Lent 2026: Weekly Laudato Si’ Actions for Lent

Laudato Si’/Care of Creation Ministry invites all parishioners to be good stewards of God’s Creation. During the six weeks of Lent, let us be intentional together to care for Creation, God’s gift to us.

Weekly Laudato Si’ Actions for Lent

Week One

• Reduce Water Consumption while brushing teeth and washing dishes
• Meatless Monday
• Reduce electricity-turn off lights when not in a room

Week Two

• Make a random act of kindness to a neighbor you know and a neighbor in need
• Meatless Monday
• Support NGO’s that assist the vulnerable and the poor: Bread for the World, Jesuit Refugee Services, Catholic Charities-NYC, New York Common Pantry, City Relief

Week Three

• Buy local, fair trade and sustainably produced food
• Meatless Monday
• Patronize small, local businesses instead of ordering products online

Week Four

• Fast from single-use plastics such as water bottles and buying food in plastic containers
• Meatless Monday
• Drive Less, Walk more, use public transportation-less taxi

Week Five

• Visit a Botanical Garden
• Take a Walk in Central Park and take time to see the local trees, shrubs and flowers
• Visit a Zoo

Week Six

• Read Laudato Si’ concepts
• Pray with these two prayers:

A Prayer for the Earth by Pope Francis

All powerful God,
you are present in the universe
and in the smallest of your creatures.
You embrace with your tenderness all that exists.
Pour out upon us the power of your love,
that we may protect life and beauty.
Fill us with your peace, that we may live
as brothers and sisters, harming no one.

O God of the poor,
help us to rescue the abandoned
and forgotten of this earth,
so precious in your eyes.
Bring healing to our lives,
that we may protect the world and not prey on it,
that we may sow beauty,
not pollution and destruction.

Touch the hearts
of those who look only for gain
at the expense of the poor and the earth.
Teach us to discover the worth of each thing,
to be filled with awe and contemplation,
to recognize that we are profoundly united
with every creature
as we journey towards your infinite light.

We thank you for being with us each day.
Encourage us, we pray, in our struggle,
for justice, love and peace.

Canticle of the Sun by St. Francis

Most High, all-powerful, good Lord,
Yours are the praises, the glory, the honor, and all blessings.

To You alone, Most High, do they belong,
and no man is worthy to mention Your name.

Praised be You, my Lord, with all your creatures;
especially Brother Sun, who is the day, and through whom You give us light. And he is beautiful and radiant with great splendor,
and bears a likeness to You, Most High One.

Praised be You, my Lord, through Sister Moon and the stars;
in heaven You formed them clear and precious and beautiful.

Praised be You, my Lord, through Brother Wind,
and through the air, cloudy and serene,
and every kind of weather through which You give sustenance to Your creatures.

Praised be You, my Lord, through Sister Water,
which is very useful and humble and precious and chaste.

Praised be You, my Lord, through Brother Fire,
through whom You light the night;
and he is beautiful and playful and robust and strong.

Praised be You, my Lord, through Sister Mother Earth,
who sustains us and governs us and who produces
varied fruits with colored flowers and herbs.

Praised be You, my Lord,
through those who give pardon for Your love,
and bear infirmity and tribulation.

Blessed are those who endure in peace
for by You, Most High, they shall be crowned.

Praised be You, my Lord,
through our Sister Bodily Death,
from whom no living man can escape.

Woe to those who die in mortal sin.
Blessed are those whom death will find in Your most holy will,
for the second death shall do them no harm.

Praise and bless my Lord,
and give Him thanks,
and serve Him with great humility.
Amen.