About Trócaire
Trócaire was created as a response to the widening gap between rich and poor and our collective duty to reduce it. Trócaire is rooted in the principles of Catholic social teaching, which are based on the belief that God has a plan for creation, a plan to build his kingdom of peace, love and justice. In the words of Trócaire’s founding document, in which the bishops of Ireland gave the organisation a strong and clear mandate, ‘We know that we cannot claim to love God if we do
not love our fellow men and women.’
RESOURCE DOCUMENT
This resource document is to help families and family Mass groups to explore some of the issues in Pope Francis’ letter on caring for our common home. In 2015 Pope Francis wrote a letter to ‘every person living on this planet’. He called this letter Laudato Si’, which means ‘Praised Be’. In it he offers us an opportunity to reflect on what is happening to our world, to listen to the cry of the earth and the cry of the poor. He invites us to see how God is present throughout all of creation. Pope Francis calls on each of us to think about how the environmental crisis is affecting the poorest of our sisters and brothers across the world. In 2023 Pope Francis wrote another document called Laudate Deum (‘Praise God’). He felt he needed to write to all ‘people of good will’ once more because so little progress has been made in addressing the climate and biodiversity crises. He urges world leaders in particular to make the urgent changes that are needed to safeguard our common home. He calls for new forms of clean energy and the cooperation of everyone to bring about lasting change.
This resource uses reflections from both documents, Laudato Si’ and Laudate Deum, as well as scripture and images to explore the issues in depth. We wish to thank the writers of Hello, Sister Bee, who allowed us to use some of their work.*
Trócaire has made this resource document available which can be accessed HERE