Please RSVP by registering here.

In Laudato Sí, Pope Francis states that mankind has a “vocation as protectors of God’s handiwork” and that this vocation “is not an optional or secondary aspect of our Christian experience.” (LS #217)

“After looking at the basic message of the encyclical, we will discuss the science of climate change, and in our last session we will consider specific ways that we might engage in the ecological conversion to which Pope Francis calls us,” Rousso said.

Scheduled lectures will include:

• A Bold Manifesto on Climate Change (Oct. 8)

• The Science is Clear (Oct. 15)

• The Gospel of Creation (Oct. 22)

• Call to Personal Ecological Conversion (Oct. 29)

For more information, contact Rousso at 504-376-4142 or mrousso@maryknoll.org.