The "Laudato Si 'Movement" announces the reopening of the "Laudato Si' Animators" program, a formation that unites in a global community of prayer and action to encourage parishes, local communities and associations and movements to engage in ecological spirituality, sustainable lifestyles and the defence of climate and ecological justice.
In Italy, the novelty this year is the opportunity for formation both on demand - in mixed mode (program starting on 8 April 2024), and in person in Rome thanks to the collaboration with the Pontifical Lateran University (enrolment by 20 March 2024).
Regarding this second type of formation, the UNESCO Chair on the Future of Sustainability Education at the Pontifical Lateran University, together with the Cycle of Studies in Ecology and Environment - Care of our Common Home and Protection of Creation, which will activate a Bachelor's Degree in Social Sciences for Cooperation, Development and Ecology (L-37) in the academic year 2024/2025 , are organising a Cycle of three Seminars from March-May 2024 entitled: "Taking care of our common home: the need for a change of course. Accompanying and accelerating the transition towards an ethical-socio-economic paradigm based on integral sustainability."
Thanks to the collaboration with the Laudato Si 'Movement, at the end of the Seminar Cycle in person, students will be able to receive the "Laudato Si' Animator" Certificate – for which, however, they will also need to participate in an online meeting (9 April – 3:00 pm – 5:30 pm – UTC+2), coordinated by the Movement itself, and the creation of a "seed of hope": a concrete initiative to raise awareness of Laudato Si ' within their own context (family, work, parish, association, religious...).
This formation approach in collaboration with the Pontifical Universities and Universities of Rome is already being tested as part of the "Joint Diploma in Integral Ecology", now underway and which will reopen enrolment after the summer.
Cecilia Dall 'Oglio, Head of the Italian Program of the Laudato Si 'Movement, said in this regard: "This collaboration with the Pontifical Lateran University is a sign of the importance of the complementarity of didactic and practical formation in the commitment to animation and to act urgently and together, as Laudato Si'and Laudate Deum and the synodal journey in progress ask us."
At the same time, the already established path of on-demand formation – in mixed mode – is also proceeding. The lessons will be available from 8 April (4 modules – including a new one on the Apostolic Exhortation "Laudate Deum"); and in addition there will be opportunities to experience the community dimension among the participants from the different 36 partner organisations, thanks to the introductory meeting on 9 April and on the occasion of the monthly meetings held among the Italian "Laudato Si 'Animators".
Registration is open on the website www.laudatosianimatori.org, where more information on the 2024 proposal is available.
The "Laudato Si 'Animators Formation Program" is a response to the Church's call to care for Creation on the part of all the faithful. There are 16,000 Laudato Si 'Animators worldwide. In Italy, the program was launched in 2019 and the Italian network has 3,500 Animators and 200 Laudato Si ' Groups active. 233 Animators were certified in 2023.
Once again this year, the Animators and the Laudato Si ' Groups have actively contributed to celebrations of the Season of Creation, collaborating with Member and Partner Organisations (including the diocesan leaders for social pastoral care and the work of the Italian Episcopal Conference). Together, according to an estimate by the Laudato Si 'Movement, 353 local events were promoted, with about 70 dioceses involved, more than 170 events supported and supported by bishops of whom about 40 directly took part. An estimated 15,500 people were involved.
