In Laudato Si’, Pope Francis writes of the world’s need for an ‘ecological conversion’ – when the effects of [our] encounter with Jesus Christ become evident in [our] relationship with the world around [us] (No. 217).
We’ve compiled a list of Lenten resources that focus on a renewal of our relationship with God and all of creation.
Note: some resources below are available in Spanish and all but one are free.
Bulletin Inserts
Lent 4.2 – a seven-week faith formation program of prayer, fasting, and almsgiving to heed the call of Pope Francis to care for our common home.
There is a cost for these. About 10 parishes in the Archdiocese have done this program in previous years – contact Sharon Horvath (sharonh24@gmail.com) if you would like to learn how it went in her parish.
Seven Deadly Sins and Virtues: Repenting of Ecological Sin and Cultivating Ecological Virtues (disponible en español) – Each of the seven deadly sins is examined through the lens of creation and paired with an ecological virtue and healing action.
Adapted from the Global Catholic Climate Movement.
Lenten Reflection Guide: A Journey Toward Ecological Conversion – Reflections and actions focusing on your relationships with God, neighbor, and all creation. The inserts explore the interconnection of these relationships, consider how they are broken and in need of healing, and reflect on how God calls us to repentance and renewal.
Double-sided, from Maryknoll Office for Global Concerns
Group Reflection Guides
Lenten Reflection Guide: A Journey Toward Ecological Conversion – Reflections and actions focusing on your relationships with God, neighbor, and all creation. The guide explores the interconnection of these relationships, consider how they are broken and in need of healing, and reflect on how God calls us to repentance and renewal. Lenten Reflection Guide: A Journey Toward Ecological Conversion – Reflections and actions focusing on your relationships with God, neighbor, and all creation. The guide explores the interconnection of these relationships, consider how they are broken and in need of healing, and reflect on how God calls us to repentance and renewal.
From Maryknoll Office for Global Concerns
“I Thirst” : Water reflections for Lent (disponible en español)- a 5 week group guide to help people deepen their reflections on Jesus’ “I Thirst” by appreciating God’s gift of water, the divine presence living and acting within it, current water conditions on Earth, and how we can respond in faith.
From Terri MacKenzie, Society of the Holy Child Jesus
Ecological Stations of the Cross with Saint John Paul II – These Stations of the Cross were written in the spirit of St. John Paul II who consistently emphasized the gravity of the environmental crisis and the urgent need for the Church to respond to its moral and spiritual dimensions. For the late Holy Father, “the penitential season of Lent offers a profound lesson to respect the environment.”
Daily Action / Reflection
St. Francis Xavier Environmental Ministry (disponible en español)
St. Dennis Parish
Diocese of Worcester, MA also available in Spanish (coming soon)
Diocese of San Diego (with help from Catholic University of San Diego) – coming soon
Also, for last year’s Season of Creation we developed some guides based on daily themes. If you missed it – these could be used during Lent as well!
• Meatless Mondays
• Energy Awareness Tuesdays
• Water Conservation Wednesdays
• Reduce, Recycle, Reuse Thursdays
• Walk, Bike, Share-a-ride to Work Fridays
• Take-a-hike Saturdays
• Laudato Si’ Sundays
Online Campaigns / Emails
Lenten Food Waste Fast – receive weekly updates with pointers for living a food-waste-free life as well as opportunities to pray and advocate on the issue of food waste. Mini-challenges include: meal planning, storage, composting.
From Ignatian Solidarity Network
Lenten Daily Food Reflections – These daily reflections on food, faith, climate and our lives will provide spiritual sustenance for the Lenten journey. They are inspired by the Lenten Food Waste Fast (above) at the Ignatian Solidarity Network.
From EarthBeat of the National Catholic Reporter
Diocese of Worcester weekly Flocknote Lent series – weekly Flocknote group based on their Environmental Stewardship Ministry calendar