The centrality of the health of our common home to the mission of all Jesuit institutions was reinforced through two recent developments, the publication of Laudato Si’ by Pope Francis in 2015 and Fr. General Arturo Sosa’s announcement of the Universal Apostolic Preferences (UAPs) in 2019. As part of the UAPs, caring for our common home is one of the four areas where the Society of Jesus would like for Jesuit institutions to direct their focus for the next decade, and beyond. 

The reading this week explores:

• the importance of Laudato Si’ and sustainability to Jesuit higher education
• the value of transdisciplinary work to addressing sustainability in higher education
• the ways that sustainability can be integrated with Igantian pedagogy to educate our students to be transformative and resilient global citizens 

Katharine Rondthaler, Manager of the Forge Garden, offers a reflection this week on the ways that we are using resources like The Forge Garden to integrate sustainability into our curriculum and to activate our mission across the university. 

In the midst of Laudato Si’ Week, we are called to reflect on how we can embrace and activate our mission to care for our common home. 

Have a wonderful week!

Aaron Willis
Director, Bannan Forum
Ignatian Center for Jesuit Education

Center for Sustainability Academic Resources

Teaching Module on Laudato Si’ from the Markkula Center

The Environmental Justice and the Common Good Initiative

tUrn: Climate Crisis Awareness and Action Initiative