Sisters and Friends of Mary Aikenhead gathered recently in Donnybrook, Dublin, for an afternoon on Laudato Si presented by Fr Francis OFM. It was an inspiring and energising afternoon permeated by the spirit of St. Francis.
The afternoon presented many challenges, two central ones I share here.

St Joseph’s Hospice, Hackney, has a beautiful wild garden for the third year running.  And next door in the courtyard of St Joseph’s convent  Sr Geraldine and community are getting back to the wild also and are nurturing some vegetable patches in which they are growing beetroot, beans, rhubarb and tomatoes, to name a few.

Millions of Catholic youth will be gathered in Krakow, Poland in late July to be with Pope Francis as part of World Youth Day. As we think about climate change we know that it is the youth and future generations who will be most affected. This is why we are witnessing youth around the globe who are working hard to live out their faith by caring for creation.

All-powerful God, you are present in the whole 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 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.
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.  
(Pope Francis, Laudato Si)